I believe the issue of Michael Jackson being a Christian should be filed under " 'Christian' Myths and Superstitions". You'll see why near the end of the article.
Got a head's up from Christian Research Network and Lighthouse Trails Research on this one.
Article from Purpose Driven.
A few thoughts before I begin. Clearly the hangers-on are climbing their way out of the closets and shadows, grabbing at whatever spotlight they can. David Pack is one of them. Who in the world is David Peck? He says at the PDL website:"David Pack is a Grammy winning recording artist, producer, and music director. A member of Saddleback Church, he works with Rick Warren on special projects, including the PEACE Plan and AIDS & Worship Conferences. " Ie, a washed-up has-been and name dropper who found a second career (I mean purpose) with Ricky Warren).
David Pack, whom most of us have never heard of, clearly fell "victim" to "evangelical easy believism" and hasn't a clue about the Gospel or salvation nor the cults. His tribute to Michael Jackson (MJ) reads nothing short of sentimental drivel. Read what he said (my response is in italics):
Quote:
During that special evening, I felt the need to share my faith with him, to let him know that another Christian artist was sitting next to him. So when he whispered, “How can I ever thank you for this wonderful night?” I said, “Michael, I didn’t put this together, God did!” He said, “Oh yes, I believe that with all of my heart.”
Another Christian? MJ was a JW, a cult member, NOT a Christian. John 8 says that unless you believe Jesus Christ is God, you will die in your sins. JW's outright deny He is God. What Jesus is Pack declaring to be the true one?
I told him I was a Christian, and he said he was, too. We talked about the first Christian song we’d both heard as children: “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to him belong, they are weak but he is strong.” With the dinner party loudly going on around us, we both quietly leaned in and sang the song, smiling like choirboys. “Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me.” Then we gave each other a short embrace. I knew at that moment that this sweet-spirited young genius was going to find his eternal peace in heaven. I did not find Michael weird, messed up, or anything you’ve ever heard about him....
Singing a song about Jesus gave Pack assurance this cult-member was going to heaven? Truly this is pathetic. This is exactly what is wrong with American "Evangelicalism"! A self-centered child's song is somehow the standard by which to KNOW one is going to heaven?? What, MJ found his purpose with that song? So typical, any mention of "Jesus" and people call you a Christian. If this is Pack's standard to call himself a Christian, the guy needs to hear the Gospel NOW!
And what's even more telling is that Pack didn't see MJ as weird. THAT in itself is WEIRD. That tells me Pack has a few skrews loose.
I believe that during his trials he related to the suffering of Christ, and prayed for intervention, because he was being accused over what he loved most—children. This caused him perhaps more pain than anything in his life.
Ok this makes me GAG. How in the WORLD can he possibly compare a child molesting freak to Jesus Christ? It sounds like Pack hasn't a clue about who Jesus even is! Jesus did not suffer for doing wrong. He suffered for being GOD! That ain't what MJ was on trial for. This is truly twisted and perverted.
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.
Oh please! Moon-walking? David Pack's view of heaven, like his god, is man-centered, fleshly and temporal and has nothing to do with the Biblical Heaven with the Biblical God! I think ol' Pack has heard one too many Roman Catholic ideas of heaven and angels, if you ask me. Pack has a false sense of peace, but he GAVE a false sense of peace to MJ too.
End quote.
Is this guy serious?? Jackson a Christian? Moonwalking in heaven? Someone give me a vomit bag QUICK! I'm going to be sick!!!
MJ was well known for being a JW his whole pathetically sad life (he accused his father of abuse and his father forced the kids into show business, was a drug user and child molester), and then a few years back, thanks to Germaine, he converted to the Nation of Islam.
Clearly MJ had not clue about the real Jesus Christ, salvation, nor The Gospel found in Scripture. What's so annoying is that neither does Pack.
Contrary to both Islam and Jehovah's Witness teaching:
Jesus Christ IS God:
Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made….14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Joh 8:24 I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins."... 58 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” 59 At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.
Col. 2: 9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,
The Narrow Road : salvation found ONLY in the Jesus of the Bible
1Jn 2:23 No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.
