Is Jesus Still King?
By: Slow to Write Topic: cultureKanye recently said on Instagram he lost 2 billion dollars in one day. This is because after a series of antisemitic remarks, Adidas ended their deal with Kanye—a deal worth 1.5 billion dollars.
Other companies like Gap, Creative Artists Agency, TJ Maxx, and Foot Locker have also severed ties with Kanye. What I’m wondering, however, is has Kanye severed ties with Jesus?
That doesn’t mean losing 2 billion dollars isn’t important. However, what will it profit Kanye if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? (Matthew 16:26).
Severing ties with Jesus is more costly than 2 billion dollars.
After all, money isn’t king—Jesus is.
Kanye released his Jesus is King album 3 years ago this week. Many Christians, including myself, were happy Kanye seemingly repented from his sins and believed in Christ. Since then, however, he seems to believe he’s king, not Jesus.
In my review of Jesus is King, I said, “some of us are skeptical of the genuineness of Kanye’s faith. And that isn’t necessarily wrong. The fruit of genuine repentance is perseverance in faith.”
Over the last 3 years, it’s become apparent that Kanye isn’t persevering in faith. From what I understand, he’s severed ties with the pastor he heard the gospel from—the pastor he once invited to preach the gospel at one of his “Sunday Services”.
And it doesn’t look like he’s a member of a church. In fact, after partnering with false teachers like Joel Osteen and suggesting that Mormons are Christians—Kanye’s recent antisemitic words suggest he’s become influenced by Black Hebrew Israelites.
Kanye said: “When I say Jew, I mean the 12 lost tribes of Judah, the blood of Christ, who the people known as the race Black really are…This is who our people are. The blood of Christ. This, as a Christian, is my belief.”
He’s also said: “We collectively are god. We as a collection…God is in us. So collectively, we are God.”
Therefore Kanye has returned to his vomit. His life seems no different than before he professed faith in Christ. His unrepentant sins, however, have received little attention from those of us who gave him plenty of attention after he professed faith in Christ.
The only time Kanye has received significant attention from evangelicals since he released Jesus is King is when Candace Owens shared a picture of her and Kanye wearing “White Lives Matter” shirts.
For some evangelicals, it seems like Kanye is only relevant as a poster boy for black conservatism.
If you cared about Kanye’s soul when he released Jesus is King, you should care about his soul now. In his song, “Hands On” from that album, Kanye said:
“I deserve all the criticism you got, If that’s all the love you have, that’s all you got, To sing of change, you think I’m joking, To praise His name, you ask what I’m smoking ,Yes, I understand your reluctancy, yeah, But I have a request, you see, Don’t throw me up, lay your hands on me, Please, pray for me.”
So please pray for Kanye. Pray that God would again direct his steps to preachers of the gospel. Pray that he would believe and repent. Pray that he would remember that Jesus is still king—and that he should serve him.
That is worth more than 2 billion dollar