On September 14, 2014, Christian-rapper Lecrae Moore became the first person ever to land an album at No. 1 on both the Billboard 200 and Gospel charts. His album, “Anomaly,” sold 88,000 copies in its first week and, as a result, he has been featured on a variety of syndicated TV and radio shows, including “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.” This particular accomplishment represents a culmination of Lecrae’s growing popularity, since he has already sold hundreds of thousands of albums worldwide and is a Grammy-winning artist.

While Lecrae often downplays the “Christian rapper” label in hopes of avoiding stigmas or categories, his reputation as a man of Christian faith has not faltered. Even as his music has begun to cross genres and fan bases, his unwillingness to compromise his Christian character and faith is evident in his lyrics and testimony that inspire and touch the lives of his audience.

Second chance

Lecrae’s life changed at age 19 after attending a youth conference where he first encountered Christ and first experienced Christian hip-hop. Not long after, Lecrae was involved in a serious car accident—but walked away without a scratch. The accident represented, according to Lecrae, a second chance at life through God’s grace. He has since dedicated his life to Christ and to sharing God’s message through his music and testimony.

Shining a new light

Lecrae is a cofounder of Reach Records, and his influence has helped pave the way for other up-and-coming Christian rappers who hope to shed new light on an industry that has been described by some as “somewhat dark and sinful.” Beyond his music Lecrae is sought after as a Christian mentor by professional athletes, including Jeremy Lin and Tim Tebow, as well as by pro teams who request him as their prayer chaplain. Growing up in a world where reputation is everything, Lecrae prompts the question: How do we create a reputation that reflects who we truly are and what we truly stand for as followers of Christ?

Question of the day: How do we form our reputations?

Focal Scriptures: Isaiah 9:6-7; Galatians 2:11-14; Ephesians 2:20-22

For a complete lesson on this topic visit LinC.