Jesus is King! That's the truth and that's the title of Kanye West's newest album. As soon as I caught wind of the release, I jumped on Apple Music and took a listen. "Follow God" immediately jumped out. It's sounds like old Kanye, but it also doesn't. It sounds like Kanye guest rapping on a new Lecrae song. What the heck is going on here? Has Kanye really gone full Jesus-follower?
I know those questions have been burning through the minds of Christians and non-Christians alike, but one thing is for sure, Kanye is different. This should be recognizable to those that follow Jesus. He changes people. He makes us a new creation. Kanye is the very definition of "new creation". He's preaching and teaching the word of God on popular television and talk shows.
If it seems confusing or you have your doubts about God using the likes of Kanye West, may I remind you to take a look at those God used in scripture. People like Moses, David, Samson, Rahab, Jacob, Jonah, Paul, and the discples all had unusable qualities. None of them were perfect. They had baggage. They weren't qualified. Some of them had bad attitudes. Some of them did terrible things. Yet, God still used them.
In fact, Jesus is often seen rebuking the religious and pouring into and using the sinners. It shouldn't surprise us that God still does the same today.
Kanye West is screaming "Jesus is King" from the rooftops. Literally, he is plastering that message on giant billboards in Times Square. Justin Bieber is leading worship at Coachella and Hillsong Church. Country singer Thomas Rhett has been seen leading the masses in prayer at the CMT Awards. Why is it that God is choosing to use these unlikely celebrities to proclaim his name? Why is he using men who have some sketchy things in their background and probably have very little bible knowledge? Why isn't he using the biblical scholars, megachurch pastors, or famed Christian speakers in this way?
My guess is (it's only a guess because there is one God and I am not Him) the unlikely are willing to do it. The likely aren't. The unlikely are willing to make themselves vulnerable, recognize their need for God, and preach unashamedly. The unlikely aren't worried about making a political statement or protecting their brand. The unlikely are doing what new believers do....TELLING THE WORLD WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THEM.
I see the likely in a political firestorm right now. Many of the likely have attached themselves to a playboy president and a political party. Many of the likely are too busy arguing over second and third-tier theological interpretations. Many of the likely are trying too hard to out clever others on Twitter. In a nutshell, the likely have lost sight of the fact that JESUS IS KING!
Give Kanye credit. He may not be perfect. He might still throw in a cuss word or two. He might act like the world at times. However, at least he is willing to put it on blast that JESUS IS KING. And not only is he saying it, he's living like it.
Likely, have we lost our way? Have we forgotten that Jesus is King, not us? Are we like the merchants James describe in James 4:13-17, "Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the LORD's will, we will live and do this or that." As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn't do it, it is sin for them."
God hates pride and He has no intentions of using the prideful to proclaim His name. Prideful people aren't going to project His name on the marquee. Prideful people are going to promote their own names. I praise God that He is using the unlikely. Maybe some of us "likely" will catch on and join this movement of the Lord!
