THE DEATH OF RACISM - By Theron Hobbs Jr.

Image courtesy of pantego.org

As a victim and witness of various forms of ethnic prejudices, my heart never ceases to hurt at the existence of such moral depravity like racism. 

Many scratch their heads about how it can exist. 
The answer is sin, specifically a lack of appreciating the image of God in one another.

We assume the answer to combating ethnic prejudices is education. 
A popular thought is:

“If we educate people enough about one another 

then there won’t be ethnic prejudice."

No matter how much information you provide a person, it doesn’t change the heart.  
A rabid sports fan of a poor team who thinks his or her team is the best can be given all the statistics about how poor his or her favorite team is.  If the heart is fixated on a love for the team, then there is no information that will shake the person’s belief that his or her team is the best. 

Information is beneficial but change requires the unison of head and heart.

Ethnic prejudice is sin and information doesn’t cure sin, only the gospel does.  The gospel implores humanity to see each ethnicity as equally valuable and to uplift one another.  

God’s love to humanity through the cross of Jesus Christ was not restricted to an ethnicity, and as humanity seeks to imitate the Lord then ethnic prejudices will have no place on earth.

UZZAH - By James Lotz

Screenshot courtesy of Lucasfilms

There is a wild story in the Bible that always makes me cringe.  I'ts found in the Old Testament and revolves around this object called “The Ark of the Covenant.”  The Ark had serious significance to Israel; it was the Presence of God among them.  It was very Holy.

If you haven’t seen the movie Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, please watch it ASAP – if anything it provides context.  Let us continue (spoilers ahead!).  Remember at the end when they open the Ark and spirits came flying out, frying the Nazis, melting the faces of those two guys, and causing that one dude’s head to explode?  Hollywood definitely has a flair for the dramatic – but they loosely grounded this concept from the Bible – which says that God means business and His Holiness is nothing to mess with.

Some background is required to understand the wild story I mentioned previously.  Israel was at war with people called the Philistines.  At one point the Philistines captured the Ark because the Israelites brought it to a battle as a good luck charm.  Possessing the Ark brought the Philistines some bad breaks.  Some people died while others got nasty tumors (some translations say “in the “groin area”) – again, God doesn’t mess around when it comes to Holiness.  Finally, the Philistines, terrified, sent the Ark back to Israel on a cart pulled by cows (not daring to send human escorts).

Fast forward some years and we meet a man named King David (think David and Goliath).  David had a special relationship with God.  David trusted God and His Word and God guided him and blessed him in many ways.   David’s reign began by defeating Israel’s enemies.  His second order of business was to bring people back to God.  When the Philistines returned the Ark it was eventually placed in the care of a man named Abinadab – whose family was blessed tremendously until David wanted to return it to Jerusalem to bless the entire nation.

A big move (with movers) was required.  As mentioned earlier – the Ark is Holy (think Indiana Jones!).  God gave Israel the Ark and because He’s awesome, He also gave them instructions on how to care for the Ark, and even transport it (priests had to do it).  David knew this…and yet for some reason he decided that 'procedure' wasn’t a big deal – so he transported the Ark like the Philistines did, with oxen and a cart, guided by family members of the house of Abinadab, two guys named Uzzah and Ahio.

Here’s where it gets nuts.  

The oxen tripped – the cart shook, and so did the Ark.  Uzzah, concerned with this national treasure, reached out to steady the Ark.  Innocent enough, right?  But then the unexpected happened: God got angry with Uzzah – the story says it was out of Uzzah’s “irreverence” – and God struck Uzzah down, dying right there next to the Ark.

Did that just happen?

I have number of friends who identify as atheists who claim that the God of the Bible is a maniac because of stories like this.  I totally understand, I still wrestle with it.  I’m still not sure I have an “answer” – but I feel like I have some clarity on the situation after struggling with this story.  

