Kanye West, the Real Deal?

I can’t claim to be a fan of Kanye West – or even to be able to name one of his songs. But I am interested in the fact that he now has emerged singing what appear to be Christian lyrics.

His latest album is called Jesus is King. Now I know that many singers have turned to gospel – style singing but not to gospel-style belief.

But West says this is different. He claims inspiration from Bible verses like this one from the Letter to the Ephesians – chapter 2: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”

That’s a profound starting point for this 42-year-old rap star whose previous life didn’t seem to be displaying too many Christian virtues.

But that is the essence of Christianity – everyone who wants to turn their life toward Jesus, can…even a rapper like Kanye.

I’m Russell Powell for the NSW Council of Churches