musings on michael jackson...

this was a post from the summer shortly after Michael Jackson died.

Let me just start by saying that this is not going to be a feel-good walk down the memory lane of the king of pop's kingdom. If you're reading this for some sort of moving tribute, you will probably want to just head on back to the home page of facebook. I feel it necessary to give fair warning so that you are not unpleasantly surprised if this is what you are seeking. I feel, however, after a little tour around facebook today, that there are some things that need to be said...then they can stop bouncing around in my brain!

Now, if you are even still reading this far, if for no other reason than sheer curiosity, I do want to say that Michael Jackson's contribution to the worlds of music, culture and charity have not gone unnoticed or unappreciated by me. Music moves me. Plain and simple. This man was talented unlike anything that had ever been observed. His songwriting, dance and musical ability in general and his ability to cross genres with his music, his collaborations and his creativity have been often imitated and almost never duplicated. So...with all that said...

I have been stunned and mostly confused and certainly disappointed at the "christian" response to this man's death that has been going on over this particular social networking site for the past two weeks. We have certainly been swinging for the fences. The interesting thing is that not unlike the presidential election of several months back, we seem to have thrown God, His sovereignty and the whole counsel of scripture out the window for a feel-good, self-soothing and culture-embracing hybrid of truth...if it can even be called truth. We are batting scripture around with no regard for context and inserting our own assertions about what's probably going on in heaven or hell right now. We are attacking fellow believers because of where we've decided that they should stand and we are quick to speak for God and what He would say on the issue.

In God's infinite wisdom and sovereignty, He knew ahead of time that we would feel an insatiable need to make ourselves feel better and to search unceasingly for ways to self-comfort and "find" God in times of tragedy and sorrow. He also knew that we would need a blueprint for pursuing holiness in the wake of our fallen condition and consistent war against our flesh. He even knew our propensity for worship of everything BUT him and substitution of idols of every kind for worship of the only Person worth it. So...in His wisdom, He addressed it all ahead of time in His Word. Referring to the truth contained therein provides the definitive answers to the insanity of the past two weeks.

The things I've read recently have rendered me speechless on many more occasions than I'd care to admit. If you know me at all, you know that rendering me speechless about anything is a feat of epic proportions. Claims that Michael Jackson is now moonwalking for the entertainment of God, that he was a sick pedophile who got exactly what he deserved and that it would've been better if someone had "popped" him for being a child abuser, and everything in between from those of us who call ourselves believers, have left me searching to make sense of the chaos. There are several facts that I feel it is important to remember, in light of everything we've witnessed.

1. All of Michael Jackson's poor choices, "secret" proclivities, extravagances, excesses and strange behaviors were on parade for all to see. We are so quick to argue that He should've known better, that He was a freak and that He brought it all on himself. The funny thing is that the ONLY thing that separates Michael Jackson from you and me IS the celebrity status. We can be so self-righteous in our finger pointing and yet from where God sits, there is ZERO difference in Michael Jackson and in you or me in relation to our sin and our position before God. His laundry list of "reputation damaging" exploits does not differ from ours. Sin is sin. Gossip, slander, malice, sexual promiscuity and perversion, pornography, addiction, lying, stealing, idol worship, gluttony, lack of self control, pride. And that just hits the highlights of what is probably hanging out on most of our lists. I shudder to think what fodder the media would have on each of us and what we struggle with if they thought anyone would actually care. It's easy to point the finger at the "wacko" when we've got our lists tucked safely in our pockets away from the prying eyes of the world. The judgment seat is a super comfortable one until the standard of the Holy One gets applied. Then, everyone assumes their rightful place as GUILTY, unable to offer anything in defense of themselves. (Romans 3:23)

2. The only hope for Michael Jackson, Shannon Scott or any of us rests in one place and one place alone: the unmerited and undeserved grace of God, the drawing of the Holy Spirit unto the Father and our acceptance of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ's flesh and blood body on our behalf as the full and complete payment for the sins which separated us eternally from the Holy One. Anything less than, next to, in addition to or in place of that is insufficient. There is nothing that can be added to or subtracted from the cross of Christ...the Gospel. It is completely sufficient and alone is the standard which must be applied for determining one's position before God and eternal security. (Romans 1:16)

3. We will NOT know definitively on this side where Michael Jackson is spending eternity. Of several things, we CAN be certain. He is spending it somewhere. He had a certain number of days appointed on this earth and when that number of days were up, he died. He does not get a do-over, and neither do we. We also are living out the number of the days appointed for us. We do not know when that number is up and what we do with that number of days will have a profound impact, one way or another. We should probably stop short of spouting our opinions on one's eternal destiny. Scripture is clear that we will know people by their fruits, but the only One who can make the determination on the destination is God. He alone is sovereign and none of us knows what the end result was in this man's life. (I Cor. 4:5)

4. There is no one entertaining God in heaven and He doesn't need to be spoken for. GOD IS IT. He is the center of attention, the star of the show, the focus, the main attraction and He does not share His glory with another. Everything is by Him and about Him and for Him. Those of us who know Him will spend eternity with no idol confusion or divided loyalties. He alone is worthy. My friend Steve Fee said it well when he said "The king of pop now stands before the King Of Glory. Fame redefined." (Isaiah 48:11)

5. If we have this much time to care infinitely about, join fan clubs in honor of, DVR funeral services honoring, argue on FB with those differing in opinion over, and spending countless dollars music and paraphenalia buying all about someone with whom most of us had zero amount of actual human contact..... couldn't we at least get fired up and motivated to share the beauty of the Gospel with those we DO have human contact with whose number of appointed days are ticking by as well? Couldn't we spend the time to surrender and relinquish the right to harbor the sins we hold so dear, rather than condemning those of another? If we spent as much time, effort and money on making a difference for eternity's sake as Michael Jackson did to make a difference in the world, I think we'd be amazed at how different our landscape might be. (Psalm 139:16)

Time will march on, other celebrities will die just like all of the celebrities who've gone before. We may become complacent again and then we will all be shaken out of our reverie and begin grasping for ways to define it, explain it, commemorate it and remember it. What we need never forget is that there is one Person and one Person only who's ever died and deserved every bit of the press that His death garnered and more...and then, three days later...He rose again. Now THAT is newsworthy and never gets old.

peace.