God is very Holy.  In our culture we like to throw around the phrase “they were a good person.”  Usually the person in question wasn’t a mass murderer – but at the same time we cannot say “God is good” and “he/she was a good person” and mean that in the same way.  God is Holy – as in pure, perfect, and incapable of sin (totally unlike any of us “good people”).  

God had a mission for Israel: they were chosen to introduce the world to this Holy God and His Word.  In today’s story a man died – and from what we can see it was because the Word of God was not cherished in the hearts of the people.

Some might say, “But they were moving the Ark back to Jerusalem to honor God!”  And I agree – but that wasn’t the issue.  The issue was God had given them a specific way to live so that they could reveal Him to the world as Holy.  One of those instructions was how to care for His Presence among them (like moving the Ark).  Uzzah definitely had good intentions but the Presence of God was to be transported by priests – not by livestock.

More specifically, a man died because the spiritual leadership of the people failed to lead them in the Way of the LORD.  When God’s Word is casually treated by believers we actively participate in the destruction of people.  Ultimately, Uzzah’s death is on the hands of the king – David, whose good intentions turned devastating because he didn’t think the details mattered.

In college, my roommate’s parents bought us a futon.  Futons are awesome, a couch that converts into a bed!  Since it was technically his futon, he built it while I played video games.  Upon finishing he was left holding one little piece.  Apparently it was the mechanism that helped convert the futon from a couch into a bed.  He didn’t think it was a big deal - until he sunk into the middle of the collapsing contraption, realizing that the instructions mattered – a lot.

When we are flippant about the Word of God we fail to consider the Holiness of God.

Like in Indiana Jones - we play a dangerous and destructive game.

Back to David.  Though devastated, he ultimately understood.  He treated the Ark exactly like his pagan enemies did.  His failure to remember God’s Holiness cost a man his life.  

It was a wake up call for him – and hopefully for us.

Which brings us to our concluding point: God’s Way.  
Is God a bratty kid demanding to have everything His way?  
This accusation makes no sense when we look at Jesus.  God “having His way” was to willingly die on the cross for our sins.  It seems like He’s been telling us from the beginning that there’s a point to our lives - living fully by His Grace and Love - and Way.  
Instead, we have made it about pursuits that involve our glory and honor – even to the extent of being the bratty kid demanding to have everything our way (ironic, isn’t it?).

So wouldn’t giving us the instructions – or Way – of accomplishing things in the most complete and perfect way be the most loving thing God could do?  

Wouldn’t the most dangerous and foolish thing we could do be to reject that way in favor of our way?

In what ways am I David – operating with every good intention for God – but on my terms?  

Even scarier – who are the Uzzahs in my life – the casualties of my irreverence; my failure to take into account God’s Holiness and Word for my well-being and the well-being of those around me?

God's Way is our mission. 
God's Grace is our gift.  

If only we knew what to do.

But wait, we do.

More from James Lotz:
Zeus Burgers

IS WORRY A SIN? - By Ted Carnahan

Image courtesy of "Peanuts" by Charles Schultz

Jesus told his followers not to worry (Matthew 6:25-34). 
If I worry a lot, am I a true believer?

There are really two questions here: First, who is a ‘true believer?’ 

A lot of people think that there is some ideal of Christian perfection that we must reach to be “real Christians.” But there has only been one perfect person in history, and you’re not Him.

Let’s do away with the idea that ‘true believers’ are sinless, flawless people.  Believers in Jesus are people who recognize that they sin – but despite that, that they are deeply loved by God.  Yes, we do strive to follow God’s law, but we also know that we do that imperfectly. We are all sinners – anyone who tries to deny that is trying to sell you something.  That’s why we are called daily to return to our grace-filled, forgiving God.

Now for the other question: Is worry a sin?

Sometimes it can be.

Worry comes with caring about something.  It’s good to worry that your toddler might fall down the stairs and to respond to that worry by putting up a gate.   But the word often translated ‘worry’ here in Matthew and the similar passage in Luke carries with it the idea of being apprehensive, anxious, and overly concerned about something.

