I started something. And ya know what. I am glad. On Facebook I read that Michael Jackson died. SO many people wrote about how it grieved them and how the world was losing one of he greatest singers and songwriters of our time.
And I got angry. These were Christians grieving.
I commented about not grieving over the loss of his music, but, rather, about where he was now. And I got some backlash.
I was judgmental. Only God knows where he is now.
Well, yeah.. but our the way we live our lives says a whole lot about what we believe and embrace. Michael Jackson believed and embraced a lot of evil. C’mon people.. have you ever read the lyrics to his songs? Do you sing these in the shower or while you exercise? Wake up and smell the coffee!
Am I being judgmental? Maybe.
Do I believe God forgives? YUP! I have been forgiven MUCH! And absolutely, MJ could be forgiven. But if he was a child of God then he certainly didn’t live there. He lived in the realm of darkness and evil. Yep.. that’s harsh. I’ve been there.. lived in sin.. done evil.. been forgiven. I recognize it and am not afraid to call it what it is. Sin is evil. I still sin. But I choose to live in the light… growing and desperate to change.
My concern is how Christians can call him a great songwriter and singer and grieve that he is gone because of that. If you need proof go here… MJ song lyrics, but, quite honestly… I encourage you not to. The words are awful.
The following is an email I sent to a friend because I was concerned that I offended them with my words. I encourage you as well… if I offended you, let me know. But I won’t be silent and offend my Jesus by letting this pass as a loss of a wonderful person.
I’m so sorry what I said bothered you. In no way do I believe that someone can’t be a Christian and stray so that you can’t tell anymore. I know that happens.
But, Michael Jackson… have you listened to the lyrics of some of his songs? And I know he got off on the molesting thing but I truly believe it was because he is a big star and has megabucks… not because he was actually innocent.
Is it possible that he is a Christian?
Yes.
Do I really believe he is?
No.
Does my belief matter in the long run?
Nope.
But I was just getting really irritated with all the status’s talking about what a wonderful person he was and how the world is going to miss him and his greatness and how he was one of the best musicians and songwriters of all time. This written by Christians. His song lyrics were drugs, sex, abuse, and swearing. He looked like a woman and sexually molested little boys. Where he is, of course, is between him and God… but I don’t grieve that we no longer have him to make music and perform for us. Whether he was God’s or not… he left a legacy of evil behind.
Maybe I am sounding harsh to you… I am so sorry if I am offending you. I am just sickened by the response of Christians to this. He wasn’t a hero or a great musician. He was a hurting, twisted man who needed Jesus to change him. And he died with that legacy… not the one being attributed to him.
As I often say… but for the grace of God… there go I. If He wasn’t in me … changing me… healing me… I could be just like MJ… and if I don’t continue In Him… I could end like him. I don’t want that legacy. I would rather die today then end that way.
If you are still bothered… please tell me. I don’t want anything between us.
Some may think I am crazy for sticking my neck out here. But I am not one to let a slight to Jesus slip by without a word. And that’s what I feel this is. Christians should not be grieving the loss of his talent… but instead be concerned about his eternal dwelling. Maybe you have fond memories of a teenage crush… but that isn’t eternal perspective. If you embrace and enjoy his music then you need a wake up call. It is opposite to the values and beliefs Jesus longs to instill in us. Put the past behind and reach for His high calling! Choose life and not lyrics of death and decay.
Ok… I’ll climb off my soapbox and clamp my lips against the desire to apologize for what I’ve said. (Sigh) I hate hurting, offending, or making others defensive. Yet, I hate disappointing my Jesus more. So I’ll leave it in your hands. I hope I haven’t offended… but, rather, stirred you to think about things more deeply. You are, of course, entitled to your own opinions as I am mine… I hope if you disagree you will do so in love. And hope you hear the love and heart I have in what I just shared.
ADDENDUM…
I have to add something here. Several have brought up that they would have been judged as non-believers in the past if you looked at their lives.. and yet they had accepted Jesus in their lives prior to this. I could say the same thing. I have strayed from Him and lived in some really poor choices… in sin. I believe… and you can feel free to disagree, but, this is my experience… that those who have chosen Him aren’t left there. He woos us, He convicts us, He disciplines us to bring us back to Him. (In fact here is my experience written as an allegory… Broken )
But then there is the story of the prodigal son. He chose specifically to leave His Father… and was allowed to go and do as he wished.. to wallow. Could this be the case for Michael? Absolutely. Do I believe that is the case… not really. His life was marked as one who seemed to have no conscience, no desire for anything right and pure. He seemed to embrace all the evil one offered.
I say seemed. I do not know him. I can only speak on what the media reported. This is true. I would love to be wrong. I would be thrilled for him… but sorry that He lived a life that glorified Satan rather than his Savior.
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