Is It Gospel? "Jesus Walks"

I've thought of another series of posts that I will call "Is It Gospel?". In this series I will attempt to dive into a song's meanings and message to see if I can find the heart of the Gospel or something of value for the Christian life. I don't want to come off as judging the song writer and/or artist. I only want to look at the theology and worldview in the song.


Here are the lyrics:

Yo, We at war
We at war with terrorism, racism, and most of all we at war with ourselves
(Jesus Walks)
God show me the way because the Devil trying to break me down
(Jesus Walks with me) with me, with me, with me [fades]

You know what the Midwest is?
Young & Restless
Where restless (Niggas) might snatch your necklace
And next these (Niggas) might jack your Lexus
Somebody tell these (Niggas) who Kanye West is
I walk through the valley of the shadow of death is
Top floor the view alone will leave you breathless Uhhhh!
Try to catch it Uhhhh! It's kinda hard hard
Getting choked by the detectives yeah yeah now check the method
They be asking us questions, harass and arrest us
Saying "we eat pieces of shit like you for breakfast"
Huh? Yall eat pieces of shit? What's the basis?
We ain't going nowhere but got suits and cases
A trunk full of coke rental car from Avis
My momma used to say only Jesus can save us
Well momma I know I act a fool
But I'll be gone 'til November I got packs to move I Hope

[Hook x2]
(Jesus Walks)
God show me the way because the Devil trying to break me down
(Jesus Walks with me)
The only thing that that I pray is that my feet don't fail me now
(Jesus Walks)
And I don't think there is nothing I can do now to right my wrongs
(Jesus Walks with me)
I want to talk to God but I'm afraid because we ain't spoke in so long

To the hustlers, killers, murderers, drug dealers even us cripples
(Jesus walks with them)
To the victims of Welfare for we living in hell here hell yeah
(Jesus walks with them)
Now hear ye hear ye want to see Thee more clearly
I know he hear me when my feet get weary
Cause we're the almost nearly extinct
We rappers are role models we rap we don't think
I ain't here to argue about his facial features, But here to convert atheists into believers
I'm just trying to say the way school need teachers
The way Kathie Lee needed Regis that's the way I need Jesus
So here go my single dog radio needs this
They say you can rap about anything except for Jesus
That means guns, sex, lies, video tapes
But if I talk about God my record won't get played Huh?
Well let this take away from my spins
Which will probably take away from my ends
Then I hope this take away from my sins
And bring the day that I'm dreaming about
Next time I'm in the club everybody screaming out

(Jesus Walks)
God show me the way because the devil trying to break me down
(Jesus Walks)
The only thing that that I pray is that my feet don't fail me now
(Jesus Walks)
And I don't think there's nothing I can do now to right my wrongs
(Jesus walks with me... fades)
I want to talk to God but I'm afraid because we ain't spoke in so long

The song has many positive messages. When anyone reaches out to God and seeks after him...it's a good thing and definitely godly. The song gives a picture of the life of many people in our society. It recognizes that the Devil is real and actively out to steal, kill, and destroy. The song also correctly points out that there is hostility that one encounters when ever someone speaks about Jesus from the institutions of society. The song gives the same command Jesus gave us about we have to weigh the cost of following him. I think that the cost is too high not to follow him.

I would not call this song "Gospel". I'd call it more of a cry for help from Jesus. It does not reveal any knowledge of who Jesus is. It does not give Him the praise He is worthy of. However, I would say that it does give us more insight how people seek for God. Such a person knows that he is being dogged by the suffering in this life. He knows that he (like everyone of us) is unworthy. He also seems to know that Jesus is the answer to all of life's problems, he just does not know how to reach out for Jesus or even if God will answer him. I think that this song is more of a spring board for giving other's the Gospel. I would pray that someone will take such an individual who feels this way aside and give him the truth. Here is what I would tell him:

The fact that you are having these feelings and thoughts mean that God is not far from you. He loves you. He's not worried about your past sins and mistakes. He will take you just as you are now. All you have to do is surrender to Him and believe that Jesus is all he claimed to be and that He paid for the cost of your sins when he died on the cross and rose again. The gosple is that simple. It's the only way to get rid of your sins. If you put your trust in God and live the way you know you are supposed to God will help you live it. And He will teach you what you do not already know now.



Here is the music video




Here is the audio

kanye west-jesus walks - Kanye West