The Conversion of Kanye West | To The Church

The burden in my heart to write this is beyond me. It leans on me like a weight and although my feelings of not wanting to engage with such a controversial topic screams loudly in my head I feel God moving on my heart to share anyway. It won’t be the first time I’ve had the task of sharing what some may say is an unpopular opinion and I am sure it won’t be the last. So, let’s get it.

For some years now the world has watched Kanye West fall from the graces of being one of the top selling rappers to what now seems to being yet another internet troll, spewing his unsolicited opinions about slavery, the state of Black America and most notoriously his support for the 45th President of the United States of America. His antics from his comments about George W. Bush, to stealing Taylor Swift’s shine at the 2009 Video Music Award show have written a new narrative about one of the most highly respected secular artists of our time.

As a born again believer in Jesus Christ, in my opinion his most deplorable acts have all come from his attacks on and the lack of reverence for God and the things of God. He has openly proclaimed that he sold his soul to the devil, calls himself Yeezus, produced sexually explicit and satanically inspired music (Lucifer by Jay-Z etc.) and has used countless irreverent and anti-Christ symbolism throughout his content.

With all of this noted, it was still of no surprise to me (I’m not surprised by much) when he launched his latest venture, Sunday Service. A “worship” service that consists of an amalgamation of gospel and secular music with little to no preached word, all set on the backdrop of an undisclosed location in the mountains of California. More recently Kanye’s Sunday Service has appeared in the congregations of more “progressive” ministries such as Warren and Erica Campbell’s California Worship Center and Jamal Bryant’s New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta. Additionally, Kanye’s Sunday Service has captured the hearts of notable gospel artists such as Fred Hammond and Hezekiah Walker whose music has been sampled by West during these events. Sunday Service was also presented at this year’s Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, drawing mixed emotions as subpar apparel marketed as “church clothes” was sold at unreasonably high prices.

According to Kanye’s wife Kim Kardashian West, Kanye is a born again believer of Jesus Christ and began his “ministry” as a means of healing himself. Sunday Service is not (yet) a church with 501c3 status but simply a music ministry. Kim also shared what has been revealed to be the track listing for the launch of West’s impending gospel album ”Jesus Is King” slated to be released September 27th.

Shouts of praise have circulated throughout the gospel music industry and among “Christians” across America for the conversion of Kanye West. I have chosen to reserve my applause for further revelation of his transformation which I will share my reasoning now. Additionally there are a few lessons believers can learn from the current phenomenon that is Kanye’s conversion and his Sunday Service.

The stage was already set. Sunday Service did not surprise me as I have observed the meshing of gospel and secular music for years. This came as a result of churches taking a more inclusive and tolerant route to “win” souls through the preaching of a grace heavy gospel. The sound, look and feel of gospel music has such changed in an attempt to appeal to this new wider audience. With the success of Snoop Dogg and his Bible of Love “gospel” album and the countless collaborations of gospel and secular artists, Sunday Service was welcomed with a ready-made space in the hearts of believers. While few have voiced their stance of disapproval for the fusion of worlds an unfortunate majority has enjoyed the benefits of this form of godliness (2 Timothy 3:5). In light of this, many wonder where the miracle working power of God has gone.

The comparison of Paul (formerly Saul) and Kanye. I have watched on the sidelines as “believers” debate, curse one another out and sling around various scriptures to validate Kanye’s Sunday Services as the move of God. Many of those scriptures reference the Apostle Paul and his incredible conversion from a persecutor and murderer of believers to the apostle to the Gentile nations in Europe, the writer of the majority of the New Testament scriptures and arguably the most quoted apostle among modern day believers.

I resist the comparison of Paul and Kanye for first the simple fact that there has been no open declaration from Kanye that he has repented of his old life of sin he once celebrated and promoted, nor has there been any word on his baptism in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ or him being filled with the gift of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues as the Spirit of God gives the utterance.

Many argue that his repentance and salvation may have come in a more private setting and that his personal conversion is not necessary for us, the body of Christ to bear witness to. However, throughout my young 19 years of being a born again believer of Christ, I have learned (and still learning) that it is in the nature of Christ as He transforms the hearts of unbelievers (particularly those who lived boldly sinful lives) to then take that same boldness and use it for His glory. I have yet to read of one person in scripture who was used by God to win souls to the Kingdom that did not have an open profession of faith. The first work of believers is to repentance unto salvation (Rev. 2:5). If there is one that I have overlooked please feel free to enlighten me. I know of several people who have lived lives of intense godlessness and rebellion to His Word. At the point of their conversion there has been a profession of faith greater than their once riotous lives and in turn an urgency (like Paul) to share of the good news of their miraculous salvation. It just seems to be a pattern of those who have been radically saved by God to want to immediately share their encounter with Christ and warn others living the life they once called their own. We have yet to see this from Kanye.

