Yay, Kanye

Despite singer Kanye West being a huge name in the music business for more than a decade, I couldn't name one song of his. Truth be told, I'm much more familiar with the occasional controversy and tumult which has dogged him while in the spotlight.

Even though I've had a keen ambivalence towards Kanye since I first heard his name, I am heartened to learn that he recently dove back into his Christian faith. His rediscovery included the release of a new album this past week entitled Jesus Is King, which he said allowed to him to shift his focus from multiple gods (i.e. fame, money, ego and pride) onto the one true God. 

As a person of the Christian faith myself, I realize full well that God can use literally anyone for His glory. Someone with the name recognition of a Kanye West could definitely impact millions of lost souls if indeed he serves God with all his heart, soul and strength. But as Andrew T. Walker of National Review astutely observes, Kanye needs intercession over reverence. 

Time will only tell of what will come from his radical conversion to Christianity. But in the wake of this news, I have one message of warning to my fellow Christians about West: There will be a temptation by well-meaning Christians to make him a champion of Christianity. Christians could easily impute their own cultural insecurities onto West, who is the very definition of a cultural icon. Let’s not do that.

The Apostle Paul warns in the New Testament about vesting too much hope and confidence in new converts, fearing they would be puffed up with pride (something, let’s be honest, Kanye has no problem exuding). We need to let Kanye be a Christian Kanye without making him into a Christian celebrity.

Of course since he has not been shy about his support for President Donald Trump, Kanye is openly mocked by secular progressives over his recent life choice and thus they predict another public meltdown being imminent. While that's not the least bit surprising, what saddened me was the self proclaimed Christians (including men of the cloth) who cynically dismiss this chapter of Kanye's life as little more than opportunism given he's got a new album to sell.

If it's the goal of Christians to help the lost learn about the gospel of Jesus Christ and thus develop a personal relationship with Him, I'd like to believe the more prolific reaction to Kanye's conversion would be to support and pray for another warrior for God's kingdom.

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