Continuing the Conversation

This is a most interesting story. I've recently learned a lot about a musical artist not from hearing, but rather from reading. Over the past few weeks, Kanye West has been featured in several magazines I subscribe to (notably TIME and Relevant). Both dubbed him as the leading force in today's rap industry, most specifically in its future. I was a little disheartened. From the little I have heard of his music, I was very turned-off, particularly with the overuse of vulgar terms that really weren't adding to the music itself. This changed as I read about his hit, Jesus Walks. For the "leading force in the future of rap" to get the word "Jesus" on mainstream radio and still be heard of today is, well, impressive. I had a little bit different view of him from that point on. He went from being a rapper to a rapper who knew at least a little of Jesus.

About a week ago, I was going through my living room and about to turn the tv off, but stopped after seeing him on tv. So I watched as he spoke. Obviously veering from the script, he went on to condemn our President as someone who, "doesn't care about black people." Now I'll be honest here... I got a huge lump in my throat right about there. I support Bush. I think he's a good guy really trying to do good (dispite all the declarations of "hidden agendas" he has). Never before have I seen, heard, or known of an instance where he didn't care about black people (or African Americans to be a little more politically correct). I've honestly never heard any words from his mouth that would suggest he didn't care about any single person in the world (even Saddam Hussein). Now unless Kanye had a conversation with him where he specifically said that, I'm not sure what justified his remarks. Regardless of this, he said them on live national prime-time television, and it's rather hard to take them back after that.

My issue here isn't necessarily in what Kanye said, but rather what others have said about it. Others have said that he's a horrible person. They've said we couldn't learn anything from his music and none of us should listen to it.

Just because I thought one of his songs was good, I haven't become a huge fan or started listening to many of the others, but to no extent do I believe his comments should lead to the notion that there is nothing to learn from him. My stance is this: we're all in a conversation. About who we are. About what we believe in. About what faith is and how God works into all of this. Pardon my bluntness, but it was the same people who said "he's wrong, I'm right, and I know everything for fact" that crucified the same guy Kanye talks about in his song.

This has led me to thinking that maybe I don't know everything. Maybe, just maybe, I'm not supposed to. Maybe I'm supposed to be left in wonder about some things. Maybe there's an almighty and awesome God in charge of this whole thing and I shouldn't worry myself with most of these things. That's why I believe we're in a conversation.

Ending the conversation is to say, "Oop, Kanye screwed up. He criticized a leader in front of a bunch of other people. He's worthless. Let's move on." I don't think that's helping anyone, except those who want to continue to mislead themselves by thinking they know it all. My question is, "I wonder why he said that?" It is only through asking these questions that we might truly discover what other people are all about and, in some way, share with them the same love Jesus has shared with us. That's what continuing the conversation is all about. And may that conversation never stop...

Striving to stay in wonderous amazement,
chris

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