Followers of Jesus try hard to remember that we don’t have to be overly concerned or anxious about the future because we know that our lives are ultimately in God’s Hands. Worry becomes a sin when we let it threaten our trust in God.  Don’t let worry become an obstacle to trusting in our loving God’s protection and care.

GRIEF, FAITH, AND TRUSTING GOD - By Kristen Gorski

Image courtesy of hoaxteadresearch.wordpress.com

I’m the product of twelve years of Catholic schooling – sixteen actually, if you count my college years at Notre Dame (which I don’t since they didn’t require me to wear a uniform or pray before lunch).  So you might be surprised to hear, that despite over a decade of theology classes, my understanding of the actual Bible is woefully lacking.  I’d memorize the books of the Old Testament or the Seven Deadly Sins or the names of the Apostles – and promptly forget all about them as soon as the test was over.  It’s not that I didn’t believe in God back then, it’s just that I’ve always been more of a “feelings” girl - touching homilies (sermons), retreats, inspirational stories of faith – those were the places I’d always find God.  I never really felt connected to Him studying the Bible.

One story did somehow manage to work its way into my long term memory though, the story of Lazarus's death (John 11:17-44).  I know everyone tends to focus on the part where Jesus performs a miracle and raises him from the dead, but the part that has always touched me comes before that – when Jesus weeps with Lazarus's sisters.  He doesn't demand they pull themselves together or tell them that anyone who truly believes in Him would never feel sadness.  Instead, He's so touched by their pain that He cries with them.  There are so many examples of Jesus' divine nature in the Bible, but that moment stood out to me because it was (and is) a powerful reminder that He is also human and capable of great compassion.

Sometimes I wonder if that story stayed with me because God wanted it to; because He knew there would come a time when I would need it.

I’m definitely what you’d categorize as a bit of a planner.  I like ‘To Do Lists,’ daily schedules, and long term goals.  And from the moment I began imagining adulthood, being a wife and mother were always a central part of the plan.  So you can imagine how lost I felt when, at the age of 25, fertility issues brought all of that to a screeching halt.  I thought I’d be designing a nursery and highlighting passages from "What to Expect When You’re Expecting."  Instead, I was undergoing painful examinations and surgery and resolutely avoiding the empty bedroom where a baby was supposed to be.

The following fall, I finally got pregnant.  I was absolutely thrilled.  I made lists of potential names and dreamed of cradling a tiny human in my arms.  Then, three weeks before Christmas, I had a miscarriage.  Saying I was completely devastated feels like an understatement.  I don’t know that I will ever find the words to explain it.  I just know that day, when I laid sobbing on my bathroom floor with my heart in a million pieces, I remembered Jesus weeping and knew I wasn’t alone.  I knew He was there with me.  He was there with me when I finally summoned the strength to pull myself up off the bathroom floor.  He was there with me in the days to come, when I spent my nights staring at the ceiling and my days barely managing to get out of bed.  He was there with me that entire Christmas season, when instead of merry and bright, I felt hollowed out and brittle.  And He was there with me three months later, when my husband and I began the process to adopt our oldest son.

It's been 10 years since my miscarriage.  It no longer takes my breath away when someone announces they are pregnant.  I can go to a baby shower without secretly seething with jealousy.  I can hold a friend's newborn without crying alone in my car afterwards.  I'm the mother of three incredible boys who came to me through adoption and they are the absolute joys of my life.  I'm not the same person I was the day I laid sobbing on the bathroom floor; that experience changed me because I have a God who sobbed with me.

I learned that often times the best way to support someone who is struggling is to simply show up.  Don't minimize their grief.  Don’t pretend it doesn’t exist.  Don't try to fix it (I'm admittedly still working on that one).  Just let them know you are there to walk beside them.  Jesus taught me that.