Rom 10:13 For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." 14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed?And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?
Joh 1:12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in His name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
Mat 7:13 "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
Luk 13:5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."
Mat 3:8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. Mat 3:9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father,' for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.
Mat 7:21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' 23 And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'
The Gospel
*Man is born dead in his sin and is under God's wrath, as His enemy, unable and unwilling to obey Him.(Rom. 3, Eph. 2, Rom. 8, 1Cor. 2:14)
*Sin is not just outward acts, but inward thoughts and attitudes of the heart (Matt. 5; James 1).
*God is angry with the sinner (John 3:36; Ps. 7:11; Rom. 1).
*God is HOLY HOLY HOLY and is Just and therefore must deal with the sinner and his sin: a life is required.
*Salvation is by grace through faith in the Person and work of the biblical Jesus Christ, who is *God the Son, the second person in the Triune Godhead. (Eph. 2:8-9).
*Justification is by grace through faith as well, without which no one can go into heaven for only those who are holy can enter (Matt. 5, Rom. 4).
*The wages of sin is death and hell, but Eternal life is freely given to those who bow to the authority of Jesus Christ, see their utter sin and need of the ONLY savior, the Resurrected Jesus Christ, knowing they can't do anything to gain Heaven or maintain it. He must trust in the sole and complete work of Jesus, who was raised from the dead on the third day according to the Scriptures.(Rom. 3, 1Cor. 15)
*True repentance from sin will result in works that please Him (Heb.11, Matt. 7, Eph. 2:10, 1Thes. 1:3, Gal. 5, Phil. 2:12-13).
***UPDATE***
Apostasy Watch has a commentary on Christianizing every dead God-hater here. The ridiculous Christian rumor is that MJ got saved. The fact is, this is more of the same hangers-on-want-to-be-in-the-spotlight junk again. All the bugs are coming out of the woodwork. Next we'll hear about his housekeeper from the 80's.
Here's what is said in part:
Quote:
If you can read the above account [see the actual post] without your spirit colored glasses it is clear that the reality is a far cry from the myth. There is no evidence Michael Jackson received Christ. There isn’t even any evidence that he heard the gospel. His good friends Sandra and Andrae Crouch apparently never told him that he was a sinner in need of a savior. There was no call to repentance, no call to discipleship, only some sappy sweet platitudes about spirituality, the “anointing”, and a non judgmental Jesus that’s easy for a worldly man like MJ to embrace. Mr. Jackson had no problem talking and praying about a Jesus who could help him sell more records.
How tragic for all involved that this sort of thing passes for evangelism today.
When I first heard the story of Jackson coming to the Lord I was immediately reminded of several previous stories, tall tales, and urban myths about other well known celebrities who God supposedly rescued at the last minute
Kim Clement claims Anna Nicole Smith cried out to God and is in heaven today
Rock Hudson prayed to receive the Lord on his deathbed
John Wayne received Christ three weeks before he died because of a note from Robert Schullers daughter.
President John F. Kennedy prayed with Billy Graham to receive Christ only days before his assassination
I suppose at this point I should add the obligatory disclaimer. God is sovereign and can save anyone he chooses. The thief on the cross is a biblical example of a last minute conversion so it is certainly possible and consistent with Gods mercy and love. To be fair though, I should also remind you that there were two thieves crucified with Jesus. One of them repented and was received into paradise, the other did not.
Singers, actors, politicians, celebrities, all our idols go to heaven. It doesn’t matter how they lived their lives. They can lie and steal. They can commit adultery and fornication. They can live debauched lives of drunkenness, drug addiction and revelry. They can reject the God of the bible and promote damnable lies as the truth all the while engaging in good deeds designed to make you think they are really deep down ‘good’ persons. In the end none of that matters.
They are our substitute saviors.
With our deceased idols safely in heaven we can relax. Their place in eternity serves as a surety to us that like them, we can enjoy all the world has to offer and still attain paradise. There’s really no need to serve God in this life. If God offered them a last minute reprieve surely we’ll get the same chance. We’ve finally found a way to have our cake and eat it too.
