Jesus is King and Kanye’s a Fool
Kanye West has become Christianity’s town crier and just released an album (and IMAX movie) called Jesus is King to make it official. Months ago, he started doing Sunday Services, and people were gagging in glee because they were so touched that this man was loudly proclaiming his love for God in a public setting. It was like the Sunday Services somehow erased the foolishness he has been steeped in, within the last 3-5 years and ESPECIALLY within the last year.
I’m truly perplexed as to how so many people (who are smart and principled) are currently supporting Kanye, or asking for others to feel some sort of positive vibes towards him. All because he’s made Jesus his favorite hashtag.
First, let me remind people why there are so many of us who have put KanYe Omari West in the Land of Abandoned People. Here’s a list of some of the things Kanye has done and said (these aren’t rumors or hearsay but actual public things) in the last 2 years:
- Wear and sell merch with the Confederate flag
- Say slavery is a choice and that if the “net is cast, we should move”
- Tweet about Trump, his “brother”
- Visit the White House and Cheeto Satan
- Wear the red MAGA hat proudly
- And just 2 days ago, he said Black people are “culture-less”
Kanye has lost his rabid ass mind, so those of us who want to shun him from the cookout didn’t arrive to this place lightly. Because most of us were massive Ye fans. To see our dude devolve into this no-sense having MAGA robot in apocalyptic clothes is painful too. So when we say we ain’t buying the hype or them UGLASS Yeezy shoes or the Christianity Caricature Theater that is Sunday Services, folks act like we’re being too uppity. Talmbout “Aren’t we all sinners? Why can’t we forgive Kanye?”
FORGIVE KANYE FOR WHAT?!?! HE AIN’T SORRY ABOUT ANYTHING HE’S DONE. This is who he is now. We’re being nostalgic about 2006 Kanye so we’re allowing 2019 Kanye to be a total dumbass.
Before I wrote this piece, I went and read every single lyric in “Jesus is King” to make sure I didn’t miss some big apology that Kanye made for his pro-Trumpness, his recent anti-Blackness and his belligerent ignorance. Sure enough, there weren’t any mea culpas in there. So tell me. What are we forgiving Kanye for? What are we giving him grace for?
Is it because we’ve all agreed that he’s clearly suffering from some mental illness? Well, I will not stigmatize people who are bipolar by blaming that diagnosis for Kanye’s misdeeds. People have agency and Kanye is especially wealthy enough to have all the resources to be able to handle his well.
Is it because his mother died? Let’s let Donda rest, and not blame her death for the reason for her son acting out a WHOLE 12 years later. That Black woman did her job of raising him.
Is it because he’s married to Kim Kardashian? Well, we can’t blame her for this foolishness either, because she’s become the most reasonable person in this marriage, even engaging in prison reform activism. The world is truly topsy turvy when I have to give Kim props for ACTIVISM. *shudders*
So what are we coddling Kanye for?
Are we supposed to give grace to Kanye purely because of his Christianity Off-Broadway show and now terrible holy mixtape? Kanye’s getting all this credit for “bringing people to Christ” as if Kirk Franklin ain’t been Stomping for Jesus for 20 years! As if Yolanda Adams ain’t SANG US TO GLORY countless times. As if DMX didn’t spend the 90s accepting awards while barking prayers on grand stages! There are so many people who sing about Christ and who use their platform to amplify Mary and Joseph’s son. They were here before Kanye, and they’ll be here after Kanye decides he’s bored and on to the next thing.
Our ol’ easily impressed asses. The man is on some tour to clap off beat while wearing the clothes he imagines we’d wear when everything the book of Revelations predicts happens. Do we erase whatever harm is done by him being loudly pro-Habanero Hitler because of his weekly Apocalypse and Judgment Day Fall Collection Runway Show and some lyrically weak album?
What in the Calabasas hell…?
I am a Christian, and I am clear that we are all messes. And I am clear that Jesus shoulda dropkicked us all off this planet by now. And I am clear that we all make mistakes. But mistakes are mistakes because we realize we shouldn’t have done or said the thing. At no point has Kanye said or shown that his deeds of the past were things he considers errors. At no point has he said “I wore the red hat of iniquity and I should not have.” All Kanye did was one day, start praising Jesus with hundreds of people around him.