I have learned that we can turn to God with our greatest heartaches and deepest pain.  He does weep with us as we mourn and He does carry us through our darkest hours.

Most importantly, I learned that when we let God in, He is capable of amazing things.  He raised Lazarus from the dead.  He can perform miracles in our lives.  Sometimes those miracles aren't the ones we pray for or think we want.  He didn't physically heal my body.  Instead, He mended my heart.  Even when we are lost, even when all our plans fall apart, God always knows exactly what we need.

THREE LITTLE LETTERS. ONE SIMPLE WORD - By Emily Hayes

Image courtesy of 8tracks.com

As I celebrate being nine years clean, I am often asked, “How did you do it?
How do you stay clean?” 

My answer is always the same - God. 
Three little letters. One simple word.

But my journey with God has been anything but simple.

I grew up in a Christian church that did nothing for me.  I thought it was lame and judgmental and that the people were hypocritical - so I went the other way.  I always tried to be a good person and hoped for the best.  There were so many different religions that I didn’t know who to believe or who was right - so I kind of believed all of them - and yet didn’t I subscribe to one in particular.  I was always very “spiritual” and I even studied most world religions.   I tried Reiki, hypnotherapy, crystals, Native American spirituality, and so on. Someone told me that “all religions lead to heaven” and as long as you believe in something and try to be a good person you will go to heaven.

As good as that sounded it all still left me feeling very hollow and didn’t ring completely true in my heart.  There was a small part of myself that wanted more, but I tried not to think too much about it or about anything in my life.  I didn’t like to think because it made me feel things. Things I didn’t want to feel. Bad things.

So, I spent a lot of time trying to feel good instead.  I just wanted some peace from my thoughts.  I tried finding it in a bottle, a razor, a pill, food, men, and so on.  Instead of joy and peace - I found pain and heartache.  So then I turned to doctors, treatment centers (I went to treatment seven times), psych meds, 12-step programs, hypno-therapists, psychics, and whatever new spiritual thing or craze was popular at the time. 

Each of these “remedies” or religions promised me relief and peace…but it was only temporary.  I’d stay clean for a while…sometimes even a few years, but then I would find myself back on this dark merry-go-round spinning out of control.

Each time, I found myself further down than before.  Finally, I found myself being held hostage by drug dealers in one of the worst parts of Cleveland, Ohio; they were selling me to strangers for crack and I thought I was going to die.  When I cried out for help, I cried out to Jesus - which was odd because I wasn’t into the Jesus-thing - but in that moment I knew He was real.   I can’t explain how I knew He was real, but I just knew.  I knew in the deepest part of myself; the part of yourself that just knows that you are in love before you even have words to explain it.  That part of yourself that trusts in the wind you can not see because you can feel it’s gentle breeze caressing your cheek.

In that moment, I could feel Jesus like the wind on my cheek.  In that moment, somehow I knew He loved me, even though I didn’t have any words to explain this.  In that moment, I became the LAST thing I ever wanted to become: I became a believer - and not just any believer - but a believer in Jesus Christ.

I was stunned, but I could not deny what I felt.  I would have much rather had an encounter with a god from any other religion.  I did not like Christians and their annoying judgments and fake smiles.  I hated their hypocrisy and cheap talk.  Interestingly enough, I soon found out that God hated all that too...but I’m getting ahead of myself.  God did save me from that horrible situation, not because I deserved it (I didn’t - I got myself into that situation and had hundreds of chances to clean up before), but He saved me because of His grace.  Grace is something difficult to define, but beautiful to experience.  And on that day, I experienced it - but I didn’t really know what to make of it - or what it meant for me and my life.

About a month later, I found myself in my parent’s garage (they had let me move back in - again).  So far, I had stayed clean but I didn’t have much hope for myself.  Failure always seemed to find me.

I had just started dating a man I met online named Johnny (much to my parents’ dismay).  Men were often my downfall.   Instead of focusing on my recovery, I always found a man to focus on instead.   However, this man was a strong Christian - which was not someone I normally dated but after my brush with death I was trying to give this God thing a shot.

