At the outset of my article, I want to make my position very clear: I think that Kanye West is a creative genius; a truly gifted individual musically. Across the years, he has created music that is both beautiful and timeless. Deeper than these statements, I am exceedingly glad that he has accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior (I don’t know how any who takes what it means to be a ‘Christian’ seriously can hear this and not be happy). May God bless and keep Kanye West.
That said, there are some real issues that we need to consider when we think about Kanye’s recent foray into the world of Christian worship and Gospel music. At the time this article is published, Mr. West will have released a album entitled “Jesus Is King” and will have held several “Kanye Worship Services” across the country. Given Kanye’s celebrity, this is not a conventional type of moment and must be not be viewed as such. This phenomena has sparked much conversation in the Christian religious community, with believers in God through Jesus Christ offering both support and criticism for the efforts of the famed rapper, producer & designer.
The challenge of this moment is not what is transpiring. For perspective sake, Kanye West is not the 1st rapper to transition from the secular music scene into the Gospel one (Nicki Minaj, David Banner, Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent all have done similar transitions in varying capacities). What is making this moment challenging for so many (whether people realize it or not) is the context in which it is happening.
So often, when issues of the day are discussed (or written about, as it were) very little room is left for nuance. We are socialized in a way that does not leave room for middle ground. The thing must either be one thing or another. And while there are absolutely moments where there is no gray area and an absolute must be both established and held to, this is not one of those moments. In fact, the only way to appropriately comprehend all of this is by considering all of the things operating in concert. The only way to appropriately comprehend this is with ‘nuance’.
This circumstance is happening where the church, writ large, is being taken to task; where the integrity and importance of the house of God is being questioned (In fact, many of those who defend Kanye’s movement are those who are attempting to protect him from being judged by ‘church folk’ because they, themselves, have been judged by ‘church folk’). The condemnation, backbiting, inconsistency and immaturity in many (not all) of our churches has wearied those in and out of the church. Many in 2019 view Christians as people who like Jesus but don’t act like Jesus. This vantage diminishes the value of the church for many people.
This occurrence is also taking place at in a time when the church universal is in the middle of a paradigm shift. As she is in danger of becoming wholly irrelevant in this present age, members of the body of Christ are more prone to accept things & people in the name of cultural relevance that do more harm than good to the witness of the Church. This is not to suggest that the Church, as a whole, should not welcome (even encourage) innovative, atypical worship experiences (I believe that we should), but that type of movement should not come at the expense of the church’s integrity. Simply put, what we do, as the Church should never compromise who we are, as the Church. The acceptance of a lower standard in the name of a higher profile is not the sign of a progressive institution. Rather, it is an indictment on a regressive one. Jesus should be enough.
In addition to these truths, Is the reality that at the center of this circumstance is a person who has consistently operated in deep seeded narcissism. Certainly, we all have our vices and, as we have those vices, we have a responsibility to think critically about how to best function in the world while working through those vices. The person who has struggled with the demon of alcohol addiction doesn’t get to open up a bar without there being at least some question about their motivations. How much more so for the person who has struggled with the demon of vanity? The 7th chapter of Matthew reminds us that we will know actual believers “by the fruit they bear”. Kanye just told a media outlet that he desires to change his name to “Creative Genius Billionaire Kanye West” in order. What kind of fruit is that? When it comes to glorifying names, the name of Jesus should be enough.
With all of these factors playing into this moment, it makes perfect sense for a popular character with a questionable character to be able to hold worship services with his own name on them and be widely accepted by those who profess that there “is a name above every name”.
Whether intended or not, what these experiences facilitate are membership to Christianity without maturation in Christ. The Christian faith is more than good music and an entertaining experience. And, no figure (no matter how famous) should be allowed to represent it as such. The Bible asks a question in Romans 10 fitting for this moment: “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?”. The Bible connects salvation through the preached Word and not musical stimulation. You don’t have to prioritize entertainment to evangelize to people, Jesus should be enough.
Christianity is more than a spiritualized social club. It is an orientation to the world predicated on a knowledge and acceptance of Jesus’ truth and teachings. Kanye is at these services telling people that the enslavement of Africans in this country was a choice that our ancestors made themselves & endorsing Donald Trump. If people can question Mark Owens or Darrell Scott or Paula White’s brand of Christian belief because of their support of 45, why would Kanye get a pass?
All of these factors (and more) are why nuance is needed to consider this moment rightly. I can celebrate and rejoice with Kanye for his deepened relationship with Jesus Christ (lest we forget that he has be professing relationship with Jesus since ‘College Dropout’ album in 2004) while challenging the brand of Christianity he is espousing. I can take exception to the way that he is navigating the worship services that bear his name while owning that he has the same license that we all do as believers in Jesus to grow, mature and evolve. I can think the “So Anxious” gospel remix is fire while still feel some type of way about him devoting himself to the Republican party during worship. To do this, is not hating on Kanye. It is taking our faith seriously enough to be honest about what Kanye is doing.
I think that Kanye West is a creative genius; a truly gifted individual musically. Across the years, he has created music that is both beautiful and timeless. Deeper than these statements, I am exceedingly glad that he has accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior (I don’t know how any who takes what it means to be a ‘Christian’ seriously can hear this and not be happy). May God bless and keep Kanye West.
But, I will not be attending a Kanye Worship Service anytime soon. I take my faith too seriously to condone anything that appears to be playing with it. My faith is not validated by celebrity converts because I have always expected it to be able to convert celebrities. There is no need for gimmicks, publicity stunts or fads in Christianity; Jesus. Should. Be. Enough.
