When you think of Michael Jackson many different ideas, phrases, and words begin to pop up in your mind. 'King of Pop', 'Thriller, 'Criminal', 'Weirdo',' Pervert', 'Talent', 'Fame', 'Dancer', 'Singer', and more. The life of Michael Jackson has been an interesting story to follow, and many are still unaware of the King of Pop's abusive childhood, and the emotional turmoil the world famous pop artist endured most of his adult life. The power of words didn't just impact Michael as an adult, he heard the hate in words as a boy being told his nose was too fat, and his skin was too dark. As his fame grew, those words continued to chip away at the heart of a boy becoming a man the world wanted to mold. Perhaps we should take a look at Michael Jackson with new eyes, and see him as a child of God. A man who struggled with the price of fame, the spotlight, and the pressures to be someone the world expected him to be.
Perhaps the hardest conversations I have with people today are about Michael Jackson. This may seem strange, but a majority of my friends and peers have a very negative view of Michael Jackson — his life, his story, his decisions. It's discouraging to me because the King of Pop is no different than you and I, yet we exploit him so freely. His trials and failures were something everyone knew about, whether truth or fiction. His distant behavior and inability to communicate with the world without his music made it very easy for the masses find him guilty without even viewing any or all the facts. The true events of his life will never be known to us, only to God, Michael and those who were involved, yet the world held those accusations as ammunition, ready to fire their words, their opinions and their hatred onto a man who wanted only to promote peace, love and innocence. His actions were different, his approach to innocence and capturing a childhood he never had was out of the ordinary, and his distant and aloof behavior in his adult years bred from years of child abuse, and self-esteem issues only opened the door for speculation by the mass majority of the world. This leads to confusion, to uncertainty, to negativity….but should this breed hate?
I understand where the negative opinion of Michael Jackson comes from, and I understand the confusion it causes people worldwide. However, I do not understand the slanderous actions taken by members of the body of Christ after his death, and even during his troubled life. Terms like 'Whacko Jacko', and slanderous jokes shared at the lunch table after Sunday morning services. These actions, I cannot understand nor find acceptable.
As Christians, I feel we lost an opportunity when Michael Jackson passed away. I feel we lost an opportunity while he was living. There before us, loved by millions, scorned by millions was a man who in his songs shared his heart with the nation. He wanted to heal the world, to make a change, and to be understood.
In the song “Will You Be There,” a song many only associate with a killer whale named Willy, Michael Jackson shares some of his most intimate thoughts, that were dismissed by many at the time, and even still today. The song actually illustrates a form of fellowship that many Christians can relate to in the church. These are the lyrics, these words are straight from the lips of the King of Pop:
“…But They Told Me
A Man Should Be Faithful
And Walk When Not Able
And Fight Till The End
But I'm Only Human
Everyone's Taking Control Of Me
Seems That The World's
Got A Role For Me
I'm So Confused
Will You Show Me
You'll Be There For Me
And Care Enough To Bear Me…”
-Michael Jackson
Was the church there? Were you there? Did you lift him up in his times of darkest despair? Are we there for anyone in the spotlight being ripped to shreds for their fears, mistakes, and problems? Perhaps we should stop casting stones, and judging our brothers and sisters struggling with all the world to see. As a body of believers we have not been failed by the celebrities of the world, but instead, we have failed them.
My challenge to you this week: pray for someone who is doing things you don't agree with, pray for someone who you think is a mockery to the world, pray for someone you don't like, pray for your worst enemy. The funny thing about prayer—the more you pray for someone, the more you come to love them, care for them, cherish them, words of hate and malice are harder to speak when you take time to care, to pray, and to love.
Michael Jackson was my friend. I prayed for him, and I still mourn the missed opportunity to share love and hope with the King of Pop.
Abbi, Thank you for this article. I have been a Michael Jackson fan for over 35 years and what I loved most about Michael is his ability to draw people of different cultures, gender, races and religions together. I really can not recall any individual in our time with the ability to accomplish this. There is something divine about that and for people, expecially Christians, to continually judge and especially HATE him is so unnerving to me. I for one am glad that GOD gave him to us, but there should be a lesson in this. Although a great deal of your friends have a negative view of him, there are millions more who have learned to love him or re-appreciate him. But just as any gift from GOD, when you take advantage or do not appreciate that gift, it is taken away.
