In some ways, 2019 has been a hard year for Christians.
Joshua Harris, a well-known pastor and the author of I Kissed Dating Goodbye (a book that led to a nationwide Biblical sexual purity movement among millennials), decided to publicly renounce his faith, declaring, “I am not a Christian.”[1] Other so-called “ex-vangelicals” (those who also renounced their Christian faith) used the occasion as a welcome opportunity to deride Biblical sexuality as “patriarchal ideology”[2]—that is, as ancient, outdated, and out of touch.
Then we lost Chick-fil-A. For years, many of us loyally supported this fast food chain, watching how the Truett family “didn't just survive the LGBT-initiated boycotts — they thrived, doubling sales since the moment liberals decided it was a ‘controversy’ to give to charities like the Salvation Army.”[3] But then Chick-fil-A caved, not only “sacrificing two other Bible-believing groups [the Salvation Army and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes] as acceptable collateral damage”[4] to LGBTQ demands but they even began funding groups that promoted abortion and opposed traditional marriage.
Such stories of public defection discouraged many Christians, but then God gave us an unexpected gift that blessed us and surprised the world.
Kanye West—who has been called every name in the book from “a ranting lunatic” to “too power-drunk to notice he’s being used”[5]—shocked both the secular and Christian communities with the news of his dramatic conversion to Christianity. He is now boldly proclaiming Christ—and his latest album, Jesus Is King, is a national blockbuster. He is openly proclaiming “Jesus can set you free”[6] (a line from that best-selling album).
To audiences across the country and to millions of his fans, he is sharing the message of Jesus. In fact, at an outdoor meeting he put together in Louisiana, a thousand folks came to Christ.[7] And he went into the Harris County (Houston) jail to share the Gospel with inmates there. As the Sherriff’s office affirmed in a tweet:
“Say what you want about the man. But @kanyewest and his choir brought some light to people who needed it today at the Harris County Jail.”[8]
That news instantly brought a fierce backlash from many. Predictably, the Freedom From Religion Foundation began attacking West and openly rebuked the Sheriff’s office, complaining:
“‘It is no excuse that Kanye West is famous,’ FFRF attorney Andrew Seidel wrote in a Nov. 18 letter to Sheriff Ed Gonzalez. ‘If anything, this makes the violation worse because the captive audience may be more receptive to his message.’”[9]
Because West exemplifies faith on fire—faith that really works—those who hate God see him (and others like him) as a threat. We don’t all receive the national attacks launched against West, but sharing one’s faith at any level today often results in criticism and rebuke from coworkers or fellow students. Nevertheless, we have the wonderful promise of Jesus that:
“Whoever confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father Who is in heaven” (Matthew 10:32).
While it is sad when individuals renounce their faith, it is a blessing when someone boldly and unabashedly proclaims Christ. Let’s not be silent or make news by abandoning our “first love” (Revelation 2:4), but rather let us make news by openly proclaiming it!
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[1] ‘I kissed dating goodbye’ author Josh Harris: ‘I am not a Christian.’ (2019, July 29). Retrieved from https://relevantmagazine.com/god/i-kissed-dating-goodbye-author-josh-harris-i-am-not-a-christian/
[2] Williams, S. (2019, November 11). ‘Purity’ guru Joshua Harris may have left Evangelicalism but he’s still a member of the church of patriarchy. Retrieved from https://rewire.news/religion-dispatches/2019/11/11/purity-guru-joshua-harris-may-have-left-evangelicalism-but-hes-still-a-member-of-the-church-of-patriarchy/
[3] Perkins, T. (2019, November 19). Chick-fil-A: Catering to the liberal mob. Retrieved from https://www.frc.org/updatearticle/20191119/liberal-mob
[4] Ibid.
[5] Stern, M. (2018, October 12). Stop mocking Kanye West’s mental health. Retrieved from https://www.thedailybeast.com/stop-mocking-kanye-wests-mental-health
[6] Maule, W. (2019, November 20). 'Jesus can set you free': Kanye West announces 'Jesus is King part II' with Dr. Dre. Retrieved from https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/entertainment/2019/november/jesus-can-set-you-free-kanye-west-announces-jesus-is-king-part-ii-with-dr-dre
[8] Parke, C. (2019, November 22). Kanye West's surprise gospel-rap performance at Texas prison an 'egregious' violation, atheist group complains. Retrieved from https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/kanye-west-jesus-king-texas-prison-constitution-violation-atheist-group
[9] Ibid.
