Why do Christians encourage hypocrisy of secular artists?: Bieber & Kanye

When the saints of God pray, sing praises, or talk praises to the Lord, the Bible calls it a sacrifice of praise (Jer. 33:11; Heb. 13:15). It’s an important part of our covenant relationship with him. So when I see people making fun of it, in ignorance or deliberately, it rubs me the wrong way. This mocking of it comes in various forms. One way the mockery is carried out is when people openly, blatantly, and proudly commit sin without remorse for disobeying God’s word, then they turn around and do an outward religious action like a religious speech or religious song or a prayer to claim they’re Christian. And some who call themselves Christians seem to love it by applauding it and encouraging them in such hypocritical behavior.

So once again I’m jumping up on my soapbox to point out musical artists like Justin Bieber and Kanye West, thrown in with some Kirk Franklin on the side. Gospel singer Kirk Franklin several weeks ago boasted and adamantly defended how he was making a “collabo” appearance on the eagerly anticipated new album of rapper Kanye West entitled, “Life of Pablo.” West described the album as “a gospel album with a whole lot of cursing on it, but it’s still a gospel album. It’s the gospel according to Ye.” The term “Ye” is a blasphemous reference of West to himself as “Yeezus”–a mockery of Jesus. Basically, he’s bragging that he’s pushing a false Christ with a false gospel.

Kirk Franklin defended it by rebuking Christians for “a dangerous message I believe we send to the world when our posture is they have to meet certain requirements before they are worthy…” Franklin must not have read the Bible lately, because that is exactly what God’s gospel expects. The only way to meet God’s requirements is to accept by grace through faith that Christ met the requirements on our behalf because of our sins. Then we are given power to exchange our evil standards for his requirements.

Regardless of the fact West and Bieber continue to mock Christianity by their actions, an article just a few days ago at CharismaNews.com gushed about how Bieber is making bold statements for God on social media and at his concerts. To read the article, you would think Bieber is on a spiritual par with Billy Graham. Now that I think of it, maybe Graham isn’t the best example since he’s a Vatican-sympathizing Freemason, but you get the point. The CharismaNews article gushes how the Biebs released a devotional in January, prayed with Kanye West in March, and had a Christian inspirational message on Instagram earlier this week. Oh wow! Biebs is just the bestest Christian ever!

A close spiritually-discerning examination reveals both West’s and Bieber’s hypocrisy. West uses God’s name in vain, promotes fornication in explicit language, and even has Satanic backmasking on a song or two of his new album. Meanwhile, CharismaNews failed to notice that just a few days before Bieber had his “inspirational” “Christian” message on Instagram, he posted a nude pic of himself with the message “Dat a** doe!” to promote the lustful gawking at his naked backside. The fact that people calling themselves Christian defend these guys on the Internet speaks volumes about the spiritual state of some churchgoers and possibly their churches. We must ask ourselves, “Just whose sacrifices of praise will God really accept?” Here are some answers he gives us:

Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 1 Sam. 15:22

…unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth? Seeing thou hatest instruction, and casteth my words behind thee. Ps. 50:16-17

If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: Ps. 66:18

The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind? Prov. 21:27

He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination. Prov. 28:9

Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. John 9:31

By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. Heb. 13:15-16

May the Lord reveal to them the error of their ways so they can give him genuine praise.