Lecrae and Jonathan McReynolds Get Real About Christian "Fame"
The Deep End With Lecrae
Lecrae
4.8 • 602 Ratings
🗓️ 17 April 2025
⏱️ 91 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Grammy-winning artist and author Jonathan McReynolds joins Lecrae for one of the most vulnerable and eye-opening conversations yet. From sold-out tours and public accolades to private burnout and breakdowns, Jonathan opens up about what it really costs to "climb the mountain" of success—and why coming down might be the most spiritual move of all.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Why fame is more isolating than it looks
- The hidden dangers of chasing greatness instead of goodness
- How celebrity culture dehumanizes artists
- The pain of not having a spiritual father figure—and becoming one anyway
- Dating while in the spotlight and guarding your heart from perception-drunk relationships
- Why humility—not just theology—is what saves us from ourselves
This is a must-watch for anyone wrestling with purpose, platform, or pressure.
📕 Jonathan's new book: Before You Climb Any Higher: Valley Wisdom for Mountain Dreams
🔔 Subscribe for more honest, unfiltered conversations on faith, culture, and healing.
Let's go to the Deep End!
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | I have been on stage with some of the most amazing gospel artists ever. |
| 0:05.0 | But when they get off that stage, they don't feel a responsibility to be anything more. |
| 0:11.0 | I've absolutely made three non-believers' worth amount of sin. |
| 0:16.0 | I will say that historically, I agree with you. |
| 0:19.0 | There has been a level of... It's a show. |
| 0:26.6 | I was hoping that at some point, some elder would see me chopping away and be like, |
| 0:35.6 | son, this is how you do it. It never came. Yeah, never came from me even. Shout to you, Kirk, Franklin. Where was you at? You know, low-key got mad at Kirk. I did too. Here's the crazy part. So I got to ask it. And you can plead a fifth if you want to. You are successful, Christian, and yet not a married man. |
| 0:54.9 | Like, what is the why? |
| 0:56.1 | Do you have a why? |
| 1:01.7 | This is the deep end with La Cray. |
| 1:07.7 | All right, ladies and gentlemen, we got, I don't even know how we articulate who this man is, |
| 1:14.1 | because he does a lot of things. |
| 1:15.1 | Now, I'll never tell him this to his face because I pick at him and I joke with him all the time. |
| 1:21.1 | But he is an inspiration to me. |
| 1:24.5 | He gives me hope for gospel music, for Christian music in general because he is somebody |
| 1:32.7 | who cares about the word, cares about the truth that goes into the music. He's a thinker. He's a |
| 1:37.9 | leader. He's a scholar. Don't sleep on him. He's an incredible musician. The likes of, I mean, you name the musicians in society have given him his praise from R&B to gospel to, you name it. Neo Soul, they give him his, his, you know, all of his stripes. He's got some Grammys. |
| 2:02.7 | He's got lots of awards, okay? |
| 2:04.0 | But that's besides a point. |
| 2:17.2 | He would like you to know that he is the best shooter in Christian music, that he can shoot the basketball better than anyone in Christian music. That's what he would like you to know. So did I do a good job? That was fantastic. Okay. And you still hold to this shooting? Oh, yeah. Well, actually, it's been expanded. Oh. Because, yeah, I did start off saying I have the best jumper. Okay. You know what I'm saying? And I was giving other people the Travis Greens, the Jabbarra Johnsons, the La Cray's. |
| 2:38.1 | Yeah. I did start off saying I have the best jumper. Okay. You know what I'm saying? I was giving other people |
| 2:34.7 | the Travis Greens, the Jabari Johnsons, the La Cray's room. Okay. To do other things better. Okay. |
... |
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