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did you receive my last comment.
As an admirer of Michael Jackson, I wanted to thank you for your understanding words. It saddens me, though, to hear that so many people, especially those who profess to be Christian, still feel so negatively towards the man. So very much of that is born from the caricature that the media/press created in pursuit of the dollar and at Michael’s grave expense. Compassion is surely scarce or missing in many people today, even after his death. Michael had his faults and problems, but he was human, like all of us, and I think people forget that fact because of who he was. That song is one of my favorites and I think it speaks clearly of the heart and soul of Michael. Thank you again.
Ouch! The lyrics of that song ring so true to me. I may not have shared his background or life, but I understand what it means to have expectations piled on you by others, expectations (or “responsibilities”) that no human can handle. I am ashamed of what I’ve thought of Michael Jackson.
I just want to state that the words blocked out above are not offensive. The words not seen are ‘FREE WILLY’, a movie about a killer whale.
Unfortunately our word filter can be a little too restrictive at times. We have modified that.
No problem, thanks for your hard work, and for fixing this! It’s very much appreciated!
this is the reason why i dislike christians. i think most of them are hypocrites! they have learnt nothing from the bible which says: do not judge. but they are the first ones to judge people! MJ gave over USD$350million to charities and always took time out to visit hospitals and orphanages but he’s not respected solely because of the way he’s portrayed in the media due to the false allegations! the power of media!
Thanks Abbi keep writing, love JRR
love from NC (Lillington)
I really appreciate your thoughtful article. In addition to being ‘the right thing,’ you may bring to your judgmental friends’ attention the considerable body of evidence in favor of Jackson’s innocence, even though we don’t have absolute proof. I direct everyone who is interested to this very well documented chronology of how his guilt was established by the press in public opinion: http://www.stereoboard.com/pdfs/Michael-Jackson-The-Making-Of-A-Myth-Part-I.pdf
You see, this is what we Christians tend to do. We are are able to love others when they are loveable. Then, when they become hard to love, we turn our backs. I think that’s what we did with Michael. We only wanted him and loved him when he was easy to love and then when we couldn’t understand him, we decided that loving him is just too much effort. We do that a lot with ppl around us. Since his death, I’ve kept this area more in check. It’s loving the unlovable that really counts. Because loving the lovable, anyone can do that, even evil ppl do that. How are we different from them?
Don’t understand why I can’t post anything…
Abbi, wonderful article! Thank you for sharing such positive and loving thoughts about Michael. Thought you might be interested in this site that speaks about the truth about Michael, about his Christian faith, about what the media and the public did to him (and how, as you said, we failed to share love and hope with him and criticized him instead). The website tells the truth about Michael, who he was, what he stood for. Also tells the truth about what really happened in 1993 and 2003/2005 and the truth behind all of the rumors about Michael. There is also a specific message to the media, the public and the church. It’s a real eye-opener. It also includes exclusive interviews with his attorney in the 2005 trial, Tom Mesereau, NY Times best-selling author Aphrodite Jones, witness to extortion Geraldine Hughes and Emmy-nominated filmmaker Larry Nimmer (who was hired by the defense to film Neverland for the jury). http://www.reflectionsonthedance.com http://www.reflectionsonthedance.com/His-Faith.html http://www.reflectionsonthedance.com/The-accusations.html http://www.reflectionsonthedance.com/The-Truth-About-Michael.html http://www.reflectionsonthedance.com/Factsversusfiction.html http://www.reflectionsonthedance.com/Judging-Michael.html
Perhaps Abbi Siler should find some new friends. Her current ones apparemt;u are not very Christian in their attitudes regarding Michael Jackson
I too have been a Michael Jackson fan for at least 40 years. He was a wonderful person! He believed in people, and they lied and used him and turned against him. I am a Christian and have been for about 22 years. I am very ashamed of our fellow christians that treated him the way they did. I believed in him with my whole heart and I would never turn against someone that I care about. If they knew anything at all about the real Michael, then they NEVER would have believed the acusations. I pray that none of you are ever falsely accused, because everyone tends to believe the media. Just remember, they falsely accused Jesus. Would you turn your back on him? What about a friend or a family member? Would they stand behind you if it were you? Thank you for writing this article. We need to change our attitudes and stop with the judging and holier than thou attitudes. I believe that Michael was a gift from God and that he will be in heaven with us. We all make mistakes and thank the Lord that God is more forgiving than humans or we would all be in BIG trouble. I love you my brothers and sisters in the Lord!
