More apologies for offending 'Christian Rap' musicians

Joel Beeke isn't the only one to give in to a little criticism and apologise for offending 'Christian rap' musicians. Scott Brown who chaired the panel discussion and brought up the subject of 'Christian rap' has also caved in. He is the director of the National Center for Family-Integrated Churches.

On his Blog he makes a plead: Please Forgive me, and goes on to write:

During the panel discussion on rap I should have engaged such a controversial subject as this with greater discernment, explicit scriptural grounding, clarity, definition of terms (like “rap”) and precision that comes from a full grasp of the subject. These were lacking in the rap discussion. The very question itself lacked clarity and nuance which opened the door to the misrepresentations common to the broad brush. In framing the question, I failed to distinguish between the use of music in worship compared to simply listening to music. We failed to distinguish between the various expressions of the artists. I failed to correct a panelist who made an unsavory comment. Panel discussions, off the cuff are useful for certain things, but to use a surprise question to a panel to engage a broader audience on such a complex controversial topic as musical genres they may not have been knowledgeable of was unwise. I did not engage this topic with the required care. There were moments where it lacked the brotherly tone that is essential for our critiques within the body of Christ. In at least these senses, it was unworthy of our Lord. Please forgive me.

How can it be that those men who were on the panel were comfortable and content to initially make the comments they did about 'Christian Rap' but as soon as there is a little 'media storm' one by one they begin to melt in the heat and back down?

The type of comments that were made about 'Christian rap' music did indeed disturb the cosy camaraderie that exists among many of these conference speakers, their respective constituencies and the wider 'Reformed' community. It wouldn't bode well for future invitations to participate in these types of conferences, or for that matter book sales, if people were upset by some less than pointed, although perfectly warranted, comments on this or any other subject. The all things to all men mentality must be maintained at all costs even if it means prostrating themselves in the dust by apologising for offending error.

How unlike the conduct of the true minister of the gospel as outlined in 1 Timothy 4:1-6:
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.