During a recent conversation with a younger relative of mine, I asked him if he knew who owned the company of the new Roc-A-Wear jeans he was sportin’. When I told him Roc-A-Wear was Jay Z’s clothing line he seemed unconcerned, unfazed.

I didn’t expect him to demand that his mother take them back or anything I simply encouraged him to think about some of our previous conversations about different rappers and whether their lyrical content grieves the heart of God and if they deserve our money when we buy clothes. I mention this because sadly enough, this question is met with the same nonchalant attitudes when posed to older teens and adult Christians. I often wonder how much of our esteem, our identity is tied into what name brand of gear we’re rockin’. In my work with youth I’ve often asked, if I took your wardrobe, would I take your self-esteem? I see now, that this isn’t a question only for youth. Many would perhaps deny it if the answer is yes, but we need to be honest with ourselves and examine exactly what has shaped who we are and how we want people to perceive us. Scripture says we’re already fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14), thus our confidence and our esteem should not come from “external sources”, be they people or things.

But back to the gear, what about you, dear reader? How much Roc-A-Wear, Sean John, or Vokal is in your ‘drobe? For those who may not know, these lines belong to Jigga, Puffy, and Nelly respectively. Other celebrity gear you can cop is Outkast clothing, Snoop Dogg’s gear, G-Unit (50 Cent & Co.), J-Lo, Fetish by Eve, or Apple Bottoms (Nelly’s female line). Also, coming soon to a mall near you will be gear from Eminem, Ludacris, and Beyonce.

Now of all of these artists, which of them make music that could cause you to justify spending your (or your momma nem’s) hard earned duckets? Or when it comes to being “in style” and “looking good” does all your recollection of what they’ve spit on their records go out the window? We’re called to be stewards of our time, talent and money.

Some of you may say, what about the passage in I Corinthians 8:1-9 where Paul talks about food sacrificed to idols. Valid point, but it concludes talking about causing weaker brethren to stumble. I propose that those the Yuinon aspires to reach, convert and edify are lost and weak thus the concept of sanctification is slow to penetrate when we identify so strongly with and in many cases prefer, the world’s trendy adornments.

Still you say, clothes are clothes, its fabric, not people, a shirt, pair of jeans, a hoodie, they’re inanimate objects therefore spiritually neutral. I concur, but the names on these rags and the reason they’re popular and sell for the overpriced amounts they do, is because of the artists mentioned above and they are not spiritually neutral. The overwhelming majority of the content of these artists falls into the following categories: flossin/materialism, misogyny, thuggery/violence and fornication.

…For all that’s in the world- the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life… I John 2:16

Jay Z’s Rock-A-Wear line reportedly did $200 million in sales in 2002. It’s no wonder he had the loot to buy his own brand of liquor called Armadale (he apparently got tired of the free endorsements he and many of his peers have given to Cristal, Alize, Moet, and Belvedere)? How much of that $200 mil was your money?

The truth is, in this world it’s hard to avoid directly or indirectly supporting companies or individuals who may not be Christians or have spiritual morals, (like Proctor and Gamble, a university, or an Arab owned gas station near you) but that reality is not the focus of this article. It’s clothing, and like hip-hop, because of hip-hop it has many people’s minds and identities on lock and has become an idol. The whole school uniform debate is rooted in the unnecessary value and prestige given to designer clothes and those who wear them, creating and or contributing to an environment already not conducive to learning. You can still dress “hip-hop” with lines like Akademiks, Enyce, Polo, etc. and for all we know they may espouse the same values as those cats mentioned above, but at least they haven’t put out a record and boastfully glamorized immorality. I personally wouldn’t rock Mecca just in case it’s tied to a Muslim cat somewhere.

Someone bought Maji some gear they copped while they were in New York. Thinking he would be glad to see all of these “hot designer hip hop” clothes. Much to their surprise Maji’s personal convictions prompted him to tell them that he couldn’t rock the gear. “What’s wrong?” they asked. “How can I sport someone’s clothes that opposes the God that I serve?” Because they couldn’t return the gear, Maji plans to sow the Yuinon logo over all the designer names. Some of you may think that’s a bit much, but perhaps the Holy Spirit is prompting us to do the same but we ignore him.

Our dollars are one way we can leverage our resources and build power, so you do have choices. Read the companion article to this on one Christian Clothier called Redeem Wear (there are dozens out there). If presented with viable options, what would you choose? How about supporting something consistent with a lifestyle that pleases God?

Christian Clothiers: Fightin’ a Losing Battle?