thank you so much for the article. i love Michael Jackson. I admire Michael Jackson for many reasons. 1. Hardworking: – spending thousands of hours in the studio rehearsing, practicing, and ensuring he hit every note. 2. Auto didactic: – He loved his work. He was a self learner. 3. Never give-up Attitude:- 4. Perseverance: – why he is successful. Larger than life because he was persistent. 5. Pure at heart: – he has a golden heart and a pure soul. 6.Humanitarian: – Great Humanitarian.
Michael Jackson was a very beautiful man. inside&Out;.people never tried understand and know him. instead, they believed what was in the tabolds and the evil news media said about him. It’s time for people (especially Christains) to know the truth about Michael Jackson. and,stop believing those ugly rumors!!!! please vist this website http://www.ReflectionsOnTheDance.com you, will know the truth about him. and you will know all about his faith&love; of God!!!!!
Hi Abbi! First off, I want to thank you for your beautiful words about Michael Jackson! I am a Christian who, unfortunately, was one of “those” Christians you talked about! I judged him, based upon what the media said about him, just taking what they said verbatim! I used to be a fan, but when the media went on a “lynching spree”, I was like Paul in The New Testiment….I held the coats of the mob that stoned Stephen! It wasn’t until Michael died that something in my heart cried out to The Lord for him! I couldn’t explain this sheer agony that I was experiencing! But later, I was to recall how I had judged him without even giving him the benefit of the doubt…and here I was…”supposedly” a Christian! And to my regret and utter shame, I will have to live with that for the rest of my life! But God, in His Infinate Mercy, allowed that experience to teach me, which in turn changed me forever! And now, even though I’m still a work in progress, I try to stop and before forming any opinion, as Michael so eloquently put it, “walk a moon” in someone else’s moccasins! The scriptures encourage us to correct each other in love, and I pray that your beautiful article will touch and convict each heart that reads it! I know of a website called Reflections on The Dance, which is written and created by The Lord and another Christian journalist (Deborah Campise Kunesh) that is a detailed, informative, and beautiful biography of the truth about Michael and the horrible things he went through, as well as his many acts of humanitarianism, etc! I think that being a friend of his, you will really appreciate and celebrate this website for it’s accurracy! I hope you and others take a moment and visit it: http://www.reflectionsonthedance.com/ This is not an attempt at trying to sell anything! I just thought it was such a wonderful experience navigating through the site, that I wanted to share this with you! I think you’ll find that you and the author share a lot in common besides both being journalists! Oh! And before I forget! I noticed you said you live in Arkansas!! Small world!! I do too!! Thank you again Abbi, for sharing this eloquent and thought provoking article!! It definately touches our hearts and provokes us to look at “the man in the mirror!” which should make our walk with God, even more enriching! God Bless you!!
