“I saw that God was at the bottom of it all, and that He was the Author of my faith, and so the whole doctrine of grace opened up to me, and from that doctrine I have not departed to this day, and I desire to make this my constant confession, I ascribe my change wholly to God.”

Charles H. Spurgeon

The Young, Restless, and Reformed (YRR) movement is often associated with a resurgence of Reformed theology among young evangelicals, gaining momentum in the early 2000s. This movement had its roots in several key influences, including a desire for deeper theological engagement and a reaction against the perceived shallowness of contemporary church culture.

In the early 2000s, I was part of a parallel movement within Christian Hip Hop that connected to this broader resurgence. Many in the American church became disenchanted with what they saw as a shift away from the core principles of faith. Moralism had replaced holiness, entertainment took the place of genuine worship, and celebrity culture overshadowed the humble, Christ-exalting leadership of pastors committed to God’s glory, the edification of believers, and the salvation of the lost.

“For those of us who were young in the 2000s, this offered a countercultural alternative.”

This environment left many in the next generation with a profound sense that something was missing—and they were right. The lack of depth in the church created a hunger for a deeper, more meaningful relationship with God, sparking a movement that sought to rediscover authentic faith and worship. Many of us from urban communities who grew up in Word of Faith or charismatic churches eventually discovered the teachings known as the Doctrines of Grace.

GotQuestions.org explains that the term “Doctrines of Grace” is used as an alternative to “Calvinism” to shift the focus away from John Calvin and toward the biblical and theological foundation of these beliefs. These doctrines, which are central to Reformed theology, are summarized by the acronym TULIP: Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace, and Perseverance of the Saints.

For those of us who were young in the 2000s, this offered a countercultural alternative. We were introduced to figures like Jonathan Edwards and Charles Spurgeon, who came from a theological framework that emphasized God’s sovereignty with profound intellectual depth and meaningful conviction.

“I was amazed as I watched John Piper remain deeply rooted in Scripture, staying behind the pulpit and focused on the text the entire time.”

This also introduced us to the preaching and teaching of John Piper, R.C. Sproul, and John MacArthur. Although C.S. Lewis wasn’t part of this theological framework, I was able to appreciate his writings because of my engagement with the Doctrines of Grace. Coming from the streets and a church culture that often looked down on intellectual Christianity, this was a transformative experience for me. I was introduced to expository preaching which was contrasted to a more moralistic, therapeutic type of preaching. I was stunned as I watched John Piper stay in the Scriptures and staying behind the pulpit the whole time. It was in this season that I changed for the better but it came with a price.

I was also introduced to expository preaching, which stood in stark contrast to the more moralistic and therapeutic preaching I was used to. I was amazed as I watched John Piper remain deeply rooted in Scripture, staying behind the pulpit and focused on the text the entire time. This season brought significant growth and change in my life, but it didn’t come without a cost.

As I grew deeper in my relationship with the Lord through the Doctrines of Grace, I began to recognize significant errors in the church culture I was part of. From toxic leadership to unbiblical practices, I found myself trying to reform a culture that seemed to resist change and only grew worse the more I engaged with it. Ultimately, this led to my personal departure, along with many from my generation, as we sought out more biblically sound churches. However, transitioning to these new communities came with its own set of challenges.

Coming from the Christian Hip Hop community—a world of ebonics, Timberlands, and endless debates about the greatest MC of all time—many of us felt that churches embracing the Doctrines of Grace didn’t want us to integrate. Instead, it seemed they wanted us to assimilate, viewing our culture as immature, worldly, and remnants of something irredeemable. Despite these challenges, many of us pressed on, choosing to engage because there were a few who welcomed us and genuinely valued the diversity within the body of Christ. Some of us were even accepted into platforms like The Gospel Coalition, podcasts and other spaces that believed in the Doctrines of Grace and advocated for a reform to take place where the Scriptures are seen as the final authority of faith and practice.

“Rather than downplaying the theology that brought us sound understanding, we should be clear and intentional in presenting it.”

Journalist Collin Hansen popularized the term “Young, Restless, and Reformed” in his 2006 article for Christianity Today, which later inspired his 2008 book. I believe this marked a significant and much-needed shift in the church at the time. However, I now notice a new shift taking place.

For many who left shallow, moralistic churches, it seems that some have now moved away from emphasizing the Doctrines of Grace. They no longer want to be associated with the label, and to me, it comes across as if they view this emphasis as something they’ve outgrown—implying it’s immature or no longer worth their time. I believe this is a serious mistake because it deprives those still in unhealthy churches of the same opportunity for transformation that we once had. By moving away from a focus on a robust theological framework, we are abandoning the very foundation God used to bring us to where we are today. It feels as though many have lost their sense of wonder and appreciation for the beauty and awe of the Doctrines of Grace.

“Instead of hiding it, we should celebrate it and strive to become even more grounded in Scripture.”

Rather than downplaying the theology that brought us sound understanding, we should be clear and intentional in presenting it. We need to challenge the next generation with these truths and guide them through the Scriptures in a way that allows them to root their faith in the Word, just as we did. I believe the Doctrines of Grace are grounded in Scripture, and they powerfully affirm the sovereignty of God, which is essential for both faith and practice.

Instead of hiding it, we should celebrate it and strive to become even more grounded in Scripture. We should celebrate, as The Ambassador did with what I believe is the greatest Christian Hip Hop album of all time, Christology: In Laymen’s Terms. This album gave me the privilege of realizing how much I still had to learn. Duce laid the foundation for many of us in urban churches, challenging us to think more deeply about our Christian faith. Track after track, the album showcased a theology and lyrical depth that exemplified what Christian Hip Hop should be—and what it should continue to aspire to. 

Lord willing, we may witness another movement where young people pursue a deeper relationship with God—one that moves away from the shallow, moralistic culture found in some churches and toward a vibrant, robust, and sound theological conviction. For this to happen, we must rely on the Holy Spirit to pave the way, just as He did when He led many of us to embrace the Doctrines of Grace.