End quote.
But wait a minute, Dave Pack said MJ was already saved and he KNEW IT because they sang "Jesus Loves Me" together! These people are nuts and worse, haven't a clue about the Gospel or care about lost souls.
To Apostasy Watch's list we can also add Darwin's "deathbed" conversion, which has in recent years been debunked. It seems "Christians" don't believe the truth about people nor Scripture...and seems many want a universalist salvation, which is NO salvation at all.
17 comments:
The negative influence of the teachings of the Jehovah's Witnesses on Michael and his family have been either downplayed or totally ignored for as long as the Jackson Family has received public attention. For those readers who really want to know what life is like to be reared in the WatchTower Cult, nothing beats real world scenarios, and of real world scenarios, nothing beats actual civil and criminal court cases.
The following website summarizes 900 court cases and lawsuits involving children of Jehovah's Witness Parents. The summaries demonstrate how JW Families rear their children and live life day-to-day. Also included are nearly 400 CRIMINAL cases -- most involving MURDERS:
DIVORCE, BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS, AND OTHER LEGAL ISSUES AFFECTING CHILDREN OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES
http://jwdivorces.bravehost.com
Excerpts from LaToya Jackson's own 1991 biography, LATOTA: GROWING UP IN THE JACKSON FAMILY:
" ... neither I nor my siblings ever led a normal existence, not even as small children, years before celebrity transformed our lives. We were a not-so-typical but classic dysfunctional family. Yes, there was love and happiness, but it was poisoned by emotional and physical abuse, duplicity, and denial. ... The proscriptions of my Jehovah's Witness faith, my mother's seeming love and devotion, and my father's inability to express any emotion but anger kept us all entangled in a web of guilt disguised as love, brutality that was called 'discipline,' and blind obedience that felt like loyalty. ... We couldn't identify it, but we all sensed something was wrong in our house. Most of my siblings 'rebelled' by essentially running away from home to teenage marriages. ... I was Mother's best friend, and the quietest, shyest, most obedient child of all. I surprised everyone. I also broke the cardinal rule of a dysfunctional family. I stopped living the lie and playing the destructive game. -- pages 1-2.
"Thinking back over all those years, I realized that Mother was the guiding force behind the cruelty and abuse. This lady who pretended to be so gentle on the surface had in fact caused all the turmoil in our lives. We'd always thought that it was Joseph, but it was her, telling him what to do and how to do it. Like I'd said to her before, she was always throwing the rock and hiding her hand, convincing everyone -- outsiders and my own
siblings -- that she was sweet, kindhearted, and compassionate. Little did they know that the minute they were out of earshot she talked about them very, very viciously. After seeing it so many times, I finally had to face the fact that this was her true personality. -- page 257.
"Michael and I were very active in the Jehovah's Witness faith. ... Five days a week the two of us and Mother studied the Bible at home and attended the Kingdom Hall. ... Every morning Michael and I witnessed, knocking on doors around Los Angeles, spreading the word of Jehovah. ... As my brother's fame grew, he had to don convincing disguises, like a rubber fat suit he bought years later, -- pages 53-4.
"Mother ... frowned on our socializing with white kids, an attitude I found hypocritical coming from a Christian. -- page 34.
"... both my parents harbor racist attitudes, particularly against Jews, ... 'Wherever you go, whatever you do in this business, you find a Jew,' Mother used to complain bitterly all the time, 'I can't stand it.' ... She'd go on and on. 'They're always on top. Jews are so nosy. They like controlling you. I hate 'em all.' To their faces, however, my mother was as sweet as could be. ... Hearing talk like this turned my stomach, especially when it came from my mother's mouth. How could a religious woman be so hateful? ... The depth of Mother's loathing was expressed in one of her oft-repeated opinions: 'There's one mistake Hitler made in his life -- he didn't kill all those Jews. He left too many dxxx Jews on this earth, and they multiplied,' --pages 132-4.