Abbi, Good article! I would like to throw in my own two cents. As a CHRIST BELIEVER and SERVANT (I prefer this so much better than the term “Christian” a term people have massacred just by feeling they can toss on and toss around a “label,” but have no *REAL* relation to or reflection of CHRIST HIMSELF. Anyway, back to MJ. I am also a MJ FAN. Grew up with MJ and still LOVE the man’s music and mourned his loss. But, to me there’s TWO things happening concerning MJ since his passing a year ago as pertaining to CHRISTIANS POV of this man and his life and times. You got ONE group of CHRISTIANS who SWEAR (we’re not supposed to swear BTW 🙂 up and down MJ IS IN HEAVEN, was SAVED, SANCTIFIED and DEIFIED. Why? Because they point to his “gentleness” “humanitarian efforts” “acts of compassion and kindness” his “trials” and “tribulations” and his “good works.” Then you got ONE group of CHRISTIANS who SWEAR the opposite… MJ IS BURNING IN HELL, was HEATHEN, LOST and NOW PAYING THE COST. Why? Because they point to many of his “lyrics” “his sexual dance moves” “trials” and “tribulations” and “lack of commitment to any specific religion or faith” after he left the Jehovah’s Witness sect. It is TRUE and FACT that MJ was noted **(by family, personal friends and even himself in interviews on record)** for “studying all religions” and “finding truth in all things” and his fascination with “spiritualism” i.e., “psychic readings, seances and cosmic energies.” Now, what these TWO GROUPS of CHRISTIANS have in COMMON is that neither KNOW FOR CERTAIN what really transpired in those last waning “moments” and “seconds” of MJ’s FINAL COUNTDOWN of leaving this planet. I agree with GROUP ONE, while we as humans are to be “gentle” and “kind” and “giving” these “works” do exemplify the LOVE OF CHRIST and our DUTY as CHRISTIANS. Yet, I agree with GROUP TWO that *GOOD WORKS* are NOT what “saves a soul.” It is a COMMITMENT TO THE LORD JESUS CHRIST and having a SOLIDIFIED RELATIONSHIP with HIM and HIM ALONE. For Salvation is given unto man ONLY through JESUS CHRIST. He is the WAY, the TRUTH & the LIFE. No other way. So, to me that’s the LESSON here of MJ’s life. Of ANY life. While we are to DO GOOD in the EARTH, our “good works” can NOT negate nor compensate for the FACT we NEED A SAVIOR! 🙂 And, even MORE importantly… We NEED to ACCEPT THE SAVIOR – JESUS CHRIST! 🙂 Not just as a “good teacher” a “good prophet” a “good rabbi” a “good man” a “good son” but, ACCEPT JESUS CHRIST for what he TRULY is and that is ** L – O – R – D ** And, then those “works” those “good works” will LIFT HIM up and all men will be drawn unto CHRIST JESUS. That’s the real meat and potatoes of this life. Did MJ’s good works draw men unto Christ? Did MJ have that personal relationship with Christ? Did MJ know JESUS as LORD? And, SAVIOR? I wish I could unequivocally answer that. But, I can’t and none of us can. Except MJ. But, here’s whom we can unequivocally ANSWER that for… OURSELVES (Individually). And, let us use the occasion of such a great loss of what MJ was to PRAY and INTERCEDE for those who are in similar positions as MJ. Those who are Celebrities. How many of us think about these people’s souls? How many of us PRAY that they will ENTER the strait and NARROW gate to JESUS CHRIST? How many of us PRAY for DELIVERANCE to come to those in HOLLYWOOD and in POWERFUL POSITIONS? This too is our job as CHRIST BELIEVERS and SERVANTS, i.e., “Christians.”
lpwillfilm, I agree with part of what you are saying, but as far as I know Michael had his Christian friends Sandra and Andrea Crouch come and pray with him three weeks before he died. It does not say anywhere that we cannot search out other religions to find out who is right. In fact it says search out your own salvation. If you say that he is not in heaven because he didn’t profess any certain religion than you are wrong. He loved Jesus. Go check it out on Reflections of the dance.com If you ask some Christians, they would tell you that only THEIR religion is going to heaven and I totally disagree with that. If you are Baptist you say that the Pentecostals are going to hell and visa-versa. Like I said I am glad God is not as judgmental as people. God ACTUALLY FORGIVES. Something that we should all try doing!
Thank for the website, Ursula T and your comment!
