THE KING OF POP AT THE PEARLY GATES
Michael Jackson's memorial service has been thoroughly reported and dissected. I watched it live and intermittently all through the day yesterday. Today, it's still news. I appreciated the atmosphere of hope that pervaded the service. Whether typical of African-American funerals, as some have postulated, I couldn't say. Most of what was said and done fit with the Biblical view of what happens after death to the soul saved from eternal damnation. Since I am not Michael Jackson's judge--thank you, God--and since I do not know the eternal state of his relationship with Jesus, the best to do at his passing is give the message of hope through salvation.
The part I do object to, that worries me and gives me cause for sleepless nights, is that I saw yet another watering down of The Gospel, another attempt to proclaim that all roads lead to God. Particulary one song made me cringe. Portrayed on the screen behind the musicians, symbols of all major religious groups danced with the music. The song, one of MJ's most popular, emplored us to work together to make the world a better place. To free the world of prejudice and cruelty to each other. To accept and live together in peace and harmony. All worthy goals. But if the cost is to discard the Biblical view of salvation through faith in Christ alone and instead embrace all faiths, we who follow Christ cannot go there. Those of us who know God's word must stand and cry foul.
I do not defame MJ's character. I suspect, in fact that he was a delicate and gentle soul whose disfunctional childhood caused him to perpetually yearn for the innocence and beauty of a child's heart. Maybe he never matured past childhood, since he never got to live his childhood out naturally. The bad publicity, the trials and accusations, were probably either manufactured to promote him or the result of people attempting to take advantage of his celebrity. Mostly about money, that great motivator.
So, where is Michael Jackson today? Does he stand outside the Pearly Gates? Or does he rest in the bosom of his Savior?
We'll leave that in God's hands. But for those of us still living, we must not water down the Gospel of Christ. All roads do not lead to God. Being a good person is not enough. The Word of God plainly proclaims,"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eteral life." John 3:16 "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him." John 3: 36 "If you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins." John 8: 24 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." Romans 3: 23 and 24 "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23 "All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags." Isaiah 64: 6 " There is no one who does good, not even one." Romans 3:12
May Michael's message of hope reach hearts for Jesus. May we not forget that one person can make a difference in the world. That there is power in love. That someday, all of us will be called to account for what we did with our chance to know God through Jesus, His Son.
The part I do object to, that worries me and gives me cause for sleepless nights, is that I saw yet another watering down of The Gospel, another attempt to proclaim that all roads lead to God. Particulary one song made me cringe. Portrayed on the screen behind the musicians, symbols of all major religious groups danced with the music. The song, one of MJ's most popular, emplored us to work together to make the world a better place. To free the world of prejudice and cruelty to each other. To accept and live together in peace and harmony. All worthy goals. But if the cost is to discard the Biblical view of salvation through faith in Christ alone and instead embrace all faiths, we who follow Christ cannot go there. Those of us who know God's word must stand and cry foul.
I do not defame MJ's character. I suspect, in fact that he was a delicate and gentle soul whose disfunctional childhood caused him to perpetually yearn for the innocence and beauty of a child's heart. Maybe he never matured past childhood, since he never got to live his childhood out naturally. The bad publicity, the trials and accusations, were probably either manufactured to promote him or the result of people attempting to take advantage of his celebrity. Mostly about money, that great motivator.
So, where is Michael Jackson today? Does he stand outside the Pearly Gates? Or does he rest in the bosom of his Savior?
We'll leave that in God's hands. But for those of us still living, we must not water down the Gospel of Christ. All roads do not lead to God. Being a good person is not enough. The Word of God plainly proclaims,"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eteral life." John 3:16 "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him." John 3: 36 "If you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins." John 8: 24 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." Romans 3: 23 and 24 "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23 "All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags." Isaiah 64: 6 " There is no one who does good, not even one." Romans 3:12
May Michael's message of hope reach hearts for Jesus. May we not forget that one person can make a difference in the world. That there is power in love. That someday, all of us will be called to account for what we did with our chance to know God through Jesus, His Son.
Hey, that was interesting,
Keep up the good work,
Thanks for bringing this up
Reply to this