Just because you call yourself Christian and know the word of God doesn't make you any better than let's say a Jehavoh Witness. Yes you say you know the word and are not in some cult like JW's but some JW are able to live a more Christ like life.
I ponder this often and I have come to the conclusion that just because I am born again and know the truth of God's word doesn't make me any better of a CHristian than someone who may not understand the fullness of God's truth/word but yet they bear the SPirit and fruit of God's Spirit in the likeness of Jesus Christ. Bottom line is if you think you know the word better that means nothing unless you live it out. You say God's grace covers your sin, well wouldn't God's grace cover the JW sin of there short comings? I think God is big enough to cover us both. I am not promoting beliefs in JW I am only saying that God can cover there short comings. They do believe in the cross and Jesus. SO I pray that that is enough. I do pray for them to go deeper as well but I will not judge and say they are going to hell. I know Michael jackson used the teachings and suffereings of CHrist many times thru out secular interviews especially when telling about Children and wht the word has to say about children. I trust with all my heart that he is resting with our Lord Jesus Christ.
Sherri,
Well, first of all the JW's don't believe in the biblical Jesus. They deny Jesus is God, the Second Person in the Godhead. That alone condemns them, Jesus says:
Joh 8:24 I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins."
What did He say about Himself? That He is God, the "I AM", the Self-Existant or Eternal God, Jehovah in Exodus 3:14 (as He quotes),:
John 8: 58 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”
Those who reject the deity of Jesus Christ, as JW's do, have neither the Father nor the Son:
2Jo 1:9 Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.
We are to separate from such people, God commands:
2Jo 1:10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, 11 for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.
Sherri, God says the road to eternal life is NARROW and HARD and FEW that find it. JW's aren't on that road, for they deny the God of Scripture. They are on the broad road headed for destruction.
Only the Gospel of Jesus Christ in Scripture is the power of God for salvation, as Romans 1:16 says. The Watchtower denies the Gospel of Jesus.
Those who KNOW the Truth and BELIEVE the Truth will love God, His Word, and the souls of others enough to proclaim the Gospel to them, not coddle them in error and then turn around and slam true Christians.
Dear Denise,
I'd have to ask you as a fellow sister in Christ,
Why are you slandering a man you don't even know and calling him a child molester??? You seem too absorbed with what you hear in the news and cannot separate fact from fiction. MJ's personal relationship with Jesus Christ is between him and Jesus alone. God is no respector of persons, so who made you the judge of who's in heaven or not? The good Lord only left us with two commandments:
"Love God with all your heart all your mind and all your strength, and love your neighbour as yourself." The law and the prophets hang on those two. If you claim to know Christ, you must understand God's law of love. That includes not slandering celebrities or ANYONE just because you've heard something on the news about them.
In other words:
"How can you say, ‘We are wise, and the law of the Lord is with us’?
Look, the false pen of the scribe certainly works falsehood." Jeremiah 8:5-8
Jesus existed since the foundation of the world, and those who earnestly seek him, WILL find HIM. He is omnipresent and omnipotent. For Him to be so, He must be outside of religion. Everything in the universe is under HIS authority. Don't EVER forget that!
Michael was a peacemaker. What did Jesus say? Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God? No matter where MJ was in his walk with God, we shouldn't sit here judging him. In fact, why not go out and minister to the extremely distraught devout MJ fans out there who may now be doubting God's existence due to their shock? That's why God called us to be His disciples - so that we can bring good news and comfort to people and express the reality of His existence.
Michaela,
The facts are the facts. We know he was a pedophile as was proven in court. This has been in the news for years. That's beside the more important issue of what you bring up, though.
How do you define "Christian", exactly ?
Do you know the difference between Jehovah's Witnesse cult and Biblical Christianity? One cannot be both, Michaela. MJ was a JW for all his life until he converted to Islam at the end of his life. These religions are diametrically opposed to The Gospel of Jesus Christ in Scripture. There's but ONE WAY to heaven and that is by grace through faith in the Person and Work of Jesus Christ, who is the Resurrected Lord, God the Son.
What do you do with all the verses I posted? Like:
1Jn 2:23 No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.
