Jesus in the Top 40

“Jesus Walks” by Kanye West and “Coming Home” by Diddy Dirty Money are two of the most Christian hip hop songs to infiltrate this millennium’s Top 40. I have found the songs to be both beautifully confident Christian messages and troubling artistic expressions.

One reason for my troubles is the coarse lyrics: each song contains the word “shit.” I don’t believe that Christians are obligated to remove all expletives from their vocabularies—I believe that there are much bigger fish to fry, AND I believe that there are times and places for profanity—I’m just slightly puzzled by the inclusion of profane language in public messages (pop songs) with such clear associations with to the Christian faith.

Another reason for my troubles is that the very same albums on which Kanye and Diddy make such powerful Christian claims, feature some morally questionable songs. Kanye’s “The New Work Out Plan” is a celebration of sexual promiscuity featuring lyrics like “Tell me who’s invited // you, your friends and my dick.” Diddy Dirty Money’s “Ass On The Floor” repeatedly instructs its audience to (take a guess) “get your ass on the floor.”

I have often felt slightly disappointed listening to “Jesus Walks” and “Coming Home”. I felt as though the artists botched opportunities to make great art honoring our Lord. I felt as though the artists should have taken a little more responsibility when associating with a humble, Holy Savior.

Then the grace of God softened my heart.

The message of Jesus is one of grace. The Christian victory does not lie in the work of Christians, but the forgiving work of Christ. We are not instructed to fix ourselves. We are called to come to Christ as we are, broken and flawed. The songs “Jesus Walks” and “Coming Home” are two of the best examples I’ve witnessed of that behavior. I don’t think the songs validate the messages of the entire Kanye and Diddy canons, but I do think that the complete and utter submission on these two songs is something to be celebrated.

And it’s nice to be able to consider these songs worship because they are SO much better than most other “Christian” music.