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On the days following the death of Michael Jackson, I read from two sources so-called accounts from Christians that Michael Jackson was in fact a Christian. Now I found the claim quite interesting because I know that MJ had also claimed to be a Muslim, Jehovah Witness and I believe that he also embraced Judaism to some extent. But how was it that all of a sudden folks were claiming that MJ was actually a Christian. Here was the first claim I came across.

David Pack for purposedriven.com

(The article was removed or moved to another link. But here is the cached version)

I know Michael loved Jesus with all his heart. Quincy had told me about his work sharing his faith with others, often door-to-door, because he’d been raised a devout Jehovah’s Witness. Later in life he told people he was a non-denominational Christian. Still more recently, reports circulated that he’d converted to Islam. But the Michael I knew had seriously contemplated giving up music to spend full-time in Christian ministry.

If there’s anything that gives me peace during this moment of loss, it’s knowing that one of the greatest artists of our time is now moon-walking along the gold paved roads of heaven, where streets have no name, with a broad smile on his face, and a band of angels welcoming him home.

Here is the second account I read. This was widely circulated, thanks in part to the fact it was posted on the Mary Mary website.

“Last night we received some good news from Terri McFaddin-Solomon who is good friends with Sandra Crouch. Three weeks ago Sandra and Andre’ spent some time with their close friend, Michael Jackson. Michael asked Andre` to play, “It Won’t Be Long And We’ll Be Leaving Here.” Michael then prayed with Sandra and Andre and accepted Christ into his heart. Now he’s singing in the heavenly choir.! Our hearts rejoice!”

But if you go to Mary Mary website today, you will find that the post was deleted (still on their Facebook page) Why? This is what was posted on the Facebook page of Andre Crouch.

“The Crouches did NOT lead Michael Jackson to the Lord, They DID pray with him, but NOT a prayer of “salvation”. It is a rumor that they “led him to Christ”. Please spread the “truth” as quickly as the rumor has spread.” (By Dave, Page administrator)

So again I ask the question, “Why the rush to make Michael Jackson a ‘Christian’”?

I think it is a combination of what the Lord told to the church of Ephesus in Revelation 2 and the church of Laodicea in chapter 3. While the Christians at Ephesus were praised for their good works, they had abandoned their first love: Christ Jesus. As for the Christians in Laodicea, they were neither hot or cold. So the Lord told them that because of their lukewarmness, He would spit them out of his mouth. Allow me to break this down further for those of you not familiar with scripture.

While it has always been easy for Christians to identify with Christ the miracle worker, truth teller and love giver, so very few are willing to identify with him in his sufferings (Philippians 3:10). In other words, when Christ preached the truth to the people in his hometown of Nazereth, many of the people became offended. Another time, the crowd attempted to push him off of a cliff (Luke 4:24-29).  Christ was also beaten, whipped and eventually crucified because he preached truth.  Then there are the apostles who in just about most cases they were beaten and executed for their faith. Christians by the thousands were either thrown to the lions in Rome or treated as outcasts for their profession of faith in Jesus Christ. All of that history strangely becomes forgotten when most people these days identify themselves as Christians.

Throughout  much of the Western church, we have abandoned the fullness of Christ’s teachings to pursue being accepted by those we are called to reach. From foolishly believing that the right beat in Christian music can somehow bring a person to repentance of sin to abbreviating scripture so that it is PC compliant , we have done it all and have gained little. Instead, we have given people more reason to see the church as a carbon copy of what they can get for free in the world without the offering plate.

By abandoning our pursuit of holiness, we can no longer offer hope to a world that truly needs it. That is why there is this never ending push to jump on the latest fads and latest trends to liked  by the world  and appear to be relevant to the latest trends. When Michael Jackson died, rumors of him becoming a Christian became the perfect pep pill needed for Christians who wanted to appear relevant. When MJ was accused of being a child molester, were these same “Christians” just as quick to name him as one of their own?

Like most people, I want to be liked and loved by everybody. We all still wish we could be like that popular guy in school back in the day. But the truth is that I have lost many friends over the years simply because I chose to embrace Christ. I’ve had people question my racial identity, been intentionally left out of meetings, yelled at, hurt economically, etc., etc. . But all of that is nothing in comparison to what many of my Christian bothers and sisters around the world had to endure.

So its time for the church to dust herself off and stop on this quest to be be liked and loved by the world. Didn’t Jesus say, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first” (John 15:18)? If you are a true follower of Christ and his teachings, you will be hated by the world. Hiding behind the legacy of Michael Jackson will not change that.

On the same note, the truth will set people free. I think it is worth the cost.

God’s Plan of Salvation