If you haven’t heard, Kanye West released an album on October 25th called “Jesus is King,” following his new-found life in Christ.
If I am being completely honest, I immediately jumped to skepticism and judgment. Thoughts concerning the legitimacy of his conversion flooded my mind and I could only see him for his brokenness…I refused to believe it could be true. How could someone like Kanye West come to know the Lord and produce an album to make Jesus’ name known?
The Holy Spirit moved in my heart and told me to just listen to the album even though I had already made my mind up about him and this album. I was honestly floored when I heard the following lyrics in his song,
“Hands On:”
“Nothing worse than a hypocrite
Change, he ain’t really different
He ain’t even try to get permission
Ask for advice and they dissed him
Said I’m finna do a gospel album
What have you been hearin’ from the Christians?
They’ll be the first one to judge me
Make it feel like nobody love me”
Kanye called me out. He pretty much described all the initial thoughts and feelings I had when I heard about his album. I was that Christian who was judging him before I even listened to the songs, I was the first to doubt he had actually changed, and I was the one who was choosing not to love him or be excited for his new-found freedom in Jesus Christ.
This realization and conviction helped me to realize a few things:
1.) I have a narrow view of God’s ability to transform hearts.
2.) I am acting like I never had a heart transformation myself.
3.) If nothing else, Jesus’ name is now being heard all over the world.
I have a narrow view of God’s ability to transform hearts.
“And I will give you a new heart,
and a new spirit I will put within you.
And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh
and give you a heart of flesh.”
– Ezekiel 36:26
If I struggle to believe that God can transform Kanye West’s heart, how could I believe in Paul’s conversion, which is written in The Bible? The Lord appeared to Saul on his way to Damascus, in the midst of his murderous threats against the disciples, saying “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting, “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” God met Saul in the darkest, most broken place, where he was persecuting Christians, and told him what to do. His divine intervention changed the trajectory of Saul’s life. God had better plans for him. This is seen in Acts 9, where Jesus says to Ananias, “This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” God completely transformed Saul’s heart and instead of hating Christians, he would later proclaim Jesus’ name saying, “He is the Son of God,” (Acts 9:20). God gave Saul a new name (Paul) and gave him the authority and words to write roughly 30% of the New Testament.
If this isn’t evidence of a radical transformation, I don’t know what is.
I am acting like I never had a heart transformation myself.
“Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!”
– Psalm 139:23-24
I am only able to write these words because God began a new work in my heart a few years ago. By His grace and mercy, He took my heart of stone and gave me a heart of flesh. For most of my young life and teenage years, my life was not at all a reflection of Jesus. I spent many years running from Him, choosing the world over Him, and allowed my insecurities to be where I found my identity. He brought me to my knees during my freshman year of college and I finally understood what walking in freedom actually looked like. I find it easy to forget the hard times I walked through and the times I wrestled with my faith and my identity in Christ. Thankfully, God continues to reel me back in and teaches me lessons like this very one I’m writing about. I will never be perfect and the moment I think that to be true, is the moment I have lost sight of God’s glory and might.
If nothing else, Jesus’ name is now being heard all over the world.
“And we know that for those who love God
all things work together for good,
or those who are called
according to his purpose.”
– Romans 8:28
Spotify’s “United States Top 50,” has 8 of Kanye West’s album “Jesus Is King” songs in the top 10. Every single one of the songs in this album are listed in the top 20. In the “Global Top 50” chart, 4 songs are in the top 10.
West has one of the most influential platforms in the world and it is extremely encouraging to see that he is using it to bring light to Jesus and his own personal conversion. So many people look up to him and I pray that this would ignite a fire in their hearts to know Jesus for themselves.
Only God Himself knows Kanye’s heart, but if nothing else, Jesus’ name is being heard by millions of people all over the United States and beyond. He works all things together for good and glory, and I am confident that He is using this album to bring people to their knees and into relationship with Him.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,
he is a new creation.
The old has passed away;
behold, the new has come.”
-2 Corinthians 5:17
Today, I saw a glimpse of God’s continual redemption in my own life and my need to surrender pride, surrender self-righteousness, and my need to thank Him for transforming my heart daily.
I am not proud of these feelings or my initial judgment, but I hope my transparency will give you an understanding of my heart, and how God is continually pruning me to be more like Jesus. He who began a good work in me will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ, but until then, there will always be work to do. He will always teach me what I cannot see and convict me of my wrongdoings. Kanye will probably never see this blog, but if he does, I want him to know that I am deeply sorry for being quick to judge and I am so happy that he has found life in Christ.
Praise the Lord!!
“Teach me what I cannot see;
if I have done wrong,
I will not do so again.”
– Job 34:32
If you do not know Jesus to be your Savior, I pray you would consider the freedom that comes from walking with Him. I pray you would know that God sees you and knows you, and does not expect you to clean up your act before approaching His throne of grace. I pray you would know that you are never too far gone to receive His love and mercy. He wants to take your heart of stone and turn it into a heart of flesh. He wants a relationship with you.
If you are a believer, I pray you would never forget the transformation God has graciously allowed you to go through. I pray you would continue to die to yourself each and every day, so that His name would be exalted, and that you would become less. I pray you would never become content or complacent with where you are. There is always room to grow and room to learn. I pray you would never cheapen God’s grace by acting like it is expected or owed, but rather remind yourself constantly of the great sacrifice Jesus made on the cross, so we could have a relationship and eternal life with God the Father.
I pray that each and every person would come to know that “Jesus is King.”
My name is Brooke Richards and I’m a Junior at University of Florida. My majors are psychology and journalism. I’d describe myself as a go-getter, who shoots for the stars, even when the outcome seems impossible. I started my blog to inspire people, provide a source of encouragement and share how Jesus is working in my life. I credit 100% of my successes to The Lord, who provides for me far more than I could ever deserve.
Contact Info: Email: blrich1399@gmail.com Website: brookerichards.org
