What Are We To Do With Kanye West?

If you had told me a year ago that Kanye West would stand on Jimmy Kimmel's stage and unequivocally proclaim that he is a "Christian everything," I would not have believed you. But that's just what he did last week. He boldly stated that he has given his life to Christ and is dedicated to working for God. As you might imagine, there are skeptics from all circles chiming in to say he's insincere - that this is just a publicity stunt to sell his new album, "Jesus is King." Honestly, I have no idea what's in Kanye West's heart. I will have to say that his words have the ring of truth. And I will add that I have every hope that his conversion is real. Why wouldn't it be? Scripture tells us that all who call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Why not Kanye West? Some say he's shown signs of mental instability. Does that exclude him from the grace of God? Some say his past is littered with moral failures. Isn't that why Christ died - to forgive us our failures? The bottom line is this: If Kanye West is not eligible for redemption then neither am I.

Truth be told, I know very little about the man. I remember how sad he was when his Mama died... and how he took the stage when Taylor Swift won an award. I read that he made some folks mad when he met with the president. But, that's about it. So I'm just speculating here, but I don't see any reason why he wouldn't be telling the truth. If so, then what do the rest of us professing Christians do with him? I don't know about y'all, but I'm going to try to do right.

I'm going to pray for him. It is real hard to practice holy-living over here on Pinecliff Drive. I cannot imagine what it's like in his world. Pray for strength, pray for wisdom, pray for joy, pray for courage, pray for protection. Basically, pray what my own Mama prayed over me and what I pray for my children.

I'm going to love him. This should have already been in effect. That whole love your neighbor as yourself thing? Yeah. Kanye is a neighbor. Always has been. I kinda think our neighbor is anybody we become aware of... so yeah, love him. I confess that has not always been my first inclination toward Mr. West. I promise I'm gonna do better.

I'm going to expect the best. I am fully aware that there are those (including some who claim to be Christians) who are just waiting for the other shoe to drop. Watching for him to trip up. And in all likelihood that's bound to happen. In all likelihood it's gonna happen to every one of us, too. But that doesn't stop us from hoping we won't fall down and cheering when we get back up. Can't we do the same for Kanye?

Why does it matter what a fifty-something-year-old-grandma from North Carolina thinks about Kanye West? Well, it sort of goes back to my Daddy. He used to make prayer lists all the time and stick them in his Bible. On one of his lists he had written the names of several famous people that he had got in his mind he was supposed to be praying for. He said he reckoned that if any of them found the Lord, they would be in a position to have a big impact on the world. Because of who they were, people would listen. In fact, my Daddy prayed for some of the most unlikely converts to Christianity you could imagine in the 60's and 70's. I wish I remembered who they all were, but there's one in particular that I do recall. Jane Fonda. She was an iconic figure during that turbulent time in American history. She famously posed with an anti-aircraft gun in North Vietnam in protest of the war, where she earned the nickname "Hanoi Jane." (She later asked for forgiveness for that.) Now, I don't know what's in her heart any more that I know what's in Kanye's... but, I do know that Jane professed Christianity (albeit somewhat unorthodox) a while back. When I heard about it, I remembered Daddy's list. It had been 30+ years since he wrote down her name and commenced to praying. I like to think that Jesus winked at Daddy as he welcomed Jane into the fold. And, it stands to reason that if Daddy was still around, he just might have a little piece of paper in his Bible with Kanye's name on it. Since he's not here, I guess it's up to me to take up the mantle. So, Kanye, as you speak up and declare the Gospel, sing praises to the Lord, and bear witness to God's love and forgiveness... I'll be cheering for you. And praying. I got your name in the bowl. By the way, nice to see you smile! Selah.