Johnny talked a lot about Jesus.  Normally this would have annoyed me, but he was genuine and kind.  He told me that Jesus is NOT a religion, He is a Savior.  He told me that when Jesus walked the earth He hung out with known criminals, sinners and prostitutes.  Jesus had very little patience for the religious people of His day - and in the end they were the ones who crucified Him.  He explained that it was not about religion, but it is about a relationship with Christ.

Then, he paused and asked me, “Do you have a relationship with Christ?”  

I kind of stammered and mumbled, “well...I believe in God.”  

He said, “I didn’t ask you if you believe, I asked if you had a relationship with Him.  Belief is in your head.  God doesn’t just want your head - He wants your heart.  He wants a relationship with you, Emily.  He can not heal your heart if you don’t give it to Him.  He doesn’t make people love Him or accept Him - but He does desire it.  He desires it so much that He sent His Son to die for us.  All of us.  Black, white, young, old, rich, poor - ALL of us.  He only asks that you believe Jesus alone is God and that you turn from your sins and how you are living your life and turn toward Him in faith.  Emily, if you do that and mean it and trust Him with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength three things will happen:

1) You have the assurance of going to heaven and no one can take that from you.
2) All of your sins are forgiven.
3) God gives you His Spirit to help you turn away from bad things and do things His way.  Not that you will be perfect, but He will give you His power and strength instead of your own."

I was hot and uncomfortable; my mind was racing - but that small deep part of me that believed in wind I couldn’t see and in love I couldn’t explain - that same part of me knew that what he was saying was true.  I just knew.

But I still had so many questions - and so many things I was unsure about. I felt in my heart that what Johnny was telling me was true.  He had no reason to lie to me, and nothing to gain.  I didn’t know what to do next.  I was scared of letting go of who I was and turning into a religious zombie.

And I guess that’s a big part of why I’m writing this, because many people over-complicate it or they try to draw religion into it - and it is NOT about religion.  Now, don’t get me wrong, church is not bad - not at all - but church is not perfect.  Only God is.  Church is made up of people just like you and me, gathering together to support one another and worship a Holy God.  Not going to church because of the hypocrites is like not going to the gym because of the out of shape people.  Yes, they are there, but it doesn’t negate the fact that we still need to be there too so we can grow stronger and more healthy.  Church is kind of the same way - but for our soul – so it can grow stronger and more healthy.

I used to be afraid of church, but now I have seen for myself that God doesn’t want religious zombies, but rather individuals who are created unique.  He doesn’t ask us to let go of who we are or our creativity.  He only asks us to let go of our sin and turn to Him in faith.  He doesn’t mind if we have questions.  He has answers and wants to meet us right where we are at.  The journey begins right where we are - no matter where we are and no matter who we are.

I was skeptical. Would Jesus really want a tattooed, recovering addict who cut her own skin, slept with more men than she could count, was divorced twice, swore like a sailor and knew nothing about the Bible? 

I can honestly tell you in one word: Yes.  Three little letters. One simple word.  

But this time, it really was that simple: Yes.  Jesus wanted me.  He met me exactly where I was at and accepted me without judgment. He only asked one thing of me: Would I trust Him?

That is the question Johnny asked me as I was sitting in my parent’s dirty garage smoking a cigarette.  I was not in a church as I imagined, but I was genuine.  I told God that I didn’t understand everything, but I would have faith and believe.  I asked for His forgiveness and for Him to change my heart.

As the saying goes, I accepted Christ that day.  

There were no angels singing, or bells ringing; just a quiet knowing in that deep part of myself - and I began to cry, not because I was sad, but because I felt such relief wash over me.  I had been on this long journey to uncover the truth of those three little letters that nagged and haunted me, and I refused to settle for anything but the absolute truth.  And in that moment, the truth found me, and met me exactly where I was.  The release I felt was enormous; like collapsing after a hard race.

