Good News - November 2019

INSIGHT 20 NOVEMBER 2019 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, “Teacher, rebuke your followers for saying things like that!” He replied, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!” But as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep. Luke 19:39- 41(NLT) Kanye West, controversial megastar rapper, has produced and released a new album called Jesus the King, and yes, it’s all about Jesus. This is the same Kanye who not so long ago declared, “I am a god, I don’t think there’s much more ex- planation...I am a god. Now what?” Now what indeed? Just last year his reality show wife, Kim Kardashian, stated Kayne had accepted the reality of his bipolar diagnosis, “I think we’re in a pretty good place with it now. It is an emotional process, for sure. Right now, everything is really calm. But we can definitely feel episodes coming.” Some are wondering if this “turn to Jesus” album is nothing more than a manic episode that will quickly, or perhaps slowly, dissolve into another phase of a troubled man’s journey. I don’t believe that an encounter with Jesus can result in anything other than a hallelujah, like Bob Dylan’s … I remember inmy youth the excitement over Dylan. For years I emotionally hung on to his stirring lyrics. The song “Gotta Serve Somebody” particularly moved me as much for the fact that a cultural icon had validated my beliefs in an attempt to popu- larize them inmainstream culture, as for the spiritual warmth that filledmy heart when I would listen to it. But, almost as quickly as his public and prophetic declaration, came his renun- ciation and rejection of his faith. It was always there, that question of whether anyone with his fame and fortune could stand the pressure of a disbelieving public and a judgmental Christian community. In his song “I Believe In You”, Dylan addressed it full on in a haunting and plaintive song, transparent about the shallow foundations of his newfound faith in Jesus Christ. They ask me how I feel And if my love is real And how I know I’ll make it through And they, they look at me and frown They’d like to drive me from this town They don’t want me around ’Cause I believe in you. They show me to the door They say don’t come back no more ‘Cause I don’t be like they’d like me to And I, I walk out on my own A thousand miles from home But I don’t feel alone ‘Cause I believe in you. I can’t judge an individual faith or belief or know how Dylan feels about Jesus today, but I know that in the summer of ‘79 his anointed words were born of God’s spirit and still minister to me today. Is Kanye for real? Is Kanye for real? Will this stick? Is this another bi-polar phase of his life? Twittershpere is already abuzz with speculation and doubt. Those for, those against. There’s word that Joel Osteen has invited Kanye to come to Lakewood and swirls of rumor, innuendo, fear and loathing. I turned off the noise for a few hours and just listened to Kanye’s new music and absorbed the words the man wrote. He kicks off his album with “Every Hour”, a high octane gospel quick step im- ploring us to ‘Sing ’til the power of the Lord comes down…’ I was ready… The anthemof “Selah”, the second cut, features his rapping a personal testimony over a Hallelujah chorus. Ok, I’ve got my Doctorate in Theology and I am singing Hallelujah… Rap is not my genre, but I can’t stop listening gladly because the anointing and joy of my 14 year old soul that Dylan inspired is inspired afresh. I won’t go through all 11 of his cuts, but they are all inspired, thoughtful, and powerful. Some, like “Closed on Sun- day,” challenge this generation to live a different way. Others, like the closing chorus, “Jesus is Lord” is simply Scripture. My favorite, is a gorgeous melody called “Water,” which unashamedly declares the power of Jesus as our living water. I don’t know Kanye – but I know this – he is aman who has encountered the risen Savior and is singing about Him from the rooftop. It doesn’t matter if your name is Bill or Jill or Sven or Mohammad or Kanye, the Bible declares that the heavens rejoice when even one comes to know him. Hands On Kanye knows there will be doubt, it can be heard in his song, “Hands On”: What have you been hearin’ from the Christians? They’ll be the first one to judge me Make it feel like nobody love me Make you feel alone in the dark and you’ll never see the light Man, you’re never seein’ home and you never see the domes I can feel it when I write, point of livin’ in the right If they only see the wrongs, never listen to the songs Just to listen is a fight, but you booked me for the fight It’s so hard to get along if they only see the slight From the love of religion What have you been hearin’ from the Christians? They’ll be the first one to judge me Make it seem like nobody love me I’m not tryna lead you to Visas But if I try to lead you to Jesus We get called halfway believers Only halfway read Ephesians Only if they knew what I knew, uh I was never new ’til I knew of True and living God, Yeshua The true and living God. Kanye, I’m not going to judge. Instead of being cynical and skeptical I choose hope and jubilation that you are using your gifts to share the hope of Christ with a world that so desperately needs the Word. Jesus wept because Jerusalemwould not receive its King and the coming con- sequences would be dire. The last place I want to be is standing with the Pharisees trying to silence your voice. I’m joiningmine with yours. Hosanna, Our King REIGNS! There’ll be haters on both sides; the world you escaped that won’t understand where you’ve gone to and the religious Pharisees who will denigrate your every move. As for me, I will be praying for you, my brother in Christ, that you will remain strong until the end and use your amazing gifts for His glory. Rob Hoskins is the President of OneHope. Since taking leadership of OneHope in 2004 he has continued to advance the vision of God’s Word. Every Child by part- nering with local churches to help reach more than 1.5 BILLION children and youth worldwide with a contextualized presentation of God’s Word. Kanye: Let Rappers Cry Out - Rob Hoskins - OneHope President Kanye West