Thursday, January 26, 2006

Further thoughts on Kanye West as Jesus

So I've been thinking about how I feel about the rolling stones cover due out tomorrow with Kanye West posing as Jesus...

First off, I think that West is totally one of those celebrities who will probably make a name for himself out of his controversy. This is not unique. Think of someone like Madonna...Madonna has a lot of talent as a musician (especially in her ability to transcend and adapt to current trends)...or there's people like Dennis Rodman...come on, he was frequently more controversy than Basketball.

And so I think we'll hear more from West, as a musician, and as one we can expect to stir things up on a regular basis...

But the 2nd question is whether this act of posing like Jesus goes to far. And as I think about this, I realize that the reason this is more justifily offensive is because it defames and mocks God. It's not that he made himself look like Christ (no one seemed to complain too much about James Caviezel portraying himself as Christ in Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ), it's that West thinks that he IS Christ. It is his pride and arrogance that is offensive and that he takes the death of God's son as a symbol of his greatness.

In doing so, this is wrong also in the way that it defrauds Jesus of his name. It is wrong in the same way that people misuse God's name on a daily basis. But you don't hear people in a daily uproar over people throwing around the name of God and Jesus like it was a hot potato. Or how about when people were T-shirts that say "Jesus is my homeboy." Is it any different? Or how about when people were Ashton Kutcher style trucker hats that say "Truckin' for Jesus?" Are these words and symbols any less offensive? I don't think so.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Followed your post from theologienne.blogspot.com I agree that this should not be an uproar-maker. How about people who in casual conversation use "Jesus Chrost" as a curse? Does it tell us something about our views that this image could unsettle us? how about a WOMAN wearing a crown of thorns? Let's bring on teh debate, I say

Sher said...

There's a difference in portraying Christ to send a message ABOUT Christ (like Jim C.) and portraing Christ to send a message about yourself (like Kayne W.). In The Passion of the Christ, the entire point of the film, the intended message to the world, was about the person and life of our God Incarnate. Kayne West is just trying to make himself feel more important than the rest of the world. It's foolish, it's rubbish, and it's a complete abomination of the image of Christ. Who did Kayne West die for? What sacrifices has he made? None! He's not God, and not anything close to Him.

Denny said...

wow...this post of your is the best...I love your writing!!!
denny@Joint PhD Programs

sarah - tefl courses online said...

I agree with sheri...."Kayne West is just trying to make himself feel more important than the rest of the world"...that is his problem.