Sandie1964 Christian Friends praying for and with one does NOT mean that a person has automatically been SAVED BORN AGAIN. For fact, speaking of the Crouches… When MaryMary and other Gospel artists pinpointed that “prayer” MJ had with the Crouches last year (just weeks prior to his passing)as PROOF that MJ “got Saved” The Crouches went ON THE RECORD and stated that while they “prayed with MJ” it was “not a prayer” that one would consider for “Salvation” or “Sinner’s Prayer” and that they themselves could “not confirm” if MJ had any relationship with Jesus Christ as LORD and SAVIOR. Also, many people LOVE JESUS and LIKE JESUS, but that my friend is not the point nor the prerequisite for SALVATION it is having a RELATIONSHIP with JESUS CHRIST as LORD & SAVIOR that is Salvation given unto men. For many will “say Lord, Lord” but He will say “I know you not.” So, it is NOT what we say about how great or good we “feel” about the Lord JESUS CHRIST, rather did WE MAKE HIM LORD JESUS CHRIST and Worship Him (ALONE) in SPIRIT and in Truth. Did we receive HIM as MASTER and follow HIS WORD and ABIDE in HIM and HIS WORD ABIDE in us. He is the ONLY WAY, ONLY TRUTH and ONLY LIFE. So, one can NOT “search” out other “faiths” and serve them all. There is ONLY ONE LORD, ONE FAITH, ONE BAPTISM. Jesus Christ clearly encourages us to TASTE AND SEE THAT HE (ALONE) IS GOOD. Not to go and taste to see if ALLAH, BUDDAH, KRISHNA, VASHTI, VISHNU, SHINTO, MOHAMMED, CONFUCIOUS is “good” and oh by the way, if you find out that JESUS is GOOD in your search then “come and kick it with Him.” No,no, no my friend. Jesus Christ tells us to make HIM the FIRST STOP because He’s the LAST STOP (The Alpha “beginning” and the Omega “ending.”) Also, note… THE BIBLE DOES NOT SAY “Search out your own Salvation.” THIS IS ERROR. The BIBLE says: Work out your OWN SALVATION with FEAR AND TREMBLING. But, this is PHILIPPIANS 2:12, but read the ENTIRE passage: (starting with verse 11): “And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. [v12]: “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” BUT, IT IS CLEAR THIS IS PAUL TALKING ABOUT THE LORDSHIP OF JESUS CHRIST and that every tongue would confess of HIS LORDSHIP and that they the Church of Philippi whether he be present or absent from them to CONTINUE TO WORK OUT there SALVATION with Fear and Trembling (not unto Paul being present with them) but also in his absence as UNTO THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. Why? Paul clears it up in verse 13: ‘For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” SAYING KEEP WORKING OUT SALVATION OF JESUS CHRIST IN YOUR LIVES NOT BASED UPON PAUL BEING IN THEIR MIDST, BUT BECAUSE OF GOD WHOM WORKS IN THE CHURCH AND INDIVIDUALS BOTH TO “WILL” and DO “GOD’S GOOD PLEASURE.” Let us ALL read with FULL HOLY GHOST DISCERNMENT and in FULL CONTEXT (can’t just take “one liners” and “sound bites”) what the BIBLE (Word of God)says.
Sandie1964 well said.
May the Lord bless you! But you will never change my mind about Michael being in heaven. I believe that with my whole heart and soul. And I already know all those scriptures. How you just responded is exactly what I am talking about when I say how judgemental SOME Christains are. I pray that God will never let me be like that again, because believe me, I have been. Sorry to offend you so much. May the Lord bless you!
I also wanted to say that I know that the Crouch’s said they prayed with him and said it was not the sinners pray, but why would Michael need to say the sinners pray when he was already saved. His family says he has always been a Christain. Just because people make mistakes does not mean they are no longer a christain. Also everyone knows that good works alone is not what saves you, Jesus does. But they are saying that Michael also did ALOT of good things. Please do not try to tell us that he is not in heaven. God bless you.
