IS KANYE WEST TRULY WORSHIPPING GOD OR PLAYING CHURCH?

Opinion

By Mona Austin

(THE SLICE): I'm still a little confused about the mix up with the album drop -- whether Kanye  intended to release the album "Yhandi" and replace it with his gospel project or just decided to release "Jesus Is King" instead, which still isn't out officially. It was suppose to come out on September 29.   It is rumored that he is tweaking the record.  Someone attending a listening party for the album put a clip on You Tube that has been removed. Fans are irked. Nonetheless, the new album and his very public relationship with Christ prompted this write-up.

The grandson of a preacher, Kanye West was raised in church. He won his first Grammy for BEST RAP SONG OF THE YEAR for "Jesus Walks," which would fit easily in the Holy Hip Hop genre today. That song was on his first album, "College Dropout," and the year was 2005. Lyrics in the song suggested the he had a yearning for the powers that be in music to embrace a song that spoke about Jesus, juxtaposed to the negativity many rap lyrics "preached." It proved to be an oxymoronic dare that eventually elevated him as a "conscious rapper." His religious journey has been documented on the rest of his albums.

By now life has taught the Chicago-born rapper enough lessons to keep him from playing games with people's minds. He should know better than to tamper with the spirit realm.  The impartation Ye is sharing through gospel music listening parties and traveling services has an impact on popular culture.  He is one of the most influential artists in the country.  One minute it seems like Kanye may be speaking from an enlightened perspective and the next, he does or says something that causes one to question his mental stability.

Think of all the layers he has shown us. The mind of Kanye West, listeners have come to understand, is a complex arrangement of ideas interpreted in various contexts. Fans have called him a genius for his ability to take this mental trait and dissect the world with words. He is fluid enough in this way to cause one to wonder what his true thoughts are about religion and ultimately about God.

West has always had spiritual and Christian elements or references in his music, which is why the claim that various news sites are reporting about him saying he is no longer going to do secular music from now on remains to be seen. (Sidebar: Many a mainstream artist has reneged on the same promise.)

Some see it as a new direction for the artist. If that is the case it may be that he is returning to his roots in a more committed manner -- even though he dropped an album after months of media attention about his homemade church services. It looks like a marketing effort -- a deliberate product roll out. Either way, the Sunday Service concerts he is now taking around the nation are not a substitute for real church and that is dangerous because that is how some of his fans are responding to it.

West has attempted to be avant garde in all of his artistic expressions, famously posing on Rolling Stone as Jesus and pushing the envelope further saying he was like Jesus. The backlash for his past antics was feverish and has led his critics to believe he is falsely dabbling in an alternative form of ministry or "playing church."

At the same time, with his popularity Kanye West could draw people that Bishop TD Jakes can't. The widespread appeal is there. There is an emotional and sometimes spiritual connection with music that is not there  in the preaching experience. I understand the attraction to the music as a Hip Hop loving Christian. I also understand the spiritual danger of having a form of godliness and denying the power thereof. (2 Timothy 3:5).

I hope his Christian fans keep him accountable to the faith so that his shows do not serve as a temporary religious hallucinogenic that never inspires them to deepen their relationship with God or triggers the start of one. It would be irresponsible to use God's music only to make people feel good for a while -- in the moment. Meaning "good news", gospel in written, spoken or music form is intended to be used as a tool to enlarge the Kingdom of God. In case those on the bandwagon do not know the basics, I will share two key points here should they decide to continue on this ever evolving journey with Mr. West. 1. Gospel artists have a higher calling beyond music: discipleship. 2. Christianity is a daily discipline.

To bring theological substance to the gatherings Kanye's pastor preaches at the events in California and presumably the pastors at the various churches he visits preach at those events.   It is important to  show that he is not just doing this for himself but for the Lord. It is hard to discern his motives with a

Maybe the eccentric lyricist knows exactly what he is conveying. Maybe in his radical fashion he is sending the message that people are tired of church as usual. If he starts testifying and adds an invitation to Christ to urge conversions, Kanye might become an evangelist in his own right.

There is something commendable about using one's platform to proclaim your beliefs. But, if the Word of God is not being spoken or taught it is not church. The emphasis "supporters" place on his creative content is far greater than interest in a true conversion of the soul. There has been uproarious praise for  some of the songs that will appear on "Jesus is King." Following the confusion around the drop date of the record, it was announced he will be releasing a documentary film about the making of it. All of these factors combined come across like a marketing or promotional build up for his album release, which gospel artists also do but the difference is they are committed to their craft as a form of ministry all along.

IS THIS A NEW LEVEL OF SPIRITUAL AWAKENING FOR THE LAUDED RAPPER OR JUST ANOTHER MAINSTEAM ARTIST CAPITALIZING ON (I.E., EXPLOITING) THE GOSPEL SOUND? Only time will tell.