It was interesting to see all the expressions on twitter and facebook over the past weekend regarding Kanye West’s upstaging the VMA’s (MTv Video Music Awards). I chose not to watch the VMA’s, but all was made clear to me when I read the news feeds today.
I’m curious what makes Kanye’s drama any different than that of say Michael Vick. When Vick was released from prison for gaining profit and enjoyment out of dog fighting I saw lots of people in ministry coming to his defense and welcoming him back to the NFL. Kanye pulls off a stupid stunt on the VMA’s, apologizes immediately afterwards, yet is being ridiculed and attacked for what is in essence, Kanye being Kanye. From a Christian perpsective, if one apologies for their actions, shouldn’t we offer forgiveness rather than judgment?
I spoke to someone recently who is a Christian hip-hop artist. He told me of the struggle in the hip-hop culture of being a Christian rap artist with one foot in the kingdom (of God) and one foot in the world and its ways. Hip-hop is about standing up and being counted. It’s about making it through the struggle. It’s about representing you and yours. When the culture is so focused on the individual and glorifying themselves as a way to represent to others that they made it, being a Christian and seeking to make a name for oneself in hip-hop i bound to lead to issues. Kanye is no different than most other chart-topping hip-hop artists that have professed their faith in Jesus. Kanye, like each of us, is not perfect.
I don’t condone what Kanye did at the VMA’s at all. As a Christian in ministry, I would have definitely preferred that this event never occurred. However, we are challenged to offer grace and forgiveness to others that have done far worse than Kanye. I’m not saying we should cover over Kanye’s actions under the guise of grace, but I wonder if the Christian community pointing out how Kanye blew it at the VMA’s is a good example of our faith and grace. After all, this really isn’t out of character for Kanye and as he stated afterwards, he’s just got to keep it real and is allowed to voice his opinion.
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P. Dave, I definitely agree that we should forgive those who ask for forgiveness but for some reason in this case I don’t believe that west is being sincere, but is rather following the advice of some savvy PR person. There’s no problem in voicing one’s opinion, apparently that is what America is about. However, a distinguishing factor along the scale of ignorant and better educated (or even better mannered) Americans is knowing when/if to voice these opinions. Couldn’t Kanye just as well said his statements during an interview or waited to give Beyonce her credit personally? Even though we are encouraged to forgive our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ (as well as non-believers), I don’t think that forgiveness should absolve us from responsibility and the repercussions of our actions.
Lovelee: I completely agree with your statements. I do think that people should be held responsible for their actions. I was merely stating that if Kanye sincerely acknowledges that he made a mistake, apologizes to those he was rude to, and asks to be forgiven shouldn’t we oblige him?
Apparently West went into details about his frame of mind, loss of his mom, etc. when he appeared on the Jay Leno Show Monday night. I didn’t witness the offense on the VMA’s nor did I get a chance to see his comments/apology on Leno. His actions on the VMA’s were obviously inappropriate, but he has said a lot of inappropriate things in the past that have been overlooked. I really feel as if this misguided error Kanye made in slighting Taylor Swift is something that got him to recognize some of his personal demons. From what I understand, West was seen publicly drinking cognac before the VMA’s and was rumored to have been drunk at the time he stole the mic for his rant. He could be suffering from depression or just the fact that the hip-hop lifestyle is a difficult path to follow in righteousness and it is a very self-centered world where fame and money become the focus.
I’ll be interested to see how the media and artists respond as well as what this does to Kanye’s standing in the public eye. Thanks for your reply!