Kanye Sunday Service: Foolishness or For the Glory of God?

Scouting Kanye West Sunday Service

By now in the body of Christ, most of us have heard of Kanye West Sunday Service, and most of us have our thoughts and opinions of Mr. West and his new, 2019 venture – including me.

Instead of sitting back reading (and believing) said thoughts and opinions of others, I decided to experience Kanye Sunday Service for myself. After receiving two “how to participate” emails from friends, I seized the opportunity to participate as choir alto, but also as one of the Kingdom’s Contenders for the Faith.

You see, I had my own thoughts and opinions of Kanye Sunday Service – having never attended – but saw the hoopla of posts, videos, and commentary for and against it. If there’s one thing you learn in media – one, two, or twenty social media posts from random people who weren’t actually there is the secret sauce for fake news.

So, as a “live and in living color” participant, earnestly seeking God’s discernment, filled with the Holy Spirit, here are my takeaways – that is, until you experience Sunday Service for yourself if interested in doing so.

Kanye West Sunday Service at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, Atlanta 9-15-19

After an orderly and professional choir member check-in that started promptly at 6:45 AM, as stated in the confirmation email, I watched the spirit and intention of those working on the Sunday Service team once inside New Birth.

“Are you all ready to celebrate Jesus?” “We’re all here to lift up our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

No “celebrity” push, no mention of “Mr. West” the entire rehearsal – but to identify him as the visionary or curator for Sunday Service.

After about a 1 1/2hr rehearsal, the choir and main singers prepared for regular morning service at New Birth.

The entire Sunday morning service progressed from beginning to end – praise and worship, the preached word, offering, altar call (where dozens came forward to receive Jesus Christ as their personal Savior…coming to see Kanye, but met The King of Kings!?) – before Kanye Sunday Service commenced. However, not without Pastor Jamal Bryant making it abundantly clear, “As we flow into the next part of the service, remember there is but one ‘star’ in the room, and that’s Jesus Christ.”

Kanye Proclaims

Aside from all of the gifted singers, the crazy dope harmony and beat arrangements, and the celebratory (“lit”) atmosphere, did Kanye West actually have something to say?

 

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A post shared by Team Jesus Magazine (@teamjesusmag) on Sep 15, 2019 at 11:02am PDT

Yes, he did. Here are a few quotes:

• I’ve seen everything that the devil could’ve showed you… nothing beats God… and a sound mind.
• He is the only Jesus – let’s be specific.
• To be radically in service to Christ is the only culture I want to know about.
• The devil had me chasing a gold statue… chasin’ numbers… The power of God cannot be calculated by numbers… by first week sales…
• The road to hell is paved with ‘I’m just a good person.”
• We must hold each other accountable; if you see somebody slippin’, you tell them.
• Thank you for saving me, replenishing me, delivering me…

No mention of future albums. No merchandise sold. All glory was given to God.

Thoughts for Team Jesus

Teammates, I’ve seen a lot of our thoughts and opinions – many declaring Mr. West’s lack of “Kingdom” fitness due to his past behavior, lyrics, and our expert-non-expert diagnosis of his mental state and causes thereof.

Let me begin here.

Many Teammates are leery of Kanye West’s Sunday Service AND his proclamation of salvation and deliverance through Jesus Christ because:

• Celebrity status typically breeds ulterior motives and agendas for profit or gain.
• We are living in the last days where the enemy is turning up his deception and perversion, and he will use anyone to say anything – especially celebrities with a huge following.

I get that.

HOWEVER COMMA – Have we also considered that many Teammates:

1. Think they have a personal monopoly or vetting process for who can and who cannot sing praises to God – and that they’re doing God a favor by “protecting Him” from bad people’s praise.
2. Are still learning how to discern based on the Spirit of God – not by what they see and feel.
3. Have lonnnng memories for other people’s sin/past, but appreciate swift forgiveness and grace for their own sin and failings.
4. Are full-time Fruit Inspectors for others, work less than part-time on their own fruit, and hold themselves to a less strenuous standard of excellence, laced with excuses and justifications, e.g. “all have sinned”.
5. Are steeped in lonnnng traditions of men and man’s validation, where one better not even think about leading something that honors God without first crossing off ALL the items on “their” haze checklist.
6. Don’t consider that their negative, unrighteous, judgmental response to someone’s proclamation of salvation is being watched and informing “would-be” converts to our faith?
7. Are not patient or kind. They have fruit of the Spirit that’s in the “bud” stage – which is why love, gentleness, patience have not matured enough to be meat for anyone else yet.

Teammates, I’m calling us out and holding us accountable for how we act and react in the public square – with definitive negation to someone’s initial proclamation of salvation (updated). Yes, if Kanye West has accepted Jesus Christ as Savior – there will be fruit, evidence in his lifestyle. Remember also that we don’t know the plan or appointed time of maturity for anyone’s sanctification process – but God does. He knows the plan He has for all of us (Jeremiah 29:11). So, if God’s appointed time for Tree A to bear fruit is 5 months, don’t go and burn the “barren” tree down at month 4! Let the plan and patience of God supersede your need to instantly-right-now validate another. Stand down. Watch and pray for them and encourage other teammates to do the same. Then be about your own soul salvation. All souls belong to God – not us (Ezekiel 18:4).

Thoughts for Kanye West

Mr. West, I pray that you stay with the Lord. Keep humbling yourself before Him and grow in God.

Yessir, it’s going to take studying and rightly dividing the Word (2 Timothy 2:15) to grow in the knowledge and wisdom of Christ. May God surround you with mature, wise counsel who will – as you said in Sunday Service – hold YOU accountable, sir, and speak the truth to you in love. You do have teammates who believe there is nothing too hard for God – all power belongs to God. We are praying for you.

So, What’s the Play Call?

We all watch and pray. The appointed time of God will reveal all and the Spirit of Truth will always prevail. Having spied out the land, here’s one report I know without a shadow of a doubt – God is WELL ABLE to overcome any issues or challenges with Mr. West, with you, and with me. May we all humble ourselves before His mighty hand.