Over the last year, artist and entrepreneur, Kanye West began to publicly profess faith in Jesus Christ. Kanye has been very outspoken about his conversion to Christianity. Even holding weekly worship services at his own home. This last week he released an all gospel album entitled Jesus is King. Which in turn, has sent both the Christian and secular worlds into a spiral. But in reality, Kanye’s personal relationship with the Lord is no one’s business. Not even the Church’s. In fact, we should never start to question the authenticity of anyone’s conversion.
It’s no wonder that many churches do not see new converts coming in and staying on a regular basis. Especially if every new convert is receiving the same treatment that Kanye has received from the Church so far. Many are judging his faith without ever listening to him speak or even listening to a single song on his new album. For those who have spent some time the Word, you know this goes against all the Bibles teaching on the act of judgment.
Matthew 7:1 (ESV)
7 “Judge not, that you be not judged.
Luke 6:37 (ESV)
37 “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;
Romans 14:4 (ESV)
4 Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
Romans 2:1 (ESV)
2 Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.
If you have something to say about Kanye’s past decisions or statements. Then I must ask what you were like before you really knew Jesus. If I was still held accountable for my actions before Jesus entered my life. Then I sure would not be headed to heaven. And the truth is neither would anyone else. Because we once were all guilty of similar sins. The Bible is clear that all men are sinners, but by God’s grace that can all be wiped away.
1 Corinthians 6:11 (ESV)
11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Romans 3:23 (ESV)
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
1 John 1:9–10 (ESV)
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
As far as any sins Kanye may have committed in the time since he has received salvation. Truth is we do not learn to walk without failing a few times and many of us still fall on occasion. You must remember that this is all new to him just like it once was to us. It will take time for him to get everything figured out.
So as long as his eyes are set after righteousness. No longer walking in darkness but walking in the light. And not making a practice of sinning. Then I see no issues with the new life Kanye is living. In time, he will grow more in the fullness of faith.
Ephesians 5:8 (ESV)
8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
1 John 3:9 (ESV)
9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God.
Follow Jesus’s direction and do not concern yourself with the issues in the life of another. Because the truth is you have enough issues in your own life that make it hard for you to see clearly. So take the time to deal with them instead of trying to address the issues in someone else’s life.
Matthew 7:3–5 (ESV)
3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
In reality, when we as Christians hear of anyone professing faith in Jesus for the first time, as Kanye has, we should praise God. Making a joyful noise just as the angels in heaven do. Because one more soul has been saved from the pits of hell. Avoiding the suffering that was awaiting them. Because of the grace of God, they have received the gift of eternal life in Heaven.
Luke 15:10 (ESV)
10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Instead of trying to make their conversion our business we should turn to prayer. We should ask God to guard them. Keeping them from temptation and false doctrine. Doing all we can to ensure the person stays on the right track. Taking the time to try and lead them to the fullness of truth. Because it is our duty to edify other believers. Building them up and helping to strengthen their faith in the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 (ESV)
11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
Romans 14:19 (ESV)
19 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.
Ephesians 4:29 (ESV)
29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
Ultimately though Christians need to drop these conversations about Kanyes conversion. Because it is no way our business. The role of the believers is never to judge whether or not another is truly saved. We will leave that up to the Lord on judgment day. He knows their heart and is the only one able to truly know who is saved and who isn’t. Since Jesus said it was not His place to judge while on earth. Then there is no way it is our place to judge someone.
John 3:17 (ESV)
17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
John 12:47 (ESV)
47 If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.
So we must stop trying to assess if Kanye’s conversation is real and focus on our own salvation. Just be happy that someone with such a great influence is drawing attention to the name of Jesus. If Paul was able to rejoice at the name of Jesus being preached in order to make his sentence in prison worse. Then the body of Christ should take even greater joy in anyone who brings the name of Jesus to the forefront of our society. No matter what the reason maybe.
Philippians 1:15–18 (ESV)
15 Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. 16 The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.
Oh and maybe take a minute to listen to the album for yourself. Even if it is not your preferred style of music as it is not mine. While I have not listened to each song in its fullness. From what I have heard each one contains deep biblical truth that does not come just from a surface level understanding of the Bible. Kanye is definitely working hard to grow in faith and his understanding of the Bible. That comes through in the lyrics in his new songs. Which is helping to expose countless others to the truth of scripture.
Personally, I loved Kanye before he professed faith because we are taught to love all people no matter how they live. And I continue to love him now. My hope and prayer is that he continues to grow in faith and that we will see great things come from him in the very near future.
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