Luk 13:5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."
Mat 3:8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.
How do you define "peacemaker" and why do you think MJ was one? Do you know where that verse is in Scripture? Do you know its context and significance? Or do you think Jesus was merely talking about humanitarian efforts?
I find it interesting Michaela, that you defeind a lost and miserable man like Jackson, yet judge me as judgmental, correcting me as if I'm off biblically. How about standing for what Scripture actually says, not what you want it to say.
God is far more than love, and Michaela, I suggest you study Scripture and learn this. Start with Is. 5-6. HE is HOLY HOLY HOLY, not love love love. It is HIS HOLINESS that shows our total depravity before HIM and therefore our need to repent and turn to the Only Savior, Jesus Christ, who is God over all. His holiness cannot abide with sin; He must punish sin and the sinner because He is JUST.
God is wrathful, just, righteous, holy, loving, forgiving, merciful, pure, sinless, faithful, true, omnipresent, omnicient, omnipotent. All His attributes work together; please don't chop them into merely a few.
I hope you learn what the Gospel of Jesus Christ is, because your view of MJ is way off which tells me so is your "gospel", whatever that is. You seem very man-centered, which is not good. A Biblical Christian must be God-centered, for that is what HE is.
Please, study Scripture. It is awesome and powerful and lifegiving for sure!
P.S.
(please read my first comment to you Michaela, thank you).
You seem to consider yourself a Christian by how you addressed me as "a fellow sister in Christ" yet you don't mention Christ Jesus at all in your profile, but you sure have several mentions of Michael Jackson.
Your own profile states:
About Me:
"Business distracts me from Michael Jackson; and Michael Jackson distracts me from business."
Interests:
Music reading writing novels doing business... and Michael Jackson!
Favorite Music:
Michael Jackson Aaliya Janet Jackson...[you list others as well]
If you seriously love MJ that much, I can see how you defend him up and against Jesus Christ. I suggest Michaela, that you read this article here:
http://apostasywatch.com/special/idolsgotoheaven.htm
Denise,
There was no iota of evidence that MJ was a pedophile - he was ACQUITTED of ALL charges. In 1993, the jury could not even bring the case to court because they did not have enough evidence for these claims. Moreover, the authorities wanted to chuck him out of Neverland for years, so they were trying to anyway they knew how. They abuse the media to their advantage. I am actually someone from London, so I know that the media in the US is much more hostile towards MJ than in Europe. They do it to make money and sway public opinion. To me, Michael was a beacon of light shining in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, so naturally, the world hated him and branded him "pedophile", "gay", etc. In this situation, how can you regularly attend church when you're famous, everyone recognises you and would probably ask a million questions about what they've read in some magazine/newspaper? People tend to have prejudices which are kind of wrong when you think of it. It's a shame to see so many people in showbusiness suffer because of this. Maybe that's why this 'falling away' effect happens in the first place. Our love just grows cold and we lose our genuineness and honesty cause we're so afraid.
MJ was a peace maker in that he made a lot of people actually think about the state of the world we live in and how we treat each other. I've seen a video of when Michael is questioned over his child abuse allegations, he said why he loved children - it was Jesus's command and he was doing it for the Lord. Christ himself said: "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as litttle children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as a little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name reveives Me." Matthew 18:3-5
Likewise, it is not everyone who says to Jesus "Lord, Lord" that enters heaven, but those that do the will of the Father. Now who's to say MJ DIDN'T do the will of our Father? Off-stage, he was one of the most humblest down-to-earth people you could meet. None of us is perfect in everything. Michael had great talent, so God used him in His way. Moreover, there is no evidence that MJ converted to Islam. It's just hearsay cause some MJ fans who are Christian want him to be with Christ and the muslim MJ fans want him to be with Allah :)
Talking of which, did you know the Arabic translation of the Bible has the Lord's name as Allah? Does that mean the Arabic Christians aren't saved? Also, the English word "God" is kind of detached and pagan when you look at its original roots. This is where all the confusion starts and we can have endless debates and arguments which to me just seem futile.
