My Analysis of Fal$e Teacher$

On the 9th of April in the year 2013, Christian Hip Hop rapper Shai Linne released his 5^th studio album titled ‘Lyrical Theology’. Shai has been known for his great zeal and passion for the Lord and his ability to break down deep theological teachings in his music. In his new album fore mentioned, Shai explicitly exposes faulty doctrine and the teachers who teach this doctrine in a track titled ‘Fal$e Teacher$’. This track basically addresses the prosperity gospel and a few other things the faith charismatic church stands on, and the people that preach these erroneous things. This track attempts to warn people who may listen to these teachers and/or people that may generally not know what these people preach. It is an attempt to help people stand on a foundation of truth that cannot be shaken, and the rest of the album is poised to give us that foundation. Ephesians 4:13-14 talks of how true faith and knowledge of the Son of God lead to maturity and give us a firm standing so that we will not be tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine.

At the end of this article are the lyrics of 'Fal$e Teacher$' please take time to read them and carefully analyse them.

A lot has been said about Shai Linne’s new track ‘Fal$e Teacher$’ from his album “Lyrical Theology”. It has stirred up a lot of controversy in Christian circles and created a line of opinion between evangelicals.

I basically want to address a few things surrounding this track and respond to some people’s reviews of it.

I want to start by saying that what Shai Linne has done is not new to him. A lot of people think this is the first time we’ve heard something like this but it’s not. Timothy Brindle and Shai Linne did record a track on Tim’s album ‘The Great Awakening’ titled ‘Faulty Doctrine’ basically saying the same thing. I will also say that this is not a new ‘phenomenon’ in Christian Hip Hop. Take for example Trip Lee’s track ‘Real Vision’: this song is all about a fight for truth using the Word of God as a standard. Lecrae’s track ‘Truth’ had similar subject matter, KB had a track titled ‘Tear it Down’, and Odd Thomas had a track titled ‘Television Evangelist’. These are just a few artists who have a desire to give people truth in a world with so much deceit.

I think the question of Shai mentioning names of fal$e teacher$ should not be a question. What I mean to say is, there should be no provision for opinion in matters of truth. The truth is what it is, the question should be, “how do we respond to this truth?” In any effort for truth, error must be addressed and exposed, not for the sake of bringing others down but for building people up. And I have no doubt that this is and was Shais’ intention with this track.

I was talking to a friend of mine and he said something very interesting about this track. “Shai sacrificed a lot for this track for the sake of people getting the truth. He has probably lost a lot of followers because of this track.” And we need to know that Shai does not make as big an income off his music as some may think. He went on to say, “It is worth the sacrifice for the sake of truth.” I give a heavy amen to that.

I think this track has also brought into clearer light a few things we already knew about faith charismatic doctrine, which is a dangerous doctrine heavily advocated by the teachers Shai mentions. And I’m not really referring to the content of Shais’ track but about people’s responses to it. Some people really did get offended by this track and I have one simple reason for their reaction, these people find their identity in these teachers. These teachers they listen to become their standard of ‘truth’ and the measure or standard for any other teaching. Once Shai called these teachers false, their followers immediately started to defend the name of these teachers by trying to identify credits ascribed to their names. I see two things wrong with this:

1. As people find their identity with these teachers they begin to idolize them. The proof is in people esteeming what comes out the “man of God’s” mouth higher than the Word of God. And I tell you now, what comes out of these false teachers' mouths (yes, I called them that) does NOT come from God. How do I know this? I know this because what they say does not match up with the Bible, period. And as people responded, they were not upset that the truth of God was maligned, instead they were upset that their beloved preachers' names were put in the negative.

2. They do not put Scripture in its right place as a measure or standard for truth. People did not defend these false teachers (yes, I called them that again) by the standard of the Word but by the ‘standard’ of their names. Look, I don’t mean to bash people; my objective is to get people to think. If you couldn’t listen to what Shai said because it was offensive to you, listen to it again with an open mind because of your reaction, ask the question why you responded in the manner you did. Is it because what Shai said was not biblical or is it because these teachers have become an idol to you? Think about it.

Scripture plainly says that we should call out false teachers, and I’ll use just one example. 1 Timothy 1:3, “As I urged you when you went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer…” The Bible doesn’t tell us to stay silent, but to speak out for the sake of truth.

A few days ago I read a letter Paula White's (whom Shai mentioned as a false teacher) son Brian Knight wrote in response to Shai Linne’s track. He was not very happy (we understand that, that’s his mother). Anyway, I bring that up because in his letter he accuses Shai of not trying to get in touch with them and address them personally. I will say this, first of all Shai wasn’t specifically addressing the false teachers, he was addressing their listeners. Secondly, Shai was not talking out of ignorance; the fruit of this faulty doctrine is right up in our face. And he did do his research. My task here is not to back up Shai but to back up the truth.

