When was the last time you cried?

Like really cried. Wept uncontrollably, felt the weight of the world and reflected on the grief that we have experienced. Sometimes it feels like our world is collapsing under the weight of failure, of death, and oppression. In light of listening to Kanye's album, I am extremely grateful that it is a thing. He addresses issues like the fact that the Church as the Bride of Christ rejects what Jesus would have accepted with open arms. Saying things like "what are all the 'Christians' saying?" Well it's a good question, looking up "Kanye West conversion" some of the most popular articles are of people naysaying that Kanye is genuine about his faith, and have called his album uncreative and "Kanye just being Kanye with more bible verses." 

I stopped reading after that.

Because what I'm hearing out of "JESUS IS KING" is a heart cry that has experienced the weight of the world, and given it to the only person who can handle it. What I'm hearing is someone who rejoices in their salvation, their Yeshua. What I'm hearing is someone who really cries. 

Throughout the world there are cries. There is a woman whom I love dearly that has decided to devote her life to Christ, even though her husband is disapproving and denying of Jesus as Lord. I hear her cries, and they are powerful. There is a man whom I love dearly who experiences the weight of the world and grief at how the church is so focused on not expressing Jesus, and I hear his cries. O how they cause grief to fall in a room. In inner-city apartments, there are cries as loved ones are shot dead. Just. Like. That. 

It's easy to respond to a song that makes you want to dance. It's hard to see someone weeping on the floor, get down next to them, and cry with them. Albeit half of the church is so scared shitless of showing any emotion due to oppression that the endeavor to play songs that make them want to dance is essentially listless. 

IT'S NOT ABOUT "WHAT IS APPROPRIATE." It is about "what is meaningful?" It is about "what is loving?", it is about the power of looking outside of yourself and realizing that you have what it takes to be compassionate. When you feel the heart of Jesus and how it breaks for the homeless, the people who don't belong on the streets, but are there for whatever reason, it's hard to not have tears flowing. 

Then, later on, you find joy in that suffering, but that's another campsite entirely. What is of utmost importance is that we as a church experience the heart of God, and that we allow Him to move in ours.