I really want to believe it. Kanye West recently said, “I’m not here for your entertainment; we’re here to spread the gospel,” at a recent event. What? So, is Kanye born again? And what’t this about Kim Kardashian West getting baptized? What does it mean, was it for show, and why should we care?
Because these two alone influence hundreds of millions of people.
Throughout history, fame and fortune have left countless souls empty and miserable, so it shouldn’t surprise us when celebrities and “the elite” search for true meaning in life. Many are satisfied with some form of spirituality or religion while others don’t really know what they’re looking for, but remember this: no one is beyond the reach of the one true God.
Pray for them, but let’s not be too quick to put celebrities up on a pedestal. Some Christian news outlets are often quick to publish stories on big name actors, athletes, or celebrities who simply mention God, faith, or talk about being “blessed.” This does not mean they trust in Jesus and have repented and believed the Gospel, and as we’ve seen, some were false converts.
We need to exercise cautious optimism and discern the beliefs, theology, and lifestyle of any public figure claiming to be Christian. The maturity of true disciples can take years, and there’s much work to be done regarding the uprooting of a lifetime of sinful habits. There are too many examples of famous people mentioning God or claiming Christianity, but living or speaking in ways that contradict what the Bible teaches.
As for Kanye West, some liberal Christians are skeptical of him just because of his support of President Trump. Regardless of what you think of his spiritual journey, it appears he is sincere in his newfound faith in Jesus Christ. BUT, time will tell – and only God knows his heart.
I can’t even mention some of the past horrific and disgusting song lyrics by Kanye West, many of which are profane, blasphemous, and offensive. But apparently, that was then. His new project is called, “Jesus is King,” and he now says he only wants to do gospel music.
In a recent video of him preaching to a captive audience at one of his album listening events, he refers to himself as a recent convert. West admitted some past mistakes including idolatry, saying he formerly “worshiped the idea of labels, brand names; I worshiped cars, I worshiped the city I grew up in (Chicago).”
West mentioned repentance and the gospel, explaining that:
“The first thing Jesus said was ‘Repent.’” And added, “Imagine someone sending their only son — to die for you!”
He talked about the fact people cannot work their way to heaven or earn salvation and quoted Ephesians 2:8-9:
“For it is by God’s grace that you have been saved through faith; it is not a result of your own efforts, it’s a gift of God.”
So what are we to think? Just wait, watch, and pray. Observe his life to see if he produces good fruit. And be gracious, because we all have a past, we’ve all sinned and have made mistakes along the way, even in our own process of sanctification.
As for his wife, Kim Kardashian West, she too, has glorified sin and has done extensive damage for the enemy seducing countless souls. If she is sincerely seeking truth, it might take a while.
Consider the history of the media megastar and selfie queen, who became wildly rich and famous. But it wasn’t from studying and receiving a degree, working hard, paying her dues, helping others; it wasn’t for some great achievement or contribution to society − but because people knew her last name thanks in part to her father, Robert Kardashian being friends with O.J. Simpson. And she is an outstanding self-marketer.
Kim also grew up with mega-wealthy friend, Paris Hilton, who actually hired Kardashian to assist her during Hilton’s so-called reality TV show The Simple Life. But tragically for America’s impressionable youth, the event that catapulted her to stardom, enabling her to eventually becoming a narcissistic role model for hundreds of thousands of teenage daughters was the settlement of a $5 million lawsuit for her 2007 sex tape.
To her credit and business savvy, she used the money to propel her family into stardom by producing Keeping Up with the Kardashians. Sadly, the public bought it and women have emulated her ever since. Why? Because Americans are obsessed with sex and fame. Today, she has 149 million followers on Instagram alone! It is bewildering the mind-numbing show is still on TV, which reveals more about our depraved culture than Kardashian West herself.
Writing in The Washington Times about why we should care, Jessica Chasmar penned an article, “Kardashian culture is killing America,” and stated:
“The Kardashian saga illustrates our nation’s moral, spiritual, and cultural decay like few other media stories do. America of 50 years ago would regard Ms. Kardashian with a mixture of disdain and pity, embarrassed by the very idea of a young lady’s most private moments being broadcast for all the world to see.”
The Kardashian family’s lust for attention and self-worship, sex and money has further polluted the soul of a nation that has forgotten its roots – and forgot how to blush. With so much of today’s entertainment openly promoting sin, it’s no surprise American culture has gone into the gutter. But as Christians, we don’t have to consume it.
For the record, Kim Kardashian West, Kanye West, and Caitlyn Jenner were named among Time Magazine’s thirty most influential people on the Internet a few years ago.
Thanks in part to them, some awful, head-scratching reality TV shows have succeeded at taking advantage of a dumbed-down and bored generation of people with misplaced priorities. Why are they popular? Because people keep watching.
So it’s understandable I was disappointed a few Christian or conservative news outlets jumped on the story of a very immoral, progressive celebrity traveling to her family’s homeland and getting baptized. The fact Kim has been pictured wearing crosses and was baptized in an Armenian church proves little about her faith. Madonna and Lady Gaga have worn crosses as well. Miley Cyrus once professed faith in God and even wore a purity ring. The list could go on.
Kardashian West was baptized. Good of her. We should pray the Lord will lead her to repentance and change her life. To those who are ignorant of Scripture however, it’s a little backwards if she has not first confessed her sins to the only living God, placed her faith in Jesus alone for salvation, and then out of obedience, got baptized.
A very popular public figure took to social media and said to Kardashian West, “Welcome to the faith.” Wait, can baptism save a person? Is there something we don’t know? Baptism alone does not produce forgiveness, repentance, or salvation. Scripture urges people who truly repent and are sorry for their sins to turn to the Lord and believe; and then be baptized to identify with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Baptism for new believers was purely an act of obedience and public confession.
Regarding infant baptism, it is good to dedicate a baby to the Lord, but let’s understand we are not saved by being sprinkled with water as an infant, but by grace through faith in Christ alone, our Savior and sin-bearer.
Kardashian West hasn’t publicly discussed much about what she believes. Though we should be concerned about her for obvious reasons, it appears Kanye West is on the right track. One pastor said West is participating in Bible study and declared that he came from darkness into the light, and ‘I was just under the weight of my sin and I was being convicted that I was running from God; I knew I needed to make things right, so I came to Christ.’
He’s sure going to need accountability and prayer warriors. New believers are often attacked. Plus, after years of proudly showing off his curvy, uninhibited wife and encouraging her to parade her body everywhere, he is now starting to question what she wears in public. Her reaction was predictable.
“I don’t need any more negative energy for you to now say that you’re not into me wearing a tight dress,” and “just because you’re on a journey, and … a transformation doesn’t mean that I’m in the same spot with you.”
It West is faking it for publicity, if they are not sincerely seeking God and truth, then it may be an act to market Kanye’s movie and CD project, “Jesus is King,” hoping to attract a religious/Christian audience. I hope this is not the case.
Regarding our culture, we may sometimes hate what America has become and what godless “entertainment” has produced, but many of us were once just as lost, far from God, and without hope. We shouldn’t expect unbelievers to act morally as if they know the Lord. Many celebrities think they have it all in life and don’t need anything because they are their own gods. You and I know better.
There’s only one way to salvation and that’s through Jesus Christ. Imagine the impact the rich and famous could have for the kingdom of God. More importantly, their very souls are at stake. Pray for more of them to come to a knowledge of the truth before it’s too late.
“You shall have no other gods before Me.” Exodus 20:3
Video courtesy of Freedom Project Media
