Who Is Kanye West?
Kanye West is a popular rapper that just released his 9th record. This record is different than his previous records because it’s all about Jesus. In fact, the title is Jesus Is King. The record is at the top of the Billboard charts in spite of people telling Kanye a Gospel record would “kill his career.” People from all walks of life and all sections of popular culture are talking about Kanye and Kanye is talking about Jesus.
Some Christians are wondering if his conversion is authentic, he even references that issue in the song “Hands On.”
What have you been hearin' from the Christians?
They'll be the first one to judge me
Make it feel like nobody love me
Make you feel alone in the dark and you'll never see the light
Sorry about that Kanye, we should know better.
Some in the music industry say it’s just clever marketing, I disagree.
Kanye has professed Jesus as Lord for most of his life, his mom raised him as a Christian, but something has changed. Now he seems to want to live his life to glorify God rather than himself.
On a recent record, he declared himself a god. Now he says that he was blasphemous and wants to change his ways. I can’t make a judgment on Kanye’s heart but I have watched several interviews with him and he consistently refers to his previous life as sinful and something to be left behind. It sounds like repentance to me.
He has even asked his celebrity wife, Kim Kardashian, to dress more conservatively. Not because God is upset with her if she doesn’t, but because of the kind of example it sets for their young daughters.
I’ve seen several fashion media outlets discuss the impact of provocative clothing on small children as a result of the West’s conversation about clothing.. The discussion is centered around Kanye and Kim’s very public marital issues, but the context of the public conversation is whether or not certain clothing is a good example for kids or not. New York fashion week hasn’t been too concerned about their impact on kids, but now it’s being discussed.
That may seem like a superficial issue, but I see it as a seed. Kanye and Kim’s public discussion about honoring their bodies as the temple of God is causing conversations about godliness is sections of culture that would never talk about Jesus.
The conversation over that particular issue isn’t over the lordship of Jesus, but it may cause enough of a pause in some people’s lives in that industry to turn to God and think about their influence on kids. God only needs the slightest crack in the door to invade someone’s heart.
I pray those seeds, no matter how shallow they may be, are watered by kind and loving Christians so the Holy Spirit has the opportunity to bring an increase in their lives…unto salvation.
You may not have been around very dark places or sections of culture, but trust me, the smallest light is incredibly noticeable in those circles.
Kanye’s impact on the fashion world is just one example.
Why Talk About Kanye West?
I have paid attention to the media coverage, all different kinds of people are talking about Jesus because they’re talking about Kanye. He’s popular right now, so people are going to talk about him, so he’s using that influence to point the conversation to Jesus.
One interviewer told Kanye that it seems like he wants to convert people to Christianity, as if that were an un-politically correct thing to do. Kanye’s response was, “that’s all I want to do.” The interviewer couldn’t wrap his head around the fact that Kanye was being bold and wasn’t making room for people to believe whatever they wanted.
Kanye is forcing the conversation, and he’s doing it with the Gospel. Kanye isn’t telling the world they’re sinful and they need to repent, he’s telling them who Jesus is. He’s telling the world that Jesus was sent by God to die for them because God loves them. He’s telling they need to be and can be saved by grace through faith in Jesus.
Believe it or not, millions of people still don’t know that. Their only encounter with Jesus has been through judgmental Christians that give them condemnation rather than mercy.
Think about how many celebrity Christians are radical for Jesus. Not many right? We see lots of public figures profess their faith or acknowledge Jesus, but how many high profile people are radically evangelizing the world for Jesus?
Most people that are famous walk their faith back a bit. They'll acknowledge Jesus but make a concession for other beliefs. Especially politicians, most of them don’t want to offend people or lose votes so they don’t use their platform to encourage people to receive Jesus and be born again.
Millions of Christians obviously do this, we’re sold out for Jesus, but I just don’t see many famous people radically using their platforms to bring people to the saving knowledge of Jesus.
What if there were 1000 Kanye’s?
Kanye is at the very top of the music industry right now, what if other people at the top of their industries were radically sold out to Jesus. And of course, what if you were? I’ll let the Holy Spirit work that one out for you and move on.
Just for fun, let’s list some people at the top of their industries and imagine what it would look like if they were using their influence to preach the Gospel and bring people to Christ. I’m praying for these people.
President Donald Trump
Bill Gates
George Soros
Cristiano Ronaldo
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson
Barack Obama
Mark Zuckerberg
Nancy Pelosi
Sam Harris
Who is on your list?
It may “seem” impossible, but what if?
Let’s Make Jesus Popular
Pop culture responds to what is popular. Most of the church would say the world is too dark or too far gone to be predominantly Christian or be receptive to Jesus. Many Christians believe the world is going to get darker, the church is going to have to hide in caves and the devil is going to take over the planet. I think the spirit of God in the hearts of his people is more powerful than that. I think we can actually be effective. More importantly, I think the kingdom of God will not be denied. Jesus was the seed that God planted in the earth and he will continue to grow until his kingdom is all that’s left.
Don’t forget, Jesus wins!!
People knowing the true Gospel and having a real encounter with Jesus is what makes the difference. It’s the kindness and goodness of God that brings people to repentance.
Christians are praying for a move of repentance but aren’t focusing on the “kindness of God” message. It’s time to change our approach, lead with kindness, love, and mercy.
Romans 2:1 You therefore have no excuse, you who pass judgment on another. For on whatever grounds you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. 2 And we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. 3 So when you, O man, pass judgment on others, yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? 4 Or do you disregard the riches of His kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that GOD’S KINDNESS LEADS YOU TO REPENTANCE?
People encounter God’s kindness through other Christians and the Gospel. Our kindness toward the world and our bold declarations of the Gospel will be the catalyst for a massive move of repentance.
Evangelism and You
What does evangelism look like for you? To me, it’s a unique expression of your relationship with Jesus. It looks different for everyone. Evangelism is like art, it’s personal and from the heart. Evangelism is most effective if it’s the fruit of a personal relationship with Jesus rather than an obligation.
Many of us walk back our faith because of life’s circumstances. We’ve been through some hard things and we’re just trying to do the best we can. So many of us are in debt, are sick or are in pain, and it robs our drive to live beyond ourselves and be radical witnesses for Jesus.
I want to encourage you to spend some time with God and ask him what he wants you to do to proclaim his Gospel to others. No more excuses! Be ready in season and out of season.
You can trust that the Gospel will bear fruit in people’s lives. Take some time to revisit your understanding of the simple message of the Gospel and simply tell others about it. People are dying to hear about Jesus and his love for them. You can do it, step out a little, ask God to lead you, share the Gospel!!
