Why is it important today that the whole Bible, including the Old Testament, speaks to the death and resurrection of Jesus? Why does it matter? Why put in the effort to see Christ in the Old Testament? With us this week is hip-hop artist and author Timothy Brindle, who’s spent years studying this. And since he’s an artist, he decided to not just write a book about his findings, but to write a correlating album with it. The Unfolding speaks to the unfolding plan of God seen in the Bible. In addition to this, Timothy helps explain and apply the often-confused Jeremiah 29:11.
Who is Our Guest?
Timothy Brindle is the product of God’s Sovereign Grace, as Jesus rescued him while he was a secular battle-rapper a week before 9/11 in 2001. Timothy recently graduated from Westminster Theological Seminary’s Masters of Divinity program where he spent the last 5 years studying the Word of Christ to prepare for life-long ministry in the local church. He is a pastoral intern at Cross Community Church (PCA).
Episode Links
You can find The Unfolding (book and album) at lampmode.com.
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Isaac:
With me today is hip hop artist and author Timothy Brindle. He’s a husband. He’s a father, and he’s just recently graduated from Westminster Theological Seminary’s Master of Divinity program. So it’s great to have you with us today, Timothy.
Timothy:
It’s great to be here, Isaac. Thank you so much for having me.
Isaac:
Just as a way to introduce yourself, who are you? Maybe how did you come to faith in Christ?
Timothy:
Great question. I am a desperate, needy sinner saved by the sovereign grace of God. I was living a life for myself, serving me, myself and I quite intensely, not looking for the Lord. I’m just grateful He was pursuing me, and a week before 9/11, He saved my soul reading His word. This was in the context of doing underground hip hop as a battle rapper in the late 90s, early 2000s, doing graffiti illegally in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. I was in a sinful relationship. Obviously I was dead in sins, but this girl began attending church. At first, I thought that was one of the corniest things in the world, if not the top, the most corny thing.
But I realized, okay, maybe I can win some points with her, so maybe I should go to church since she invited me. Went out and bought some $5.99 Payless shoes, a $6.99 King James Bible, because I had to play the part. I knew I was supposed to dress up for church.
I got there, barely made it there. I basically got lost in southwest Philly trying to find the place on a trolley on a Sunday morning early September 2001, and when I arrived, she wasn’t there. She never showed up, and I sat in the back of the church a little embarrassed that I walked in so late, and a lot of people were staring at me, and I turned to the book of Luke as my older brother’s name is Luke, and I knew my dad named him after the disciple, and so I started reading Luke while the pastor is preaching.
I didn’t get a whole lot out of the sermon that day, but the Spirit of God was working, Isaac. That week, I just couldn’t put the book of Luke down. The Lord had my soul in a place that was ready to see Christ healing lepers, pursuing prostitutes, casting out demons, and I didn’t understand real in depth theology at that point, but I knew I needed Him,