Now, I am not naïve, being a Christian did not make my life perfect.  I still have problems, but I also have peace.  He has done what nothing and no one else could do.  He has given me nine years free from all substances and disorders.  He has restored me to be a wife to an awesome husband and a mother of two amazing children - but more than all of that - He has made me truly happy.  A genuine joy that lasts - not a high that goes away.

In Isaiah 43:1-3 God tells us, 

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” 

That is exactly what He wants to be to each of us: a Savior who redeems us and protects us.  No matter where you are at on your spiritual journey, He is calling you by name, whispering, “You are Mine.”

HAVE SOME PATIENCE - By Meredith Pihl

“This bus is going to be here in 5 minutes! LET’S GO!”

The hectic rush of the morning - it’s a chaotic frenzy of a thing. It’s also the time that I can pretty much guarantee that I will lose my cool. My nine year old suddenly “forgets” how to tie her shoes, just as we are about to walk out the door. My seven year old is dancing and singing throughout the house, but she has yet to grab her lunchbox and homework to load in her backpack. As for me? I’m yelling out orders like a drill sergeant. “If you don’t put your shoes on, then screen time is lost!” “Stop putting toys in your backpack!” “Leave the dog alone!”

If one thing can be said about our morning routine: it’s that my patience is tested.

Yet, as Christians, Scripture reveals to us the importance of patience in all areas of our lives.  It’s a fruit of the Holy Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”  How do we bear fruit of the Spirit?  I think it begins with the desire for God to do a number on our hearts.

For a long time, I was one of many who thought, the more good deeds I did, the closer I’ll get to God.  Therefore, I will be that much closer to Heaven - it was as simple as a good deed checklist!  In time, I learned that’s not how it works...not even close.  God knows our true hearts, we can’t “fake it ‘til we make it”, not with Him.  Thankfully, God, who is in love with us, wants us to fall deeply and madly in love with Him.  Our hearts must yearn for His Love, Goodness and Truth.  As we read in 1 John 4:16,

“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. 

Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.” 

We must want His love to transform our hearts and when we allow Him in, the fruits of the Spirit will begin to be produced.

We must remember, however, that falling in love with God is not what makes us saints.   Each and every one of us is a sinner and we will frequently mess up in our lives.  Thankfully, God is One of forgiveness, and each time we go to Him, bearing our sins, our love and relationship with Him will grow.  That relationship inspires us want to repent, to want Him to change our hearts...and as a result, our hearts and minds will slowly be transformed (Romans 12:2).  This ongoing transformation brings us the fruits of the Spirit - which means our sainthood is rooted in Him - which brings us back to “patience.”

As I struggle with patience with my children and the hecticness of life, I need to keep seeking God for reminders of patience.  Patience is clearly defined in 1 Corinthians 13:4, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.” Patience is a form of love and God IS love...so everything comes back to turning our hearts to Him. On the rough days (and mornings) I need to reach for Him even more, letting Him guide my heart and words.

I also pray that the Lord opens my eyes to examples of patience going on all around me.  The patient grandmother rereading her grandson’s favorite book for the tenth time that visit. The patient shopper who kindly waits and assists the elderly woman in the grocery store checkout line.  The patient man who takes time out of his busy day to listen to his friend’s troubles, even though he has a million other things to do.  When we discover these examples of patience, we can see they all have one thing in common: Love. That same, patient love comes to us from Christ Jesus.

As our faith and trust in Him grows, our hearts and minds will begin to see things differently...and patience will become a fruit.  Like the mom who laughs at her daughter’s morning farewells to the dog, (instead of finding it frustrating that her daughter isn’t on task) - God will guide our own hearts in unexpected ways. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Corinthians 5:17).” 

We will truly become new!

