My Own Kind of Kanye

Man oh man. How much of Kanye have you followed this last week? If it’s anything like me you’ve been scrolling through articles, reflections, opinion pieces, and allllll the lyrics to his new Jesus is King album. In all my internet meandering this is my favorite response I’ve seen. And below it, you’ll find my own reflection. You won't have to listen to me debate optimism or skepticism regarding his conversion. This isn't a how to on interpreting genuine repentance, and I'm not going to exegete all of his lyrics to determine where the weak points are. But hopefully as you wandered through Kanye’s internet explosion in the last week, you’ve wandered closer to Christ. And hopefully if you read this, you’ll wander even closer.

I hope you can say this with me: I am the worst sinner I know. And the sin inside of me was enough to nail Jesus to the cross all on its own. Ever dark and dirty were the corners where my greed and selfishness lay (and still try to find a hold.) The self righteous gleam in my eyes (and in my soul) was quick to cast down my neighbor I was called love. I searched inside myself for glory, and when I fell short I threw down those around me in defiance—making myself a horrible kind of god unworthy of the worship I was seeking. My mouth betrayed truth, and the God who is truth. And friends, this is only the beginning of my own darkness. It went deeper and deeper. I am a perpetual commandment breaker. The Bible says that if anyone keeps the law but stumbles in one point—he has become accountable of all of it (James 2:10). And friends, I am accountable for much.

---

The sin in me was enough to kill. But where it sought me for its own, God called me his. I looked for God in myself, in my mind, even my own words. I searched for him in people around me to love and be loved by, always hinging my joy on their affection. I searched for him in worldliness; in good people doing good things and maybe I caught a glimpse of the prize, but all earthly shadows pale in comparison to the prize found in Christ. I was hopeless to find God.

But God found me. This is the greatest miracle I know. My sins they are many, but his mercy is more. Jesus came to Earth from heaven and he had my name written in his wounds before my very first breath. There aren’t enough words for this gift of grace. There is no advantage of my sin before the cross. I am the greatest sinner I know. Not just because my sin was bad, and it was. But because my sin is the one I know best of all. I know it so deeply, that sin often feels more right than holiness. My sin is natural to me. My sin is what I choose over God. It's not my neighbors' sin that I choose over God, it's mine, and I am accountable for all of it. This account I could never balance on my own was bought by the sinless savior who chose the Glory of God over all earthly treasure; treasure that he was even entitled to.

"Who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

—Philippians 2:6-11

So, I don't know about all this Kanye news, make of it what you will. But Jesus is King. All knees will bow before him as King, and they'll all be on equal dirt, saying the same thing.

---

The reason I know Jesus Christ’s sacrifice is enough to save anyone who repents and believes the Gospel is not because I read the Jesus is King lyrics (although they did make me do a double take!) The reason I know Jesus Christ is the son of God, the ransom for sinners, the redeemer of people, the King of Nations is because he saved me. I hope you know this too. I hope you’re reading this and praising God for making your heart of stone a beating one, one that beats for God and for others. If you don't know that, know that this thing isn't a means of moral reform, a cleansing of consciences. The being born again miracle, isn't an individualistic experience. It is real, and it's for all who believe the good news of Jesus. This is the realest thing I know, and I am proof of it.