Kanye West has spent most of his life making music that glorifies sex, materialism, and Kanye, idolizing himself in ways that have seemed downright shocking to most of civilized society. In a recent interview he called himself “the greatest human artist of all time.” Yet, in listening to Kanye’s new Jesus is King album, and in hearing pastor Adam Tyson’s account of the ways that God appears to be working in Kanye’s heart and mind, we should be cautiously optimistic that Jesus has radically saved Kanye West.
The skepticism that is permeating the online world among Christians is troubling in some ways. Many Christians seem doubtful that God could or would snatch a Kanye West from the pit of sin and death and set him on the solid foundation of Christ. Many seem eager to watch carefully, analyzing every move for evidence that Kanye is not, in fact, regenerate, but just another celebrity who is trying to make a buck. In fact, many Christians seem to be looking forward to seeing him stumble, as if they are hungry for proof that God has not rescued this man, that this is all a hoax, a ploy, or a sinister plot with politics at its heart.
The truth is that we have no way of knowing whether Kanye West is a Christian any more than we can know with certainty that our sweet little old neighbor lady is one. I have no idea what is in his heart or mind or what is going to come of all of this. But I do know that as Christians we should be hopeful. We should be rooting for him. We should be praying for Kanye West and thanking God for the opportunity to do so. Christians, of all people, should be excited about the prospect of this man influencing those in his very large circle for Christ. God doesn’t need Kanye any more than He needs us. Kanye can’t hurt God or the gospel. But, for all we know God had a plan from the foundation of the world to miraculously claim Kanye West as His own child. Are we really so quick to doubt that the creator of the universe would do such a thing?
It pains me to see Christians who are so cynical. I can promise you that if we are looking for displays of sinfulness in Kanye’s life, we won’t be disappointed. He will trip. He will stumble. He will sin in spectacular ways. But none of that necessarily means that this isn’t real. If we held ourselves to the standards that we expect this extremely newly converted, completely culturally brain-washed celebrity to keep, then we would all be running around constantly doubting our own salvation. Why are we so quick to believe that God can turn our wicked hearts, but not his?
Time will tell. I am all for taking a wait-and-see attitude. But, as we wait, let’s look forward to seeing more spiritual fruit. Let’s prayerfully and hopefully hold this man up instead of pessimistically holding out for a crash and burn. If we are more excited about being able to say “I told you so” than in seeing true salvation unfold, then we are sadly out of tune with the Spirit of God.
Very good Melissa. I agree.
The thing that nags at me, is seeing a person at this level of celebrity still immersed in their celebrity as a new convert. The New Testament frowns upon novices taking center stage at all, to say nothing of it being because of their life of sin.
I couldn’t name one on Kanye’s songs and couldn’t care less. To me he’s just another man who needs Jesus. This country is pickled in the idolatry of celebrity and celebrity status is an intoxicant that rivals any drug.
This can turn into a huge discussion of sprawling topics, but what makes a man powerful for the cause of Christ is not his position in the pagan world, but rather his unwavering commitment to the Word and will the living God. Jesus own hand picked disciples are exhibit A.
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1st Corinthians 1: (NASB)
26-For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; 27-but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, 28-and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, 29-so that no man may boast before God. 30-But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, 31-so that, just as it is written, “LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD.”
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I don’t say any of this to disparage Kanye in any way, but only as a call to remember that celebrity status means nothing to God.
I do hope and pray for this man that he be found to be good soil in which the Gospel finds a firm root bearing fruit an hundredfold. I just don’t find a biblical model for that being an immediate continuation of his celebrity. Almost all of those bearing the most fruit by God’s standards throughout the bible and church history have not been idols to the world.
Have you read Justin Peters posts on this over on Facebook? They are very good. I pray Kanye is for real (not that I’ve ever listened to anything of his) for the sake of his eternal soul and all those unsaved souls watching him intently. Right now it seems he’s being led astray. Praying.