Many people are talking about the recent incident of Kanye West commandeering the microphone from a stunned Taylor Swift as she accepted an award at the MTV Music Awards.  The negative press has been overwhelming as the media has declared that Kanye “crossed the line”.

I find it interesting that on a show that has a history of being outrageous (remember the Red Hot Chile Pepper’s prank?  If not, don’t ask) we have finally found the “sacredness” or the spot where they say, “This cannot and MUST not be tolerated.”  It tells me that even in an industry that can talk of relative truths and values that preach what feels good must be right, there are boundaries that are to held.  Kanye was just feeling it, right?  How could he be denied?

Where does this response come from?  Certainly not from the values that make them money every day.  I believe that it comes from a source that cannot be escaped from, try as we all do to bury it.  The image of God tells us that we were made for more than predator and prey.  We were made for His honor and respect.  When Kanye preyed upon a young teenager at a key moment in her life we all went “That’s wrong!”  This is another clue that we were made for more than what this world and it’s values can define.  The Kanye West incident showed a glimpse of our sense of right and wrong, and in doing so we echo the voice of the One who made us – a holy and righteous God who will judge the earth.

Yet don’t we all have our moments where we want to take the mic?  Or shout out “You lied”?   It’s just that we have enough social restraint (most of the time) to not do what we saw Kanye do.  If God looked at the intentions of our hearts, where would we stand?  I know that I would be guilty.  But Jesus Christ took that judgment upon himself to redeem the Kanye West in all of us.  Jesus alone stands as the place where God’s justice and mercy meet.