Brian Jones - Road to Revelation
Brian Jones, lead guitarist and co-founder of Road to Revelation (as well as my husband and partner in ministry) said ...I have to say as a Christian and as someone who is serving in music ministry that I am greatly offended by the cover of Rolling Stones latest issue with Kanye West portraying himself as Christ. I think this was a tasteless play to gain more media coverage for him and Rolling Stone and after reading the article itself I found no mention of Jesus anywhere in there except as a mention of the awards he won for "Jesus Walks." Of course, there were numerous mentions of how he thinks he should win every award out there. I find myself running a gambit of emotions here.... anger, disappointment and pity. I'm angry that this young man would even begin to set himself up as Christ because, based on his article and his past media outbursts, I doubt he has ever put anyone else before himself. He has never carried the weight and burden of any of our (mankind) sins. He most certainly has not given his life for all of us as Jesus did on the cross. I think this a mockery of my Lord and Saviour and what He did for all of us so that we could come to find Grace, Forgiveness, and Redemption. I also find this offensive because it seems to be just another example of someone using Christianity as a tool for headlines and personal gain, which seems to be happening more and more frequently.
It angers me that as this story has unfolded, many of the very people that God has guided to a platform and placed in positions of leadership (both as artists and clergy) have chosen to remain silent rather than speaking out. I find their silence offensive because our leaders have a responsibility to speak out on the issues that we are facing. That's part of what they're called to do. It appears as though some of our leaders are more concerned with not rocking the boat and keeping their place in the food chain than with keeping it real and speaking the truth - even if that truth isn't politically correct.
My God isn't weak and He wasn't silent during the Old Testament. My Saviour isn't weak and He wasn't silent during his ministry. I don't believe that we, who call ourselves Christians, are supposed to be weak or silent either. Our leaders need to step up and lead - giving a voice to the people that they're leading.
I'm disappointed by the fact that Kanye West, who has won awards for his music, seems content to let the controversy he creates define him rather than letting his music speak for itself. As an artist myself, I want to be recognized for how I use my God-given talent - not how much controversy I can stir up.
As I write this, I feel more pity for Kanye West than anything else. I look at him and see a young man who doesn't believe in his own talent enough to just let it take him where it will. I see a man who could do so much positive and so much good in our world getting too caught up in his own drama and delusions to do more than make headlines. I see a magazine that will stoop to any level of "dirty pool" for profit. I see Christians looking for someone to stand up for them and I see leaders who are afraid to really lead.