So those who are like “who are we to judge?” That is a whole ass copout and you know it. Church folks be the most judgingest people. The argument of Kanye is now “born again so we need to let him be” would be valid if he demonstrated that he left the sins of the past in the past.
If the people he is bringing to Christ are watching his actions, their idea of Christianity gotta be skewed. If this ain’t the epitome of “beware of false prophets” I don’t know what is. This one with the last name of West is looking mighty shady. I’m just loving how some people are doing Simone Biles flips to justify their continued support of Kanye. Their backs gotta hurt from the matrix bend they’re doing to stand with Kanye. Like… ok.
The flips that Kanye supporters do are many.
Look, it’s bullshit fine if you have attended his church service and had a good time. But you’re not doing it because you’re some sort of forgiving saint who is more elevated than the rest of us. You did it because you wanted to revel in good music and good times. It’s okay. Leave the pretense, though. Kanye is (really, was. Because his recent music has been trash. I said what I said) a musical genius, and that is what most people can agree on, no matter how we feel about him today. However, let’s all not kid ourselves into thinking he has been transformed into some new being who is smarter or more discerning or more emotionally mature. He is just making good (that’s hella debatable) music that is churchy.
This is also why I fully understand people who frown on religion, because fanaticism is real, and we’re watching it in real time, as people worship at the Church of Ye, without question. Jesus was a refugee who shunned money, ate with the most marginalized and saw their humanity. He preached love in the visceral way of caring for your neighbor. If Kanye was that person, he’d live it, not just preach it. There are some non-believers who are more Christ-like than some staunch Christians.
Yes, his relationship with Jesus and the holy trinity is his. But he’s monetizing that relationship, even going as far as trying to trademark “Sunday Services.” So yes, we can look critically at this newfound fanaticism. Capitalism is a religion and money is a god too.
And then the straw argument that folks throw is “well I can support Kanye even though I disagree with him politically.” That’s weak. When your politics support a president who is openly racist, anti-Black, anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim, pro-white nationalist then your politics are officially PERSONAL and really harmful.
We ain’t cool, no matter how much you sing about Jesus.
Kanye: Your mama is a baldheaded scallywag with lice and a titanium beard and she is trash.
People: YOOOO Kanye is out of control and we must not support him.
Kanye *3 months later*: Your mama is scum. But I love Jesus.*sings off key* I LOVE JESUS SO MUCH. Your mama is still not a whole human. But Jesus!!!!!! Yayyyyy Jesus!
People: Wow, y’all. Kanye found Jesus. Let us embrace our brother in Christ. Don’t judge him.
So we can say wildly inappropriate and harmful shit unapologetically, be a fan of the man who literally has babies in cages and thinks anyone who isn’t white is an animal. But as long as we sing about Jesus, we are okay. Got it.
Lemme tell Chrisette Michele to drop a gospel album so people can finally forgive her for that one time she sang at the Trump inauguration. People have sworn her, her future kids and their play cousins off. Apparently, all she had to do was say “Jesus” three times on a record and redemption will appear for her like Beetlejuice. Except not, because she’s a Black woman and that ain’t how any of this works for us but that’s another piece for another day.
We can hope for redemption for North’s Daddy (I’m still rooting for him that he wakes up one day and goes “I’m sorry for the last 5 years.”). But don’t write off people who are giving Kanye epic side-eye as haters or people who are looking to be upset. There is a long line of people who have used God’s name to gain favor without doing real work.
Grace is necessary in life and redemption is possible. Grace isn’t earned, since it’s mostly a gift, so we can give him some, but not enough to excuse all of this. And redemption happens when people take a journey of transformation. But the only transformation from Kim’s husband has been a descent into senselessness When Donald Trump Jr., the Ghost of Racist and Dimwitted Present cosigns your album, you might wanna start over.
This is so embarrassing!
I’m sick of Kanye’s foolishness and until he gets it together, there’s no amount of autotuning for Jesus that will make his actions okay.
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43 Comments
You have no idea how much this is needed! I’m in shock of how many people I follow are on this Kanye is redeemed train. I hate it so much!
