Faithwire
  • Watch
  • Go!
  • Podcasts
  • Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • SCOTUS
  • Life
  • Religious Liberty
  • News
  • Politics
  • Faith
  • Opinion

‘Welcome to the Family of God!’: Greg Laurie Pens Open Letter to Kanye West Filled With Wise Advice to New Believers

Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Yeezy Season 3
Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Yeezy Season 3
Share Tweet
By Greg Laurie
Contributor

November 1, 2019

Dear Kanye,

It looks like you have become a follower of Jesus Christ. So, let me say to you, welcome to the family of God!

I think it’s amazing how you are using your considerable platform to talk about your newfound faith and the change it has made in your life. 

You recently said in an interview, 

Now that I’m in service to Christ, my job is to spread the gospel, to let people know what Jesus has done for me. I’ve spread a lot of things. There was a time I was letting you know what high fashion had done for me. I was letting you know what the Hennessy had done for me. I was letting you know all these things, but now I’m letting you know what Jesus has done for me. And in that, I’m no longer a slave. I’m a son now. Son of God. I’m free through Christ.

I wish more believers would have the boldness to use their platforms to say what you are saying about what Jesus has done for you.

‘Jesus Gives Us a Pace’: Jefferson Bethke Calls Out Hyper Busy Lifestyles That are ‘Killing Us’

I love the zeal of a new believer, and I remember well how I wanted to tell people about what Jesus had done for me after Christ came into my life. But looking back at that moment 45 years later, I realize I still had a lot to learn in my walk with Christ.

So Kanye, though we have never met, let me share some things that you need to know as a young believer:

1.  You need to read the Bible every day

After reading the lyrics of your new album “Jesus Is King,” it sounds like you are already doing this!

Reading the Bible is like waking up to a personal text from God in the morning. The Bible is God’s very word to us. It’s alive and powerful and will help you to grow in your new spiritual life.

Massive Spike in Faith-Based Google Searches After ‘Jesus Is King’

The Apostle Paul wrote, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.” (2 Tim. 3:16 NLT)

Even though the Bible, collectively, was written thousands of years ago, it still teaches us about how to live life today. More importantly, it teaches us about who God is and how we can know Him.

2.  You need to Pray

Prayer is simply talking to God. The objective of prayer is not to move God my way, but to move me His way! So, when you have burdens, or concerns, or worries or needs, commit them to the Lord in prayer — and trust that He will listen to you.

The Bible tells us, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:6-7)

3.  You need a home church

Kanye, I know you are doing your Sunday services all around the country right now, and they have created quite a stir. That is amazing!

I would encourage you to find a local church to attend because every believer needs a home church and they need a pastor. The Bible says, “And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” (Heb. 10:25 NLT)

Simple Steps to Help Celebrity Christians Like Kanye West and Justin Bieber Grow

The church is a place where you can grow spiritually, develop a consistent theology, find accountability and have a pastor to help you in life. It is also a place to discover and develop your spiritual gifts that God has given you.

4.  You need to share your faith

You are already doing an amazing job on this one, Kanye! Jesus told all of us to “go into all the world and preach the Gospel.” (Matt. 16:15)

You have a very large platform to do that, and I thank you for using it for the glory of God. I cannot but agree wholeheartedly with my friend Roma Downey, who recently tweeted:

Kanye West can help spread the word of Christ to those who need Him .Kanye has millions of people typing the words "Jesus is King" Think about that for a moment. MILLIONS of believers and unbelievers alike are typing "Jesus is King" that’s incredible and to God be the glory ?

— Roma Downey (@RealRomaDowney) October 27, 2019

“Kanye has millions of people typing the words ‘Jesus is King.’ Think about that for a moment. MILLIONS of believers and unbelievers alike are typing ‘Jesus is King’ that’s incredible and to God be the glory.”

One last thing, Kanye.

You along with all believers will face opposition from both people and spiritual forces. So keep your spiritual guard up! Keep studying God’s Word and surround yourself with godly people who are stronger spiritually than you as you continue to grow in your faith.

Because you are a public figure, people will take shots at you. You already know this.

WATCH: The Chris Tomlin Cover of Kanye West’s ‘Closed on Sunday’ You Didn’t Know You Wanted

Some will be nonbelievers who will mock, dismiss or outright attack you. Sometimes it will be people who identify as Christians that will nit-pick and critique you instead of pray for you. 

My advice is: ignore them. What matters is that, as Hebrews 12:1-2 says, you run with endurance the race God has set before you, keeping your eyes on Jesus, “the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.”

We are glad that you are part of the family of God!

Pastor Greg Laurie


Greg Laurie is an author, evangelist, pastor and founder of the Harvest churches in California and Hawaii and Harvest Crusades. He is a bestselling author of several books, and his newest book “Johnny Cash: The Redemption of an American Icon” is now available at bookstores. Follow him @greglaurie.

Latest

  • News

    ‘Word for Word’: Persecution Watchdog Warns of Striking Similarities Between Communist Persecution, ‘American Leftist Way of Restriction’

  • News

    Calgary Pastor Arrested for Second Time After Protesting Drag Show at Public Library

  • News

    ‘Gateways to the Demonic’: Pastor Breaks Down Possession, Spiritual Healing, and Biblical Truths About Devil’s Most Dangerous Tricks

  • Life

    ‘Nonsense’: Atheist and Biologist Richard Dawkins Hits Back at ‘Bullying’ of J.K. Rowling, Proclaims ‘There are Two Sexes’

  • News

    Christian Wrestler Under Fire After Praising Jesus, Mentioning Muhammad Following Win: ‘Holy Spirit Power — It’s Everything’


Sponsored
Sponsored

Newsletter
Signup

Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • ‘Word for Word’: Persecution Watchdog Warns of Striking Similarities Between Communist Persecution, ‘American Leftist Way of Restriction’
  • Calgary Pastor Arrested for Second Time After Protesting Drag Show at Public Library
  • ‘Gateways to the Demonic’: Pastor Breaks Down Possession, Spiritual Healing, and Biblical Truths About Devil’s Most Dangerous Tricks
  • ‘Nonsense’: Atheist and Biologist Richard Dawkins Hits Back at ‘Bullying’ of J.K. Rowling, Proclaims ‘There are Two Sexes’
  • Christian Wrestler Under Fire After Praising Jesus, Mentioning Muhammad Following Win: ‘Holy Spirit Power — It’s Everything’

Archives

  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016

Categories

  • Christian Persecution
  • Coronavirus
  • culture
  • Culture
  • Entertainment
  • Faith
  • Faith
  • Family
  • George Floyd
  • Go!
  • Israel
  • Life
  • Life
  • Lifestyle
  • Media
  • Men
  • Mission Haiti
  • News
  • News
  • Opinion
  • P.O.V
  • Politics
  • Politics
  • Roe
  • Sponsored
  • Sports
  • Virtue
  • Women

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Navigation

  • Watch
  • Go!
  • Podcasts
  • Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Staff
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram

Subscribe to the Newsletter

Sign up to get our newsletter your inbox every day.

Newsletter Signup

Do you want to read
more articles like this?