For those who don’t know who Kanye West is, he is a famous rap “artist,” as well as the five-year husband of Kim Kardashian. West recently made a bold statement; one he seems to unashamedly repeat every chance he gets. In that statement he professes to have accepted the gospel through repentance and faith, having come under conviction of the Holy Spirit. As a result, he claims to have had a genuine conversion experience. Many have denounced his profession as meaningless, or a publicity stunt. Some, while not setting aside his supposed conversion, have responded with skepticism. Given Kanye West’s past, they have the right to be skeptical for now.
Let me say at the outset, though it should be self-evident, that I am not defending West’s past, supporting rap “music,” nor am I speaking in support of everything he is now saying. I too was skeptical that he had accepted Christ. Nevertheless, I took the time to listen to full interviews he has done, and especially a 20-minute testimony he gave on Joel Osteen’s show. In that testimony he spoke of conviction, repentance and faith. I believe it possible he is saved. He made some statements in that same interview that (having been saved 50 years and in the ministry nearly 40) made me cringe. Nevertheless, he spoke of his upbringing in which his father took him to church Sunday morning, Sunday evening and Wednesday evening. He spoke of the mental breakdown he had as a result of chasing fame, wealth and glory, and how it resulted in his return to his “spiritual roots.” He spoke of being a father and his concern for his children’s spiritual lives. Even his wife is now publicly speaking of a need to change. Osteen’s listeners heard more about sin, conviction and repentance in 20 minutes of West’s testimony than they have ever heard from Osteen.
Is he saved and was his conversion real? Only time will tell. Is he confused about the scriptures? Absolutely - Yes. Do I approve of the “gospel music” he is now making? No – Definitely not. But, for now it appears that he is searching for truth. Given who surrounds him, no wonder he is confused. Joel Osteen, having latched onto him, certainly will not help in that area. He has no one to guide him, to “instruct him more perfectly from the scriptures,” but he seems to be trying. I am not saying he is saved or defending anything he says that is unscriptural. What I am saying is that it is easy for us who are saved and “have it all together,” to be critical of him at this point. In truth, those he needs in his life to influence him the most, so that he can learn the truth of God’s Word, are those most likely to be critical of his interest. It is those who could be his guide in the word of God that will be among the first to write him off. Sadly, the people most accepting of him are the very people whose influence he needs the least in his life in a pursuit of scriptural truth.
This blog is not about whether West is saved or not. But it does remind me of something in my own life. I was saved at an early age, but in the later part of high school and the early stages of my time in the military, I was not walking with Lord. I was saved, but in truth knew nothing of the Word of God. My wife was lost and knew even was less about the Word of God than I did, if that was possible. When we found out that she was pregnant with our first child, it stirred in me a desire to return to the Lord and to raise my child in church and in the knowledge of the Word and will of God. We had a spiritual desire to know and walk with the Lord. Our spiritual life at that point was little more than an ember, but it was there.
We began attending an independent Baptist church in Germany, where I was stationed. Before long, my wife came to know Christ and He stirred a desire in both our hearts. However, we were the very definition of “green.” We were hungry but ignorant. By the grace of God, the church we were attending took us in and invested in us. Several couples “adopted us.” They talked to us, invited us into their homes and were a blessing. At one point my wife and I wanted to return the favor and we invited them to our home. This was the first time we ever “entertained” Christians or had “church people” in our home. So, we decided it would be a good idea to go buy some “good music” to play during dinner. (Remember I said we were hungry but ignorant.) We lived off-base and rented an apartment from a kind German gentleman who was, in typical German fashion, always giving us wine. The plan was to play our “good music” during dinner, and to have some wine after dinner. I figured this was okay because after all, “Jesus turned the water into wine,” didn’t he? (Please do not write me. It has been 40 years, so I know the difference now)
Sitting down to eat, we turned on the music which was horrible. But no one acted horrified, or jumped up and proclaimed, “That’s the Devil’s music, and we should not be playing that horrible stuff because it is evil.” Rather, they patiently ate their meal and acted as if they genuinely cared about us. When it came time for the wine, they didn’t partake. But they patiently explained from the scriptures why they, nor we should. However, they did it in such a way that we felt discipled and were not made to feel dumb or belittled. As for the music, we got it straight as we sat under preaching. It was not the most pressing thing in our life that night, and they had the wisdom to understand that.
As I look back on that, after well over 40 years, it still makes me cringe a little. But we didn’t know any better at that point. What is important to understand is that we had a small ember of spiritual desire. That night around our table those who were much further along in the Lord than we, could have stamped that ember out by responding harshly, or by speaking the truth without patience, grace and wisdom. I can’t help but think of where my wife and I might be had those caring people not had the grace and patience to deal with us the way they did. If they had not, and had stomped on that little ember, resulting in us giving up on church and serving the Lord, I might never have had the opportunity to enjoy the ministry the Lord has given me, or to raise my family to know Him.
They didn’t compromise what they believed. They just had the wisdom to fan the flame of desire rather than throw water on it.
Whether Kayne West is saved or not, I don’t know. But his professed ember of a desire to know the Lord and the reaction of some, has remined me of what it was like to be hungry, yet ignorant. It has remined me of how important it is to have someone in your life at that stage with the grace, patience and the wisdom necessary to disciple you, rather than throw water on a little ember. It has reminded me of how I need to deal with those who have an ember of desire to know the Lord and to never pour water on it by not responding in the same grace someone once showed me. We cannot compromise truth, nor change who we are. However, we can help those who are searching by having the wisdom, grace and mercy to not crush that little desire that may be burning in their hearts, lit by the conviction of the Holy Spirit.
Jeff Merrick, Pastor
