Straight Outta Nazareth (what Jesus shares in common with N.W.A.)

I recently watched Straight Outta Compton, the story of the short lived but wildly influential rap group N.W.A.

I thought it was disturbing. And that’s the feeling so many experienced after listening to that cassette tape or just catching wind of their lyrics 25 years ago. Their music explosively exposed the reality of the urban ghetto that made white middle-class families like mine lock our car doors and anxiously speed toward the "safer" suburb.

The reason I was disturbed after the movie was due to thinking through the very nature and necessity of disturbance. I wasn’t raised to be a disturbing person. I don’t think I’ve ever been identified as such. But over the years in my work among the poor and my work in introducing the non-poor to friends living on the street I’ve recognized the necessity and gift of disturbing the ruts and routines of comfortable cultural christians. 

Disturbance is what our morning alarms do to wake us up and get us moving each day.