A call to fruit inspection. Upon applying for my new apartment, my husband and I were required to provide several documents of authentication of our financial status. We were asked to show our credit score, bank statements, letters of employment verification, records of tenancy W2’s, paystubs and the list goes on. I cannot figure out for the life of me why it is deemed as a “God complex” or “judgement” for a believer to reserve confirmation of conversion for Kanye when there is no resistance to banks and business who require verification of character to participate in their services or begin working in or with their companies. Matthew 7:15-26 speaks of the wise that were aware of false prophets who yielded bad fruit. Considering a background of one who proudly proclaimed allegiance to the enemy, it would behoove us to ensure that a true conversion has taken place before jumping to their defense. This defensive stance and readiness of “Christians” to accept Kanye’s conversion is alarming and a serious eye opener to the lack of discernment and the desire of worldly affirmation. Oh how I long for believers to see the value in the things of God as much as the secular artists who have invaded the gospel music industry do.

I could continue on and probably even segue into many other areas that highlight the naiveté of Kanye’s conversion but I will stop here and conclude with this:

Kanye’s salvation (or lack thereof) is between he and God and he is not required to prove anything to Jenise La Vonne. However, with what I have seen and heard of him thus far I am also not required to willfully believe that because he is saying Lord, Lord (Matthew 7:22) or that “Jesus is King” that he is now a vessel used by God to win souls into the Kingdom without any signs of commitment to Christ. Scripture consistently admonishes us to be aware of false prophets and teachers who will come in the name of the Lord, deceiving many. We are charged to be sober and vigilant (1 Peter 5:8) because our adversary the devil as a roaring lion walks about seeking whom he may devour.

I pray that his heart is indeed sincere and that he develops a relationship with The Most High that transforms him by the renewing of his mind (Romans 12:1-2). I pray that he repents of his sins, is filled with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues as God gives the utterance and is baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. I pray that as loud as his testimony is for the enemy that his testimony for Christ rings much louder and even outlives him.

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I also pray that true believers WAKE UP to the deception that is all around us. Scripture REQUIRES us to be vigilant, not believing every spirit but trying them to see if they are of God (1 John 4:1). God’s people have been tempted and seduced by the way of the world because we have not truly submitted to God and we are drawn away by our own lust (James 1:14). It shows a lack of love and belief in God and His Word when we are so easily convinced by anything that seems godly.

Not only the supposed conversion of Kanye West but also the deception of many new age practices such as crystals, sage, yoga, mind emptiness meditation, horoscopes, and ancestor worship have crept in among believers because there is a lack of love and faith in God and a lack of discernment. We have freely accepted the perversion of the holy and sacred things of God and even the very elect have been deceived (Matthew 24:24).

We are commanded to awake to righteousness and sin not, for some have NOT the knowledge of God. This is because of our own slumber (1 Corinthians 15:34). WAKE UP people of God! Do not be whisked away by a plot to sell records. It is no coincidence that the announcement of his new album was made after he vetted the desire within believers for an even worldlier version of gospel music for a whole year through his Sunday Services.

People of God, do not get caught up in the distraction of trying to decide whether or not Kanye has souled out to Christ but rather do as the word says and try the spirit by which he is coming in to see if is indeed of God. Ask God to reveal the intentions of this movement and pray for the courage to resist this watered down man approved version of the gospel. It would also be incumbent upon us to really learn and discern the voice of God for ourselves and know whether or not we ourselves are living out and holding on to the standard of holiness.

A few month back my husband and I did a series on my podcast The Gospel Underground entitled Gateway Gospel Music that speaks to this very dilemma. It grieves my heart to see the manifestation of such a diabolical plan of the enemy to turn away God’s people through what should be tools used for the kingdom. If you have not listened to it yet, I admonish you to do so by clicking below:

Gateway Gospel Music Part 1 & Gateway Gospel Music Part 2

Lastly, from time to time the word of the Lord stated in Ezekiel 36:23 comes upon my heart. It says,

And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the Lord, saith the Lord God, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.

This scripture speaks on the conversion of unbelievers as they see God in those of us who are living godly. There will be no conversations of discord on their conversion if we first show them the way. Yet how can we discern their transformation if we ourselves have not been transformed by God.

So although I am not convinced on the conversion of Kanye West I will continue to pray for God’s mercy on his soul, for his radical salvation and I will also remain alert to the tricks of the enemy to divert my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Stay focused on Jesus and keep one another in prayer.
Love, Jenise La Vonne