I don’t think it’s a train. I have never been down to publicly call out someone or say whether or not they are faking. God is only one who can answer to that ya know. Cause We won’t lose our salvation for a town crier. Shoot, I honestly pray this journey touches something down on the inside of him
I’ve said this multiple times… He is trying to form a cult. The Jim Jones Ye edition. I would not drink that hoe/ I mean Holy water he and KimmyKakes serving up at their Sunday (pop festivals)Services.
Respect your opinion. Some good and valid points. When the Apostle Paul converted folks were skeptical, mainly out of fear because of his reputations for killing Christians. But none the less, he was cast out to various places because Christians weren’t accepting him at first. Such as with Paul, some have been saying “time will tell” about Kanye. Lastly, Just because there hasn’t been any public apology does it mean that repentance isn’t at work? Kanye did a project with Kid Cudi last year called Kids See Ghost. In the self titled track Kanye says:
”Got a Bible by my bed, oh yes I’m very Christian, Constantly repentin’ ’cause yes I never listen, Don’t like bein’ questioned and don’t like bein’ less than”.
Not a full blown “apology” but could this be seen as a reflection as change at work in his heart?
I’m not so sure about that.
Titus 3:3-7
3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Matthew 5:22 (ESV)
But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother[a] will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.
There are at least hundred scriptures referring to false prophets…but to each his own.
I’m sending this to my cousin. Some of y’all might have cousins who need to read it too.
I have a cousin group chat. One of them said text yesterday “I’m not a Kanye fan but his new album is fire” and we all went in. Her sister responded with a series of “booooos.” My rant included a bunch of curse words (about him not her). We ain’t playing no games with this nonsense!
I saw Kanye here in Jamaica 11 days ago with his choir and have a lot of mixed feelings about him. I liked the fact that he has given 120 people opportunities to showcase their talents but based on this article, his motives are suspect.
Just know that this article is totally her opinion and not the word of God. There is nothing biblical about it, for someone who professes to be a Christian.
????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Phil 1:15,17,18 (NIV)
It is true that some preach Christ out of envy & rivalry…The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely…But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way…Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.
this is the one. Christ is preached….period.
This article right here is a must read about this situation. https://www.npr.org/2019/10/23/771864891/forgotten-the-things-we-lost-in-kanyes-gospel-year
This article is soooo deep! Knowledge is power!!
Thanks for posting this article!!!
For those who say we shouldn’t judge and at least the Word is being preached.. what Word exactly? Because “you’re my chick fil a..” is nowhere in my Bible. Also, when the Word is coming from someone who speaks an entire different “sermon” every other day besides Sunday via twitter and other places his nonsense pops up, people following him are on a dangerous road. I am a Christian, I believe in Christ, I try to love everyone as Christ does, but this… thisis that BS right here.
Girrrrllll. I’ve missed this. The Beetlejuice line almost killed me.
So after all this, all Kanye has to do tomorrow is say, “I’m sorry for the last 5 years.” and you’ll be cool? Your impeccable record of Ye offenses will be gleefully shredded to pieces and tossed in the garbage? Really? You mean you won’t move the goal post again, demand more penance, all while clinching the grace of God for yourself, dear “Christian”? Yeah. Ok. Thank goodness grace actually DOES excuse/cover ALL of our mess – without consulting other’s conditions, records, or time limits.
Repentance is real and if that’s all that is needed for forgiveness, and if Mr.West shows no remorse or repentance is she wrong to point it out?
Repentance about what though? Where does it say in the Bible that if you support Donald Trump that you will go to hell? Isn’t it our lack of belief in Jesus & all that he did for us that makes us eternally separated from him?
With all of the devout Southern Christian Trump Supporters on my FB posting this song accompanied by “this is what we need now” “this gives me chills to have entertainers make such a public show of faith”. It’s bullshit people! Thank you so much for writing this. It is everything I have been thinking sense the album release.
I thought I would give it a chance so I watched Carpool Karaoke from Monday night and it just fueled my flame more. In there he mentions that he was in debt and once he became a servant of God and answered that calling he had one of the best years ever. Maybe because you own so many companies and Frumps economy helps you out in the tax area…..maybe? So non believers answer God’s calling it will help you on your taxes? I then turned it off. Couldn’t even finish it.
Ahhh the true arbitors of salvation! We should worship you instead since you can see into the heart of one that publicly professes belief and trust in Jesus Christ.