Thanks for looking at my profile :)
It does say I'm a Christian. I just don't wish to write 'Jesus' all over my profile just to sell myself!!! To me, that would be taking the Lord's name in vain. Moreover, it is aimed towards MJ fans/fellow business people and it is where the good Lord placed me. I prefer talking about our Lord on a more personal one-to-one basis. We all have our role in life and we are all collectively the Body of Christ. Who are we to say to each other "I have no need of you?"
That said, God Himself is man centred and looks after each one of us. To quote 1 John 4:5-11, "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."
Michaela,
You'd rather be know about your love for MJ than Jesus Christ? That says quit a lot. Those in Christ are commanded to let their light shine before men-- to proclaim HIM publically and without shame. Doing so will bring persecution at times, as well as insults, but its a command and exemplified for us throughout Scripture. But you defend and concentrate on a lost man rather than Christ Jesus. Wow.
God is certainly not man-centered. Don't take a verse out of its context. The purpose of God is to glorify Himself (and its not Allah--you believe a myth--God revealed His name in Ex. 3 and 34: "I Am". Allah is a demon, a moon god and is inappropriate for Jehovah):
From Beginning to End of Scripture, its all about God and His glory and holiness and magnificance:
Gen 1:1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
Psa 29:1 A Psalm of David. Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD GLORY and strength. 2 Ascribe to the LORD the GLORY due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness.
Joh 12:28 Father, glorify your name." Then a voice came from heaven: "I have GLORIFIED it, and I will GLORIFY it again."
Joh 13:31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man GLORIFIED, and God is GLORIFIEDin him. 32 If God is GLORIFIED in him, God will also GLORIFY him in himself, and GLORIFYhim at once.
Joh 17:1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, "Father, the hour has come; GLORIFY your Son that the Son may GLORIFY you,
Joh 17:5 And now, Father, GLORIFY me in your own presence with the GLORY that I had with you before the world existed.
Joh 8:54 Jesus answered, "If I GLORIFY myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who GLORIFIES me, of whom you say, 'He is our God.'
Rev 4:8 9 And whenever the living creatures give GLORY and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever,...11 "Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive GLORY and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created."
Jesus goes out of His way to demonstrate His love for the Father and the Father shows His love for the Son, particularly in John's Gospel. The gifts given from the Father to the Son and the Son to the Father, are products of HIS workmanship: redeemed man whom HE conforms to HIS image (John 6, Romans 8)
Salvation is about the glorification of God (Johon 13, 17); sanctification is about glorifying God (Eph. 1-2), Scripture is about God's Sovereignty.
Agape love , not worldly love which you identify Michaela, is directly from God for He defines love:
Rom 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ...5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Love defined: 1Cor. 13, Eph. 4-5: self-sacrificing only from God to those HE has justified.
HIS love, agape love is PURE and righteous, unlike the world's.
God's love is centered in the PERSON of Jesus Christ (1John 4:8-10). Love has always been between the Triune Godhead first and foremost. Man can't love as HE loves. Remember HIS love is "agape" and centered on HIM.
God's love is made manifest in those who proclaim Jesus Christ and abides in HIM (which includes being in His Word and OBEYING Him). This is not what MJ did.
Michaela, your view of a peacemaker is worldly. It is not according to Scripture. A peacemaker according to Matt. 5 is about those who proclaim the Gospel: the way of being at peace WITH God. The entire context is about the spiritual condition of one's heart: from mourning over one's poor or depraved spirit, lacking anything of value, therefore being humble before HIM because of this. Jesus is the "Prince of Peace" that is, the ORIGINATOR of peace, for HE Himself is Peace for those truly in HIM: His blood reconciled dead enemies to Himself. The result is having the peace OF God as found in Phil. 4.
Denise,
I was just sharing some facts about MJ with you that the newscasts seldom tell you. If you'd have known him, he was anything BUT a lost soul! He completely emptied out his spirit for God to come in. All things exist to glorify God. MJ glorified Him in his own unique way.
What's wrong with writing your profile to reflect your personality? My relationship with Jesus is PERSONAL. I do share my faith with others but I prefer the one-to-one approach rather than just blind selling.
