Since its inception, the CM has chosen to define themselves as the Christian or holy division of hip hop culture as opposed to the hip hop or rap division of Christian culture. Within the genre of rap music, there are various subgenres such as gangsta rap, Conscious rap, old school rap, crunk, and reggaeton, but all of it falls under the rubric of rap and, by extension, hip hop. In choosing to define their music as simply being another subgenre - i.e., the Christian rap subgenre - of hip hop culture, the CM attempts to "keep it real" in order to maintain the validity needed to influence members of hip hop culture who may or may not be Christians. In their 2003 release, Holy Culture, The CM stated their reasoning is based on a passage from the Bible, St. John 17:15-19 in which Jesus is reported to have said to God:
“My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.”
As the word sanctified means "to set apart", the interpretation maintained by the CM is that they are instructed by Jesus to remain a part of hip hop culture while being set apart from the majority of the followers of hip hop culture in order to influence it from within to conform to the mores and moral code preached by the followers of mainstream Christianity. The acceptance of this interpretation has been mixed, however. Despite their claim to be a part of hip hop culture, the CM has slowly found more acceptance, though not total acceptance, in the Christian community than in the secular hip hop community as the majority of their concerts are held at churches or church-sponsored events as opposed to secular venues. In 2006, the CM received a Grammy nomination for “Best Rock Gospel Album,” as opposed to any of the traditional hip hop or rap categories. Additionally, the CM has generally only been recognized at Christian and Gospel awards shows such as the Dove Awards or Stellar Awards as opposed to hip hop-only award shows such as the Source Awards or the Vibe Awards.
questions
The Cross Movement Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah, Wassup Tru-Life Here
Lotta Questions... I'm not the Lord
But I do have some answers 'cuz I do read His word
So if you wanna talk, we can do it. Lets go
(Intro)
My mission here today is to make sure
This session I will answer some questions
And when I'm done, hope some will trust their life to perfection
Get'cha pen and pads, I wanna erase doubt
Yeah, we look different, but from the inside out
We all twins, 'cuz since this life began
We needed somebody to pay our price for sin
(I wanna know!) Why people are so evil?
(I wanna know!) The difference in rich and poor people?
(I wanna know!) Why do the good die young?
(I wanna know!) Why that boy Immatel was hung?
(I wanna know!) Is it wrong for me to touch my girl?
(I wanna know!) Does Satan really rule this world?
(I wanna know!) Why they ensalved my people?
(I wanna know!) Are all men created equal?
Firstly, our hearts are dirty, blood thirsty
Rather kill a man than lend a hand when hurting
To most people, cash makes you who you are
But you can ask the biggest, richest, star
Are they really really happy with all they've got?
9 out of 10 are still searchin' and will tell you they're not
God gives life, that means he can also take it
We can't choose the time, Hes got a pattern he made it
Which bring me to a topic I've hated for years
Even brought me to tears, till God made it so clear
The young boy died, 'cuz someone lied
Our hearts are dark man, and thats the reason why
Be careful 'cuz touchin leads to feeling
And feeling leads to feelings
That suggest the need for sexual healin
Sex is meant for married people
So no matter what, no ring? No situation is equal
Satan knows the heart of man
But don't get it twisted, he too is just a part of the plan
And so is people bein beaten, shackeled, and lassl'ed
Those who had the power made others lives a hassle
And yes, we're created equal
We come from dust, and all start with a heart thats evil
I just put the canvas, up on the easel
But hold tight, 'cuz im'ma paint a picture, unbeleivable
(I wanna know!) Man, why does God hate me?
(I wanna know!) Why did he even make me?
(I wanna know!) Tell me, why am I here?
(I wanna know!) Is Jesus real, is he near?
(I wanna know!) Why are there so many religions?
(I wanna know!) When I get dissed, why I forgive 'em?
(I wanna know!) Tell me, is heaven real?
(I wanna know!) If I say no, whats the deal?