Maybe all the fruits won’t be revealed at once, but have faith (and patience!) in God’s love to change us.  Little nuggets of joy and love will sneak into our day because we put our hearts in His Hands.  If we keep reaching for His love, God will continue to change us, even throughout the setbacks of life.  Patience doesn’t naturally pour out of me and I need His help.  This is a process and God wants to work on me with His love.

So, the next crazy morning when I’m losing it because no one has jackets on and the bus is rounding the corner - or when chaos is rounding the corner in my life, I know I can bring it to God.  James 1:2-4 reminds us,

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, 

not lacking anything.”

If we keep seeking His Love and praying for His guidance - God will happy to do a doozy on our hearts.

WHERE DO ROCKSTARS GO WHEN THEY DIE? - By Gregory Hyde

Image courtesy of Doc Martens

“So did you hear who died?”

It is staggering how often this question has been asked of me lately, whether in person, via text, or on Facebook. It’s even become oddly humorous how friends and strangers alike seem to have this unction to be the first (I can only assume because of my career within the music industry) to inform me of the demise of yet another monolithic musical artist of our time.

We all understand these icons are getting older, but is there a global conspiracy against rockstars? Did these promiscuous fellas contract some unknown STD in the 80’s that is wiping out singers en mass in 2016? And how the heck is Keith Richards still alive and kicking through all this? Knock on Ron Wood…

Equally staggering are the statements by Christians that I’ve seen on various social media pages, eager to usher these greats of the stage and studio right on in through the pearly gates with their status updates. These can mostly be paraphrased to “The music in Heaven just took a step up in quality today”, or something of the sort. I’ve even seen editorial cartoons in major newspapers giving us the visual cue of recently deceased masters of their sonic craft being accepted with open arms amongst the saints.

Understandably, people are moved by the loss of someone who, though they may have never met in person, likely touched them in a profound way emotionally - possibly even spiritually. I never met Glenn Frey of The Eagles, but when I heard of his passing, my heart sank. He had such an enormous impact on my songwriting and sound, that I felt like a mentor had died. No more opportunities to learn from him, no more of that elation at seeing and hearing him perform. And what of his family? His kids? Friends? It was a sad day.

So I don’t subscribe to the “You didn’t even know them!” nonsense from the detractors of those in mourning. They are truly grieving, and conjuring the best outcome for someone who, in their minds at least, brought so much love and enjoyment to the masses through their art. It could be their only comfort – a way to cope with this heavy loss of someone that they related to, admired, and treasured.

So What’s The Problem With That?

The problem arises when we look at statements like those in light of the Gospel we proclaim as Christians, when held in comparison to the life of the dearly departed. Is accepting Jesus truly the only way to obtain salvation? Does one earn a Get Out of Hell Free card if one entertains enough people? Or does someone get to spend eternity in God’s presence because they’re one of the lucky few we’ve deemed worthy enough in our own eyes to hang out with forever?

If we are inviting coworkers and acquaintances to church, or suggesting on our same Facebook page that we believe Christianity is authentic, doesn’t a statement like this suggest that we REALLY believe following Christ isn’t all that important to our eternal salvation?

“But Gregory – aren’t you being pretty judgmental? You don’t know what was in Johnny Rockstar’s heart! Only God can know that.” Touché. Celebrities are notorious for their debauchery, but you’re absolutely right: living a squeaky clean life does not a regenerate soul make, and we don’t know what the last words or thoughts of these people were. I’m merely suggesting we don’t presume the other extreme. But while some artists are recluses with no hints to their personal lives, others leave little to question of their thoughts on faith and spirituality.

I’m a music fan and music maker, and this industry is one of my favorite topics. I’ve seen a plethora of documentaries and interviews on multiple acts, artists, recording studios, record labels and genres. As a result, I’m aware of quite a few details that the average radio or streaming service listener may not be. But rather than risk coming across as smarmy know-it-all, I try to hold my tongue when someone lauds their favorite peace-promoting, altruistic minstrel as a visionary of love, when I know full well that he was a drug-addicted wife beater who abandoned his kids and cheated every business associate he ever encountered. Why destroy someone’s hero?