Cause as we all know anyone that doesn’t support the Democratic movement and party is an unbeliever and will rot in the never ending abyss of hell…
Communism, socialism, transgenderism, reparations are all clearly biblical doctrines.
Kanye is a black man and all black men should vote Democrat cause that’s what black people do.
She didn’t lie…not…not one lie is found.
She gave her opinion. So no, unless she was lying to herself she didn’t lie. Only God knows what’s in our hearts and what our motives are
So glad to see a blog post from the newly minted Mrs. Jones! It’s been too long, and you’ve been missed; you know your words give us life! Congrats on all the success as you build your media empire. I am looking forward to more posts that continue to articulate what I think and feel, one situation at a time. Oh, and thoughts and prayers for Kanye (tongue firmly in cheek).
I am deeply moved by this article, and would love to see any further thoughts you have on Zora Neale Hurston’s writings re the church and Christianity. As a white Christian who left Evangelicalism once and for all when in 2016 it became apparent white faithful were doubling down on Trump for the same reasons they’d already voted against Barack Obama, I’m looking for voices of faith such as yours. You may not even be talking to me, and that’s fine. I’m going to quietly listen anyway because I’ve discovered it is still possible to learn something, even now, even here in MAGAland.
You and your likes are the ones destroying our young ones with your deception always claiming your protecting the black community,,,
I don’t care what you think or about your opinion about Kanye west,,,, this is a new generation and I don’t want anybody thinking for me
Please keep your junk writing to your self and your low esteemed friends
Allow us to be the judge,,,, if he was signing about drug and showing us unclad women on his videos then you will applaud him,,,
For some reason I want to use some curse words on you for your deception.
Hw many times have you written an article about the rappers singing about drugs and showing naked ladies in their videos,,, how their music have destroyed our community
You are simply an agent of darkness and I advice you to look deeply into the mirror… and ask the pertinent question
You are an IDIOT who also can’t spell. You are also a coward who has very low IQ and low self esteem. If you didn’t, you would the point Luvvie is making with this post. But I can see that your common sense can’t comprehend this so I will leave you with your bitterness.
You don’t care what she thinks but you read a whole blog post that she wrote? Sir, you don’t have to come to her website. You don’t have to ready anything she writes. This is her blog and she said what she said.
Hahaahahhahahahahhaahhahaha… Mista JAKE TUNAAAAAAA!!!!!! your comment is hilarious on SO MANY LEVELS!!! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA… I usually don’t comment on uneducated comments but yours has a little bit of JE NE SAIS QUOI that got me wondering.. WHO DO YOU THINK YOU AAAAARE? Ati “I don’t care what you think”.. but sir hmmmm.. again.. who are you? einh? You write as if this was a “Dear Mr. Tuner, allow me to change your mind about Broda West”… You do not care about what now? whooooooo are youuuu? nobody cares about what you care or do not care about because .. again, HU A U?
Honest to God, this whole book I just wrote coulda been sum’d up in.. “But, who are you?” hahahahahahaha
Ahahaaahaaa, I can’t stop laughing. I truly believe that everyone has a right to voice his/her opinion. And although my opinion my vastly differ than yours, I protect your right to think as you wish. For Jake Turner to sit here with the wherewithal to construct, what he might otherwise consider, an intelligent message lending itself to the masses, but coming off looking more foolish than anything. There isn’t a soul here making you read Luvvie’s work. You have the free will to move on to another blog post and ignore her writing all together. My question for you, Mr. Turner, is why did you even bother at all? What’s your point? If you think your opinion is going to make me think less of Luvvie, you’re sadly mistaken. But I do question your integrity, though? You read an entire article, but yet, somehow, you appear angry with us? What am I missing?
I want to give some props to Yolanda Adams, who knows how to keep things in balance. I heard her on the 2004 Sisters in the Spirit tour. She took a break between songs to urge the mostly older, black, female audience to make sure they voted in the upcoming presidential election (as if THIS demographic needed to be told!) and then added coyly, “Now I’m from Texas and I just want to say, don’t go playing in the BUSHES .”
