What do you guys think about this? I had made the comment to someone last week that it does feel a little weird - I saw Jelly Roll perform a couple of months ago, and he talked about giving his life to God, but then 5 seconds later was “f this” and “f that.” I felt like that was weird and kind of cringy. But the person I was talking to was like, “ok, but how many people still heard his message about the Lord?” And she said that just because someone doesn’t match what we think a Christian should look and sound like, doesn’t mean God isn’t using them for good.
So, I know Kid Rock and Eminem aren’t exactly prominent Christian figures, but, with the above in mind, do you think this could be a good thing? What are your thoughts?
My initial thought is that this is at least better than “holier than thou” Christians who act like Pharisees and turn people off to God and the Gospel. I think some Christians will be offended by this, but I also think there’s the potential for a lot more people to be open to the Gospel because of these singers’ testimonies.
I think of Paul’s words, “So how am I to respond? I’ve decided that I really don’t care about their motives, whether mixed, bad, or indifferent. Every time one of them opens his mouth, Christ is proclaimed, so I just cheer them on! And I’m going to keep that celebration going because I know how it’s going to turn out” (Phil. 1:18, MSG).
We have seen Kanye West in the past move toward being a Christian. His pastor came out of the Christian circles i was familiar with. But it did not seem to take deeply enough or last much beyond a unique tour for him. Now (as within the past month) he is not allowed to perform in Russia because of his pro-Nazi stance. Which is an interesting take if Russia in some way near term embodies Gog.
But even so with Kanye, his presentation on Info Wars a while back I believe was a healthy step in broadcasting. Not that his antisemitic bent should be published. But just that in some ways we do challenge what is ok to talk about and not be shamed into a corner because of controversy.
In that antisemitic sense, I don’t think Ye did Christianity any favors. But I tend to look at things like this as they might relate to standards unescapable in an end-time like vacuum. For example, Kanye may not really have believed in Christ. But perhaps many who caught his wind, did…and maybe still do. Regardless of his seemly strong departure from it.
He Gets Us commercials shown at Superbowl half time games i think is a reasonable caption for our age. A way to get peeps to a website that has the gospel without being preachy would market to 10s of thousands (if not hundreds). And leading many to opportunity to believe.
In general the way i see this kind of thing with Eminem and Kidrock is providing opportunity to believe in a world where time seems to be running out. Even if those influenced to come to Christ in it don’t grow much or at all, their shift from darkness to light minutes before the final curtain can’t be all bad
