Kid Rock and the New American Jesus?

Kid Rock just released a new self-described ‘Christian album’ this week. Halfway 2 Jesus is an album featuring guest contributors such as Eminem and Lil Wayne, with an overarching message that walking with Jesus enhances life, not dying to self. His recent media appearances and statements about the new album raise the question: Is Kid Rock and millions of others following the Jesus of the Bible or a new American Jesus?

I’ve listened to Kid Rock’s album in its entirety, and the prevailing impression I’m left with is that the Jesus presented in the songs is a different Jesus. He’s part life coach, buddy you can have a beer with, and an old granddad who winks at sin as he hands you another cookie. I call the Jesus Kid Rock is promoting, and many are following, the New American Jesus because as long as you feel right with God, join the revival, and mention Jesus, it’s all good. This different Jesus really isn’t new, but the lack of discernment in our time among self-identifying Christians to recognize spiritual deception is unprecedented.

There are bits of truth sprinkled in the album, to be fair. But the message permeating the album is that Jesus came to enhance your old life, not to give you new life. In a recent interview with Lara Trump to promote his new album, Kid Rock said something very alarming, and anyone with biblical discernment should have caught it. Lara Trump asks Kid Rock about what inspired him to write this album, and here’s what he said:

After Charlie Kirk was assassinated, like a lot of people, I started to become closer to my faith. So I started writing these songs and next thing you know they were coming to me. And I can see the skepticism in it. People like, “Kid Rock got saved?” It’s like, I didn’t get saved. I’m still Kid Rock. Still going to drink a beer, smoke a cigar. I feel like I’ve always been right with God.” -Kid Rock

What I’m addressing here isn’t beer, smoking, or clubs, because externals don’t save people; Jesus does. I’m addressing the fact that Kid Rock said he didn’t get saved. Just so there’s no taking what he said out of context, he followed it up by saying he feels like he’s always been right with God. This is in stark contrast to everything the Bible says about the wretched condition of the human heart and the need for a Savior. This high opinion of our own righteousness and negating the need for salvation is going to be eternally tragic for many people who say Lord, Lord, but don’t know the real Jesus.

The Bible is replete with Jesus and the apostles explaining exactly why He came down from heaven. He was on a rescue mission to save sinners from a hell we all deserve. In Luke 19:10, “Jesus said, The Son of Man came to seek and to save the Lost.” In 1 Timothy 1:15, Paul said, “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.”

When Kid Rock said that he feels like he’s always been right with God, he is mirroring the sentiment of so many people who fail to see their true heart condition before a holy God. People will say things such as, ‘It’s all under the blood’ or ‘He knows my heart.’ Statements like these are so prevalent in our time. Many people don’t see the need for salvation because they feel right with God, while ignoring the very thing they need the most: repentance and saving faith. It’s tragic that so many people, perhaps millions, are following a different Jesus toward eternity, saying “Lord, Lord” while mistaking man-made revivals and movements for true saving faith. Warm feelings about Jesus won’t save anyone, nor will knowing about Him; you must know Him.

Tens of thousands, perhaps millions, have come into some kind of religious experience by accepting Christ and they have not been saved.” -A.W. Tozer

Some people might argue that Kid Rock isn’t a preacher or in ministry. That’s true, but he is an incredibly popular entertainer with a huge following. He has a massive amount of influence, so when he comes out with a self-described ‘Christian album,’ what he sings about Jesus matters because his message reaches millions of people.

What should the Christian response be? Our response should be biblical discernment, compassion, and love. So many people, including Bob James Ritchie aka Kid Rock, are following the New American Jesus and don’t see their desperate need for a Savior. I’m not judging Kid Rock. It’s an ugly, hypocritical heart that says, “I thank you, God, that I’m not like that sinner over there.” But for the grace of God, there go I. We are all guilty before God, and the only difference between us all is what we do with Jesus. We can treat Him like a cosmic genie in a bottle who lets us live for ourselves, instead of dying to self, or we can be born again and make Him our Savior.

We should reach out to others with the gospel and contend for the true faith. So many people are following the New American Jesus, and believers have an opportunity to tell them about the Lord Jesus who saves. Friends, it’s not my place to declare where Kid Rock will spend eternity; God help me! In all humility, my heart goes out to Kid Rock, and I would love for him to see the need for salvation and become born again. Jesus loves Kid Rock, so let’s stand together in prayer for him, as the album of his life is still being written. That’s the heart of the Lord for Kid Rock and every living soul.

All for Him,

Howard

Here’s the link to the podcast episode: Kid Rock and the New American Jesus?

Here’s the link to the YouTube video: Kid Rock and the New American Jesus?