I've just read several stories that "report" that the two members of Insane Clown Posse, long known for their profane, misogynistic lyrics, are really "evangelical Christians."
London's Guardian, which "broke" the story on Saturday, had this for a subtitle: "America's nastiest rappers in shocking revelation – they've been evangelical Christians all along."
The Australian followed up with this: "US gangsta-rap duo Insane Clown Posse has admitted to having been an evangelical Christian group for most of its 20-year career."
Contact Music: "Insane Clown Posse Relieved To Admit Christianity."
The Washington Post: "America's profanest and most reviled shock rappers, have come out, for lack of a better term, as Christians."
At least the Post writer was on the right track with the phrase "for lack of a better term." Because nowhere do Violent J. and Shaggy 2 Dope, the two guys who make up the shock-rap group, say they're "Christians," much less "evangelicals." Why these media outlets feel the need to use those terms is beyond me. ICP has simply said they believe in God, and that they are in awe of creation.
Except not quite in those terms. In the lyrics to their song "Thy Unveiling," ICP raps: "F–- it, we got to tell / All secrets will now be told / No more hidden messages / ... Truth is we follow GOD!!! / May the Juggalos find God! / He's out there!" (A "Juggalo" is a fan of ICP).
Ah, but there's more: "Juggla, Juggla, f–- with the Juggla (repeat 3x) / May the Juggalos find Him! He's out there! / . . . This is our world! This is our world! This is our world! / SO GET THE F–- OUT! / . . . Suck My Nuts, B-tch! F–- You!"
Not gonna be singing that in any contemporary services any time soon, eh?
Explaining how he's awed by some parts of creation, Violent J. asks the Guardian writer, "Have you ever stood next to an elephant, my friend? A f–-ing elephant is a miracle. If people can't see a f–-ing miracle in a f–-ing elephant, then life must suck for them, because an elephant is a f–-ing miracle. So is a giraffe."
I don't think they'll be performing at any Christian youth conventions or showing up on K-LOVE (safe for the whole family!) any time soon. But that's not the point. If the guys in ICP have found God, that's wonderful.
What's stunning is how quickly – and ignorantly – so many media outlets immediately start labeling them "evangelical Christians." What's up with that? Somebody – anybody – finds God, and they're automatically an evangelical? What if they're a Muslim, or a Jew, or any number of other religions? Or no religion at all – they've just come to see that there must be a Creator behind those incredible, effing elephants and giraffes?
Talk about playing fast and loose with a term. Let's leave it at this: The guys in ICP haven't used the word "Christian" or "evangelical" – at least not anywhere I've read it – so let's not call them anything that they're not claiming for themselves. If they do start self-labeling with those terms, well, that could be a whole 'nother discussion. Something about fruit.
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