Last night Chance the Rapper hit the stage with Kirk Franklin and Tamela Mann at the Grammys and put on a show. He praised God during his performance. He praised God during his acceptance speech (and not in the typical “I want to thank God” acceptance speech kind of way). It was quite impressive to see those things on such a big stage. If you didn’t see the performance, you can check it out here. But as I watched the performance, I knew it was coming. I knew that it would be all too easy to find “Christians” responding in “love” because Chance doesn’t fit into the box. Here are just a few examples of what I found with just a simple Facebook search:
I can’t tell if he loves God or not.
I was confused by the end of the performance. And what was going on with Kirk Franklin? Has he been hanging out with Kanye?
Twenty One Pilots were the only true Christians in attendance imho. Did you see Kirk Franklins dress?!? Talk about WTF (what the funk)!
I thought I might throw up when this hypocrite made the speech he made after knowing what his lyrics in his “songs” are. He’s sickening!
So this guy decided to give glory to God on stage at the Grammys, but because his music has vulgar language there is no way he could be genuine (even though one person WTFunk’d him in his comments *insert eye roll*). I’m guessing Kirk Franklin and Tamela Mann must be terrible people for even considering performing with him.
Watching his speech and performance challenges me. Chance knows he doesn’t have it all together, but he also knows that doesn’t matter. Sure he isn’t perfect and is still rough around the edges, but I don’t recall Jesus saying anywhere that salvation depended on those things. And I’m pretty sure we are all imperfect and rough around the edges. Yet, in spite of those things, he used his platform to spread the gospel. And people listened. Just do a simple google search and you will find all kinds of news coverage of his performance.
If we want to spread the love of Christ, we have to be willing to get a little dirty. Thank God Chance has people like Kirk and Tamela in his life. We can’t just sit inside the four walls of the church and expect people to walk through the door. And we certainly can’t expect people to have everything put together the way that we think they should. Jesus certainly didn’t do that. Matthew 9:10-13 paints a clear picture how Jesus wanted us to reach people:
Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. 11 But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?” 12 When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” 13 Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”
Chance is praising God the best way he knows how. And I’m not claiming there aren’t things in his life that he needs to straighten up, but we all have those things. Jesus came for the sinners, not those that think they are righteous. Praise God for that.
until next time…