Even Jesus had a favourite apostle - John. None of us can attain to God's holiness completely in this life. If you think about it, it's absurd. Yes, we are meant to be IN Christ and strive for the ideal with His guidance by the Holy Spirit. This process can take TIME.
No, my view of peacemaker is NOT worldy. Proclaiming the Gospel means being at peace with BOTH GOD and men. It's true, we have SO many idols that we can upset each other by something as trivial as a bat motif on a shirt! Even Christian denominations disagree amongst themselves. As Christ said, this will happen prior to His return, and "the love of many will grow cold". I hate arguing over elementary things - it is one thing St. Paul told us to avoid. The earth and everything in it is the LORD'S. Jesus died for the entire world, to draw ALL things unto Himself, for everything to be subject to Him and "in His name, Gentiles will trust". If God isn't man-centred, why did He allow His only begotten Son to die so brutally? To quote David's psalm to God, "What is man that you should be mindful of him?" Moreover, God saves both man and animals alike. If God is not man-centred than you might as well argue that He sends alien beings to destroy humans because they pollute the planet. If anyone earnestly seeks and turns to God, He always listens, because He does not change. He is self-sufficient and does not require anything from us but reverence and respect.
I did not say "Allah" was the "correct" name of God - I just said the Arabic translation of the Bible has "Allah" instead of "God". Like I said, even the English word "God" is not truly correct. The actual name of the one TRUE God is unutterable and closer to Yahweh while Jesus's name is meant to be Yeshua which means literally "Yahweh saves" Now THAT IS powerful!
Michaela,
Naw, it wasn't what I felt, just what your words conveyed. Its ok though.
Are you familiar with Islam? Do you realize its a book originated by demons to idolize the moon-god, Allah? Why would you go to that filthy book to talk about God's attributes? The quran denies the Triune Godhead; it denies Jesus is God, it denies salvation by grace through faith.
Yes Jesus Christ, the Jesus of Scripture will come again as Judge and He will destroy His enemies, that is for sure ( but not Jesus or as they call him "Isa", for they say he is merely a Muslim prophet, lesser than Muhammad, and certainly not God the Son).
I'm not sure what you mean about "the power of the holy people is completely broken....these could be believers working behind the scenes to keep world peace in place..." What I do know is that Christians don't nor can they do anything about world peace because TRUE peace begins with being at peace with God: that is to say, being saved by Him. Scripture talks about how this world is warring with God and is His enemy:
Jas 4:4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
When Biblical Christians stand bold for Christ, it will bring a sword not peace:
Mat 10:34 "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. 37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
One other thing you said, which maybe you can explain furthur is: "We are just told to keep watch and pray always that we can escape the wrath to come and be worthy to stand before the throne of the Lamb blameless and without spot." Did you mean to say that we can make ourselves worthy to stand before the Holy Holy Holy God?
There are a lot of things in the Quran I'd disagree with. Besides denouncing Christ's deity, it also claims he was not crucified but rather his traitor, Judas Iscariot. What wishful thinking!
To Muslims, Christ was a prophet... but we realize He was so much more! A lot of Christians in other countries call Jesus "Isa" as that's what it is in their language. It's NOT Muslim, it's just the way they speak. A lot of things get lost in translation, which is why we wind up contradicting each other. It's the evil powers of this world that are trying to confuse us.
Truly, we do need a mediator to be able to appear 'blameless' before a very Holy God :)
Michaela,
The traditional Arabic name for Jesus is Yasu'. Until very recent times, all Arab Christians used no other name for Jesus. And even today, that is the name used by more than 99% of all Arab Christians. Just walk into any Arab Christian church, turn on Arabic Christian broadcasting, read Arabic Christian literature written for Christians. You will only find Yasu', never Esa. Only very recently (perhaps some 25 years ago) some Christians started to use the name Esa in Arabic publications written specifically for Muslims in the hope that they may more easily accept their message if they see the quranic name for Jesus instead of the traditional Christian one.[1] Nevertheless, among themselves, Arab Christians do not use Esa.
