Jay-Z on Heaven and Hell

 
A.W. Tozer once said that "we are all ignorant; just in different subjects."  And on the eve of the release of his new album "Magna Carta Holy Grail", Shawn Carter aka Jay-Z, (the rapper/entrepreneur) is proving once again, that business is not an area in which he lacks acumen. In his latest venture Mr. Carter has teamed up with Samsung who has bought one million copies of "Magna Carta Holy Grail" to give away, free to Samsung subscribers, through a mobile application, three days prior to the albums July 7th release. How about that; he can brag about being the only rapper that went platinum before his album dropped, literally. As a means to build anticipation for the album, there have been a series of videos posted on YouTube, documenting the creative process undertaken in the making of this album, a sort of video blogging, as Jay shares his insights on the album itself as well as certain songs featured.

The latest of these video blogs finds Mr. Carter discussing with producer Rick Rubin the concept behind the song "Heaven", where we get a glimpse into the worldview of Jay-Z. Much has been made about the suspicions of affiliation with secret societies and devil worship, but I will not seek to muddy the waters with conspiracy theories. Instead respond to the philosophical, existential and theological views posited in the 40 second video.

Philosophical

Jay-Z proposes in the video his belief of what heaven and hell are to him, while lampooning or at the least calling into question the traditional views held by religions which hold to a finality to life, resulting in one being sent to heaven or hell. Seeking to relativise the argument, thus solidifying a subjective view, more importantly and immediately, his own, he states "whatever religion you are, like, accept other people's idea, ok, cause, have you ever been to heaven; have you ever seen....you know what I mean?" His argument to the relaxed ear will sound convincing; however if we peal back the layers we can find that his argument is built on philosophical quick sand. Though not explicitly stated, the concept of relativism is firmly established. Relativism simply states that there are no absolutes. It however betrays itself for, for it (relativism) to be true, one has to make a truth statement. It's a self refuting concept. It affirms itself  at same time denying itself. So while Jay attempts to make all ideas equal, he fails, by disqualifying certainty on the subject, while positing that the only certainty is uncertainty, disqualifying even himself. He also fails to recognize that in relativism/subjectivity there will be someone left out in the cold. It is not acceptance that is being presented, its intolerance masquerading as tolerance. Subjectivity/relativism doesn't breed acceptance; it breeds anarchy. The world was not in acceptance of Hitlers ideas. Why? All ideas are not created equal. Added to which he fails his own test, he asks "have you ever been to heaven", I retort, "have you, Mr. Carter?" If the view I hold of heaven and hell, is an objective one due to my point of reference being the creator of heaven and hell, but is rendered mute because I have not seen it; how then is your idea, being subjective, valid, haven't not seen it yourself to properly refute? The argument dies the death of a thousand qualifications. "It is not bigotry to know that we are right. What is bigotry is not being able to see where you may have gone wrong."

 Existential

I'm a father of a three year old girl and a two year old boy. I can relate to the joy Mr. Carter has in his little girl. And I can appreciate the confusion and frustration that can ensue when we grapple with the thoughts of heaven and hell commonly presented to us. The questions flood in, where will my love ones end up? Where will I end up? Who's telling the truth? Is there even anything after death? This conundrum intensifies when your children are considered in the equation. Also when the answers provided, prick instead of soothe, retreating to find answers in self seems the most logical and satisfying of options. Sadly that's what heaven and hell have been reduced to in pop-culture, destinations one will find themselves in, depending on whether their grip was firm enough, as they pull themselves up by their own spiritual bootstraps. Eyes focused horizontally, certainty of admission through the pearly gates rests in the hands of comparison to our neighbor or the tyrannical dictator or the murderer or the immoral/promiscuous socialite; "at least I'm not blank; surely I'll get in", we say to ourselves. Variables and versions abound, and for the Jay-Z's of the world it is understandable to want to plant your emotions and thoughts firmly on earth, where touch, sight, smell, taste and comprehension are more easily confirmed. So heaven is surmised in "a daughters laughter"; hell, in the unknown whereabouts (even if but for a few minutes) of that daughter or son. Would that he and others would know of the satisfaction to souls panting for eternity; would that they would have their spiritual eyes descaled to see, and hope with certainty, a destination that results in the culmination of all the senses being fully and eternally satisfied (1 Cor. 2:9). What's oddly refreshing is how close Jay comes to mirroring the essence of heaven and hell in the Judeo/Christian worldview. For heaven and hell being actual places notwithstanding, it is the presence or lack thereof of someone which indeed distinguishes the two.

Theological

The most interesting part of the video has to be the last 15 seconds, where Jay shows us his face card: "It's just not my beliefs that, you know, uh, a just god would make you burn for eternity, for freewill that he gave you." It brings a smirk, when someone attempts to be vague in expressing their displeasure with "religion", then when they begin to unpack those dislikes, it becomes clear that the problem is with just one religion. This video is no different, as Jay ends his soliloquy, he sounds less like a philosopher and more like that atheist you evangelise to; who has patterned his distaste for Christianity from a caricature of Christianity, a marred version. I've never encountered an enemy of the cross, who was operating with an accurate template of the faith; the scripture tells us why (1 Cor. 2:14).

So where has Mr. Carter and others  gone wrong, for he is not the first person to utter such things. What error should we right, first?Actually I would like to point out something that he is correct on. He mentions an attribute of the Christian God, just. God is just and it is because he is just that he will not turn a blind eye to sin (the breaking of God's laws), including the most minuscule in our estimation; including our own. There in lies the contradicting blind spot. The truth is our will is not free, we are sinners. A brief perusal of the laws of God and we, if we're honest, can conclude that we do not perfectly measure up. We will not and cannot choose the things of God (Rom.8:6-8). Jesus says it like this “very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin (John 8:34). What's to be the penalty for offending a holy, righteous and eternal God? What's to be the reward if found righteous in his sight? Gladly someone did fulfill perfectly the requirements in God's law (Col 2:13-14). That person is the only one who walked the earth and could say of himself "I'm perfect" and not risk imperfection on account of lying. God's wrath toward sin was poured out on him, yes, someone truly undeserving of anything resembling punishment. You could say he willingly burnt for eternity in our place. God's not only just, He's loving, merciful. On the cross of Christ Gods justice and mercy met and was satisfied. Now offered is an escape from that impending doom to be faced if found guilty in our sins, if we turn from our sins and trust in Christ to save. Do not presuppose that it is the fear of  the dark, scorching, depths of hell that motivates the Christian towards the cross, no. It is the eternal satisfaction found in the face and presence of Christ (1 Jn. 3:2). Yes, Mr. Carter you were awfully close to getting it, see, the Christian can be in your version of hell or worst, but having Christ, whatever the situation, is Heaven! 


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