This!! Every letter, every word, every exclamation resonated deeply with me. And the crazy part is….I’ve been wrestling with this whole idea of “not being judgemental” but as was so eloquently written, HE’S NOT SORRY!!!!!! I’m all for people loving Jesus…I LOVE JESUS, it’s about discernment. I’m not going to judge anyone’s personal relationship with God and Jesus as their Savior, BUT I will use discernment. If something is off…its off. I’m praying for him though. I really do hope and pray he finds peace, REPENTANCE, and unshakeable authentic spiritual renewal.
(…I said what I said)
Oh Luvette????????♀️ you’re entitled to your opinion but calling yourself a Christian and throwing the 1st stone by coming up with receipts of what Ye did and said? In your own words “Grace is necessary in life and redemption is possible. Grace isn’t earned, since it’s mostly a gift, so we can give him some, but not enough to excuse all of this”I’m sure Jesus was like what if I exposed everything you ever did, would we still look at you as this great Luvvie Ajayi?
Anyway, Ye doesn’t need your or anybody else’s grace or forgiveness that’s between him and God. As an artist and a public figure we have seen all his highs and lows and this is also part of his journey whether we choose to support him or not. You wrote that you listened to his album but did you listen or watch his interview on Beats 1 with Zane? The man is not perfect but definitely progressive. And when it comes to this “bringing people to Christ” let’s not pretend Ye and any of the artists you mentioned have they same impact on the culture. Pre-Jesus Kanye’s fans who probably never heard of Kirk Franklin or Yolanda Adams will listen to Jesus is King and by the grace of God will be part of the Kingdom. Like Saoul who turned into Paul, this is a move of God I believe it and that’s me. You need more Jesus than Jollof on this one!
I totally agree with you Lolo!
We need to remember that God’s ways are not our ways, and we (as Christians) do not have a monopoly on forgiveness or righteous judgement.
I think this article here: https://www.letstalknationblog.com/single-post/2019/11/02/Jesus-is-King words my sentiments perfectly.
“His Christianity Off-Broadway show and now terrible holy mixtape”??
I. Cannot. Breathe.
I was DONE after that sentence.
This was such a perfect breakdown of this topic! When I saw the tweet from the president endorsing his album I thought “well that’s an all time low.” If this president ever endorsed anything I did, I would have to re-evaluate all of my life choices.
Reading this felt like I just sat through A sermon, paid tithes and praise danced all in one! Preach!
Meh! Great Article but we think Ye’ is okay, for now check out my views on the ye’ subject.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sayless-podcast-001-004-jesus-is-king-my-n-a/id1482017648?i=1000455550703
Respect your opinion. Some good and valid points. When the Apostle Paul converted folks were skeptical, mainly out of fear because of his reputations for killing Christians. But none the less, he was cast out to various places because Christians weren’t accepting him at first. Such as with Paul, some have been saying “time will tell” about Kanye. Lastly, Just because there hasn’t been any public apology does it mean that repentance isn’t at work? Kanye did a project with Kid Cudi last year called Kids See Ghost. In the self titled track Kanye says:
”Got a Bible by my bed, oh yes I’m very Christian, Constantly repentin’ ’cause yes I never listen, Don’t like bein’ questioned and don’t like bein’ less than”.
Not a full blown “apology” but could this be seen as a reflection as change at work in his heart?
“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.” But maybe God gives exceptions for rich men if they are narcissistic rappers? There’s gotta be some credit for calling yourself Yeezus and acting like you’re the one people should always be thinking about? The road to Heaven must be paved with cocaine and Hennessy!
Luvvie, this is an awesome critique of a crazy ass man. And it’s another in the long list of wake up calls that we can only hope fellow Christians of all types will hear. Maybe someday soon, we go back to talking about and practicing the things that Jesus actually said. What parts of Jesus’ gospel sounded like today’s prosperity gospel preachers?
I can’t think of anything better to make the majority of Evangelicals clutch their pearls, or crucifixes as the case may be, than Kanye West co-opting and trademarking Christianity while masquerading as its new black prophet. Is this their Come to Yeezus Moment, when they realize what can happen when you run Christianity like a for-profit corporation? What gospel music really needs is more twerkin’ in their videos.
Now I ain’t sayin’ he a God-digger. But he ain’t messin’ with no woke …
When you get on, he’ll leave yo’ ass for an orange man.