[I'll add here: This is wrong because it doesn't give distinction between Jesus and Isa and causes HUGE confusion and also gives the impression they have part of Jesus correct, when in fact they don't. Using Yesu' makes a clean break from all things Muslim for clarity and truth.-Denise]
The traditional Arabic rendering or transliteration of the original Hebrew name (Yeshua') is Yasu'.
Since Hebrew and Arabic are both Semitic languages, and they are closely related, there are certain well-known rules which sounds/letters in Hebrew correspond to which sounds/letters in Arabic. Specifically, the Hebrew letter Shin regularly turns into the Arabic letter Sin, e.g. the Hebrew word for peace, shalom, corresponds to the Arabic word salam. According to those linguistic rules and relationships between Hebrew and Arabic, Yasu' is the proper Arabic equivalent for the Hebrew Yeshua'.
Again, the linguistically most appropriate Arabic equivalent for the Hebrew Yeshua' is Yasu'. Thus, the traditional Arabic name for Jesus is the linguistically most appropriate one. The transition from Yeshua' to Yasu' follows the common rules of phonetic changes from Hebrew to Arabic. In that sense, Yasu' is the true Arabic name of Jesus. There is nothing arbitrary about it. On the contrary, Yasu' is the natural equivalent of Yeshua'.
On the other hand, it is a long-standing mystery where Esa, the quranic name for Jesus, is coming from. Although there exist a number of theories that are more or less convincing, we will probably never know for sure.
~ http://www.answering-islam.org/Responses/Abualrub/true-name-isa.htm
Also, more on the Muslim Isa versus the Biblical Jesus Christ: http://www.answering-islam.org/Intro/islamic_jesus.html
Yeah, it is strange where Isa came from. Still the Quran does refer to Jesus as Messiah or Emmanuel many times. Yet it totally misses the point of the fact that Jesus WAS the Christ!
Interesting facts you have, thanks for those :)
I hope you find the information helpful.
The problem with the quran is that its not referring to Jesus but to their Isa. Their Isa is seen as a Muslim prophet, but not God the Son come in flesh as Savior Messiah. So basically Isa isn't Jesus at all. Not even close.
i saw some bashing on jw...some comments before... well as a christian i would remind u all of all the cruelty made by our religion too...one of the last things the ku klux klan (yes they proclam themself as christian)...
we should always think twice before bashing on other religions and on the others in general-
ps: i do believe MJ was a spiritual person, and it doesn't metetr to me if he joined Jesus or not...the most important thing is that he was trying to find the peace. and no, he was not a child molester to me, at last as a christian i do not judge someone i do not know in person. BYe
and btw michael jackson left the jw in the 80s, so it's possible he started to believe in the biblical jesus.
Marcy,
You actually make the point of the article, sadly. And clearly you didn't read or perhaps you just don't believe, the verses about who Jesus Christ is and what the Gospel is, b/c you said:
"it doesn't metetr to me if he joined Jesus or not...the most important thing is that he was trying to find the peace. "
That's the most utterly pathetic statement a "Christian" could ever make. The ONLY WAY to heaven is by trust in the very Person and work of the risen Lord Jesus Christ, who is Creator and who is God the Son. Your utter disregard for Christ AND a lost soul is shameful!
You claim to judge no one yet you just judged some here for "bashing on JW". That's hypocritical, do you realize that? You yourself made just as much of a judgement as those you claim were bashing.
Anyone who does not repent of all their sins in utter humility before the thrice holy triune God, remains under God's wrath, dead in their sins and trespasses, hostile toward God, earning Hell, and continues to be an offense to God. According to Scripture, such a person has no peace, no true, lasting, biblical peace at all, but rather still at war with God. The only way to have true peace is to be at peace with the God we have offended. The ONLY source of peace is the Prince of Peace, that is, Jesus Christ the risen Lord who is God the Son. Looking elsewhere necessarily means rejecting HIM and remaining under God's holy wrath.
MJ was not a spiritual person, but rather dead spiritually. He sought everywhere for something except the Truth.
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