The Lord doesnt hate you, he hates the sin that dwells
'Cuz ever since Adam fell
The ones he created to chill with and call children
Have long since been all about themselves
You're here because hes given you a chance
To accept His Sons hand for eternal romance
(Check the history books) He's the one to do it
Died, and rise, and got the holes to prove it
The trees you see, and the air you breathe
Didnt happen, those are compliments of the King
And because they can't touch, or feel Him
They creates states of spirituality to try and reveal Him
The Lord is the only perfect whos liven
Without forgivness remember there would be no forgiven
Heaven is a place, and not a state of mind
But needs an access pass, given by The Divine
You have the option to decline invitation
But they why engage in this conversarion?
You have the option to decline invitation
But they why engage in this conversarion?
I wanna know! x 8
The Cross Movement's song "Questions" is an insightful exploration of some of the fundamental and challenging queries that humans have about life, morality, and spirituality. The intro sets the stage by introducing Tru-Life as a source of answers stemming from his reading of Scripture. He dives headfirst into some of the most common questions people wrestle with, such as why there is so much evil in the world, what the difference between rich and poor is, why good people die young, and whether Satan truly rules this world. He also delves into more personal issues, such as whether it's wrong to touch one's girlfriend and whether all men are truly created equal.
Line by Line Meaning
My mission here today is to make sure
The goal of the singer is to clarify and provide answers
That everything stays clear, everything stays secure
Speaker wants to maintain clarity and security throughout the discussion
This session I will answer some questions
Speaker will provide solutions to some inquiries
And when I'm done, hope some will trust their life to perfection
The aim is for someone to trust Jesus Christ as their savior
Get'cha pen and pads, I wanna erase doubt
Audience members are instructed to take out pen and paper to take note of the answers and remove any doubts
Yeah, we look different, but from the inside out
Despite external differences, we are all the same inside
We all twins, 'cuz since this life began
We are similar because we all need a savior to atone for our sins
We needed somebody to pay our price for sin
Humans are incapable of atoning for their own sins
Firstly, our hearts are dirty, blood thirsty
Human hearts are sinful and seek violence
Rather kill a man than lend a hand when hurting
Humans are more inclined towards violence than compassion
To most people, cash makes you who you are
People often associate material possessions with their identity
9 out of 10 are still searchin' and will tell you they're not
The majority of people are still searching for happiness and fulfillment
God gives life, that means he can also take it
God is the giver and taker of life
Even brought me to tears, till God made it so clear
The death of the young boy was a painful moment for the singer, but God provided clarity
Be careful 'cuz touchin leads to feeling
Physical touch often leads to emotional attachment
And feeling leads to feelings
Emotions often lead to further emotional experiences and responses
Sex is meant for married people
Sex is intended for individuals within the bonds of marriage
Satan knows the heart of man
Satan knows the hearts of humans but is limited in power
And so is people bein beaten, shackeled, and lassl'ed
Oppression and cruelty have existed since the beginning of humanity
Those who had the power made others lives a hassle
Individuals in power have often created hardship and difficulty for others
We come from dust, and all start with a heart thats evil
Humans are born with sinful hearts
The Lord doesnt hate you, he hates the sin that dwells
God does not hate humans but rather the sin they possess
You're here because hes given you a chance
Humans exist because God has provided them with an opportunity to accept his grace
To accept His Sons hand for eternal romance
The artist implies that accepting Jesus Christ leads to eternal salvation
The trees you see, and the air you breathe
All of nature is a gift from God
Didnt happen, those are compliments of the King
God created the universe as we know it
He's the one to do it
God provides salvation
Died, and rise, and got the holes to prove it
Jesus Christ died and rose from the dead to prove his divinity
But needs an access pass, given by the Divine
Access to heaven requires acceptance of Jesus Christ
You have the option to decline invitation
Individuals have the choice to accept or reject the invitation to salvation
But they why engage in this conversarion?
The singer wonders why someone would ask questions about faith if they are not interested in accepting it
Contributed by Brayden H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Shawn Mayhall Sr.
on Name Up
Who is the first artist on this track ????