God’s Grace Is Calling

Stanley Burrell popularly known as MC Hammer committed to Christ in 1984. With a deep passion for God, he attended Bible studies and church meetings almost daily and he was also active on an outreach team with a street ministry. At that time, a Gospel group he formed, the Holy Ghost Boys, produced a single called “Son of the King,” which eventually became one of MC Hammer’s biggest hits.

But a change came in 1988. Capitol Records re-released his first album, Feel the Power, as Let’s Get It Started. It produced 3 Top Ten singles and sold over a million copies.

Thankful for the success, MC Hammer promised God he would include one song of praise on each album. He kept his word, but fortune gradually sucked him into what he calls, “some serious junk.” He began to slide into sin and away from God’s protection.

Sin for Hammer wasn’t blatant. He wasn’t on drugs, but his business became a drug. “Most people who are addicted to success can identify this ‘business’ drug. It takes all your time away from God, from the family, from extended loved ones”, he said. Hammer believes he was living an illusion: “You create a utopia around you so you don’t have to deal with the reality that you’re not in the will of God. You wake up and realize you’re a backslider.”

The downward spiral continued until he produced a video several years ago, “That video was definitely over the line,” he says. He knew he was moving away from the Lord: “How can a Christian who’s not being obedient make Christian materials?” he asked.

In October 1997 he told an audience on the Trinity Broadcasting Network: “[Tonight] we are officially burying the old man. I want to walk sincerely in the newness of life with Christ.”

God’s grace is always calling us to a renewed walk with God and it is only His mercy that has not allowed our sinful actions to lead to death. His gift of grace and eternal life in Him is available to all who believe and accept Him.

“He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.” – Titus 3:5-7