Kanye West - what shall we think?

We're not called to judge

Kanye West

On the one hand, we are not called to judge whether or not the rapper Kanye West is a true believer. We actually can't make that judgement, for the Lord alone knows the heart.

It would be wonderful if he was truly converted and if "Jesus is King" turns out to be his own personal testimony, for real.

For myself, I was intrigued and encouraged by his interview with James Cordon on an aeroplane. Listen for yourself, and make up your own mind, here Interview.

How to respond
If we are not to judge this or any other man or woman, how should we respond to his recent confession of faith?

In the first place we should never think as the world thinks: that the conversion of a world-famous rapper will result in greater impact than the conversion of an unknown country boy.

You hear this kind of thing all the time, "What a global influence he will have!" But that is exactly the opposite of the way the Bible speaks and opposite to the way the Holy Spirit works. Jesus chose nobodies - either fisherman types or gifted-but-then-humbled-before-useful-Saul-turned-Paul types - so that God's mighty power might be evident in them.

It is a secular myth that converted wealthy or educated or influential people - as the world defines them - have more influence than ordinary folk in the kingdom of God. It is a myth to think that influence perculates downwards - as if there is a downwards in the church! If anything, the NT teaches that influence perculates upwards, from those regarded as weak and foolish in the eyes of this world.

So we are not to think, "If this is true, there will be global revival among his fans!"

Secondly, if his conversion is real, he is likely to receive not praise, but hostility from his fan base. For what company does light have with darkness? People who enjoyed his past lyrics (many of which are unprintable here) are not going to revel in his new ones. When Paul was converted his old pals turned out to be his greatest enemies! A truly repentant Kanye may discover that his fans desert him in the droves.

Thirdly, and tragically, we have other examples of superstars who went through a religious phase - even a Christian phase - but are seemingly nowhere today. When Bob Dylan was supposedly converted he came out with albums (Slow Train Coming, Saved, Infidels) whose words were unbelievably mature, (and often far surpass modern Christian song writers) but where is dear Dylan today?

So, fourthly, we should simply pray, wait and see. Before very long the fruit of the Spirit will emerge and evidence will abound: by their fruit shall you know them.

Fifthy, what a young believer needs is to be hid away for a few years, not put on a pedestal. For Kanye's spiritual growth and benefit - not to mention his ego - he should be kept miles from all platforms, all pulpits and all Christian TV channels, taken under the wing of a godly group of believers in a local church and taught the ways of Christ - discipled - for perhaps five or even ten years.

He should be advised to give no interviews and sort out what it means to follow Jesus Christ in his heart, family and local church.

Please, please don't ruin him!
Recently a famous American preacher has put Kanye West on his big fat stage. This is emphatically not good news, for this kind of exposure could easily ruin Kanye.

May the Lord give wisdom to church leaders, and especially to Kanye's local church - wherever that may be.