However, when I saw one of the “Music in Heaven must rock today!” posts about Prince, I couldn’t help mentioning how he was a professed Jehova’s Witness. If you were to tell him you thought he was going to Heaven upon his death, he probably would have debated you. Fiercely. Scott Weiland’s ex-wife reported that he was a professing atheist at the time of his death, yet he was also the subject of many a “There’s an Improved Song Selection in the Sweet By and By Today” post.

Unfortunately, we can’t even get too excited on those rare occasions when a celeb makes a faith claim, as they’re usually watered down and general. In one of Merle Haggard’s final interviews, he claimed a reverence for God and declared himself and his family as “devoutly religious”. That’s pretty uplifting until we consider that the Waco Branch Davidians would say the same of themselves, and they were convinced their child molesting mental case of a leader was Jesus reincarnated. I’m not attacking the validity of Haggard’s statement – I sincerely hope he is a brother in Christ who is eternally in heaven, but my point is that I just don’t know.

But with the miraculous invention of the search engine, one doesn’t have to look too hard to get an idea of where other revered late troubadours stood on the issues of faith.

Lemmy Kilmister of Motörhead:

"The only interesting thing about religion is how many people it's slaughtered. Communism and Nazism are religions as well, make no mistake about it."

"If there is a God he hasn’t been paying attention. He should retire and hand over to a younger man, because he’s making a real bollocks of everything."

David Bowie:

“I'm in awe of the universe, but I don't believe there's an intelligence or agent behind it. I do have a passion for the visual in religious rituals, though, even though they are completely empty and bereft of substance. The incense is powerful and provocative, whether Buddhist or Catholic.”

“That's the shock: All clichés are true. The years really do speed by. Life really is as short as they tell you it is. And there really is a God - so do I buy that one? If all the other clichés are true... Hell, don't pose me that one.”

But while we’re quoting the most famous people on the planet to slip loose the mortal coil, let’s not forget THE most famous one, who is also the only one to have come back from the dead.

Jesus:
 "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6, NIV)

Where Do We Go Now?

Thank God (who is not Lemmy, contrary to the claims of Steve Buscemi’s character in Air Heads) that, for the squeaky clean Suzy Sunday School teachers and cocaine-laced fire ant snorting Ozzy Osbournes alike, salvation is ready and waiting for all of us. Our actions don’t make us worthy of acceptance into His Kingdom. Our artistic contributions to society will not win or lose us a place at the table in God’s house. It is only the saving work of Jesus Christ on the cross, and His resurrection that we need to claim as our way to eternal redemption.

So what’s the proper response when these tragic deaths happen? Mourn for the loss. Grieve with those who are grieving (Romans 12:15). Pray comfort for the families and loved ones they’ve left behind, as well as their fans who feel that sense of loss at their passing. Pray that God would have an open door into their hearts through this time, when people often ponder their mortality and the afterlife, for the Holy Spirit to reveal His truth to them so that they would encounter Jesus Christ themselves.

But also let the weight of what happened hit you. Someone died that God loved immensely. This was someone God knew intimately before the world began. This was someone, like all of us, who our Creator deemed so beautiful and worthy of His love that Jesus was tortured and killed so they could know Him and be eternally, completely fulfilled by their relationship with Him. Yet, they likely refused that offer. That is worthy of sorrow.

To simply imagine a heavenly reception for those who may have been furthest from it, is to fool ourselves. Let that motivate you to share the Gospel boldly, as you never know when someone in your life may take their last breath without having heard it.

White-washing the eternal consequence that likely awaited someone we admired numbs us to the truth. I’m certain our enemy would like little more. We are in danger of convincing ourselves that there is no consequence to a life apart from Christ. And if we convince ourselves of that, then why share the Gospel at all? As long as we’re being entertained, it will all work out in the end. Right?