I also read a comment in reply to this track addressed to people who associate themselves with reformed teaching saying, “imagine how you’d feel if we said bad things about John Piper and Paul Washer”. I’ll respond by saying this, if you think what they preach contradicts with Scripture, we implore you to please say so, because we may be wrong. The thing is, we do not follow their names, for they are mere men, so if you were to say something negative about them we wouldn’t take offense, because it’s not the credibility of their names we stand behind, but the credibility of the Word they preach. So if what they say doesn’t match up with the Word, we would deem them false teachers’ too.

Let’s not be deceived by teachers that are clearly not in agreement with the Word. These are not matters indifferent or relative. Truth should be the same everywhere and cannot be relative. These are matters of eternity and should be taken seriously.

Some of you may say, “Who are you to judge these people?” My response would be this: I judge no-one, but I am an advocate for truth and if what these teachers teach is not according to Scripture, I am biblically commanded to point out their error.

I pray God grants grace to those still blinded by error. Let's fight for truth.

Yours in Christ,

The Exposition

Lyrics to 'Fal$e Teacher$':

 One two one two, Yoh!
Special dedication to my brothers and sisters on the great continent of Africa
To Saints to Malawi, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Zimbabwe.
Don't be deceived by what America is sending y'all man, yeh?

Let me begin, while there is still ink left in my pen,
I am set to contend for Truth you can bet will offend,
Deception within the church man, who's letting them in?
We talked about this years ago, let's address it again. (Yeh)
And I ain't really trying to start beef, but some who claim to be part of his sheep got some sharp teeth.(they're wolves)
You cast at me when you criticize them when you criticize them, but Jesus told us: Matthew 7:16, we can recognize them!
And God forbid that for the love of some fans, I keep quiet and watch them die with their blood on my hands!
(so...)There's nothing left for me to do except to speak to you in the spirit of Jude 3 and 2 Peter 2
And I know that some would label me a Pharisee, because today the only heresy is saying that there's heresy:
"How dare they be specific and drop some clarity on the popularity of the gospel of Prosperity"
Turn off TBN that channel is overrated. The Pastor's speak bogus statements, financially motivated. It's kind of like a pyramid scheme. Visualize Heretics christianizing the American dream.
It's foul and deceitful, they're lying to people, teaching that camels squeeze through the eye of a needle!
Ungodly and wicked, ask yourself how can they not be convicted treating Jesus like a lottery ticket.
And you're thinking they're not the dangerous type because some of their statements are right,
they're only proof that Satan comes as an angel of light.
This teaching can't be believed without a cost, the lie is you can achieve a crown without a cross
And I hear it all the time when they speak on the block
Even unbelievers are shocked how they're fleecing the flock
It should be obvious then, yet I'll explain why it's in, peep the Bible it's in 1 Timothy 6:9-10
It talks about how the desire for riches has left many souls on fire and stitches mired in ditches
Tell me, who would teach you to pursue as a goal the very thing that the Bible said will ruin your soul! (eh?)
Yet they're encouraging the love of money,
to make it worse, they've exported this garbage into other countries!
My heart breaks even now as I am rhyming. Do you wanna know what all false teachers have in common?(what?)
It's called self(ism) the fastest growing religion; they just dress it up and call it "Christian".
Don't be deceived by this funny biz, if you come to Jesus for money, then he's not your God, money is!
Jesus is not a means to an end, the Gospel is He came to redeem us from sin, and that is the message forever I yell!
If you're living your best life now you're heading for hell!

(Talk to them)
Joel Osteen - false teacher!
(Let them know)
Creflo Dollar is a false teacher!
(Who else? Who else?)
Benny Hinn is a false teacher!
I know they're popular but don't let them deceive ya!
(Talk to them)
TD Jakes is a false teacher!
(Tell the Truth)
Joyce Meyer is a false teacher!
(Let them know)
Paula White is a false teacher!
Use your discernment, let the Bible lead ya!
(Keep going)
Fred Price is a false teacher!
(Tell the Truth)
Kenneth Copland is a false teacher!
(Who else? Who else?)
Robert Tilton is a false teacher!
I know they're popular but don't let them deceive ya!
(Talk to them)
Eddie Long is a false teacher!
(Let them know)
Juanita Bynum is a false teacher!
(Who else? Who else?)
Paul Crouch is a false teacher!
Use your discernment, let the Bible lead ya!

"But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep." 2 Peter 2:1-3