I wanted to address some comments that I read after my last post! I’m a born-again, Jesus believing, servant of The Most High God! It only takes an elementary understanding (of which God gives everyone!) of who Jesus was and is today, to be able to make the decision to dedicate your life to Him, wherein you become born-again! But sometimes we can “miss church” “going to church!!” I won’t argue with anyone about the things of Jesus Christ, because that’s why today we have so many denominations! And Christ was a Revolutionary! He hated religion because religion is simply man’s interpretation of what he THINKS is the right way to come to God! Christianity is a “RELATIONSHIP”! Not a “RELIGION”! Reading God’s Holy Word, praying to Him daily, which means having a dialogue with Him…not a monologue (where you’re the only one doing the talking!)… and acting in obedience to The Holy Spirit’s direction and teaching, is pretty simple! To say that no one knows if any loved one, friend, or even someone like Michael Jackson did or did not go to heaven may apply to YOU and your own understanding, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that it applies to everyone! The Lord is kind and patient, and if we want to know about our loved ones, friends or anyone else…if they are with Him or no, then if your heart is right when asking The Lord…He will answer!! And He did answer me! Why is it so hard for “Christians” to just examine the evidence that is presented to them, rather than make a “sweep across the table” judgement of Michael Jackson, or any other person that we believe was not saved? Is it because he was a “celebrity”? I think sadly, that might be the case here! And unfortunately “the church” failed to reach out to him when he needed it the most! But to sum it all up, here’s a letter that was written to a Christian website that asked the question about Michael Jackson’s salvation, which is also on the website (Reflectionsofthedance.com) I hope that it will cause other Christians to realize that God can save ANYBODY!! “Jess (pseudonym) says: July 20, 2009 at 4:20 pm There are a thousand ways I could word this but frankly I am tired of trying to find just the right words. I have been following this site for weeks. I have read each of these posts as well as those on other sites. I have remained silent and wonder if I should continue to be silent. However, I believe as long as I am protecting Michael’s privacy, even posthumously, God and even Michael would want me to share the following. I have never and will never do interviews, I will never divulge my identity as I have not for many years. Some will believe what I will say here, some will not, that is between you and God. It is not my responsibility to convince anyone of anything. I believe that you are all my sisters (and brothers) here in the faith and for that I am thankful. I am grateful that we all agree and acknowledge Jesus Christ, as Savior, as Lord, as the only hope for our lives, as the very reason we live and breathe and share this good news as He asks we do. There is no other way to says this than to just say it straight to all of your here “my family” in the body of Christ. Michael and I were friends for many years. I was involved in the trial, I have witnessed like others the loving and devoted father he was, I have shared many times with him and his family. We have had many private conversations. Although I have been asked, I apologize but I would not share the details of those conversations any more than I would talks with any other friend as that would be gossip and betray the designed, intended intrinsic trust of friendship. Based on the aforementioned and other details, I can tell you all with absolute certainty that Michael had accepted Jesus Christ, understood who He is and had given His life to Him. I will not disclose dates, words or reasons that it may or may not match what the world saw publicly. Just after his passing, it mattered to me that the world knew, that the church was made aware. Somehow, after much prayer, it doesn’t seem to matter anymore. It mattered at first to show the world, to convince the skeptics in the church who “didn’t see fruit” or doubted that someone like Michael could be saved. (absurdly like “someone” like any of us deserves it more) I ask that not as Pharisees or Sadducees but as people who have been saved by grace and not of ourselves. I ask that as redeemed people, each of us, respectively able to give unique testimony of how God reached to us in the mud and mire of our lives and never gave up on us, I ask that you accept this truth. If you want proof, you will have to wrestle with why you must have it and ask God why you must. If someone told you that a neighbor you had known for years had died but was saved and you had not known that, you would rejoice and not doubt. But truly God’s own people wrongly and self righteously judged Michael on numerous occasions. I miss him terribly and our family is beyond saddened as we grieve primarily for his children, his family and other friends who were blessed… not to have known a well known individual but to have shared this life with a beautiful, yet misunderstood human being. I have peace in knowing that God in His mercy decided there would be no music ministry, no imminent public profession to be torn apart (by the church) and that God didn’t even deem it necessary that the world be notified of anything. God’s love for us is one on One. It is quintessentially personal and goes deeper than any love we can fathom. Glory only to God the Father that this unfathomable love took home a son, that Michael is now free from his chronic physical pain and emotional anguish. I thank God that I lived to witness his salvation, I am humbled beyond expression that God loves us as He does and asks that we do the same for each other. I praise Him for all of you that you faithfully continue to speak His words in a dark and dying world where the harvest is ripe and the workers are too few…… thanks for reading. In All That Jesus Is -” ‘Nuf said! God bless you all! AMEN!
OK, this is weird, but I am getting all of these replies to BOTH of my postings concerning the Late Great Michael Jackson. To those of you whom have responded, first of all thank you for taking time to do so. Because it has been several replies I would like to use this time to address your issues. First of all, let me clear it up, I NEVER said MJ was NOT Heaven. But, at the same time since I (like you) am not THE FATHER nor THE SON nor THE HOLY SPIRIT I do not profess to “know” exactly where MJ’s soul resides at this hour. I am not omniscient, neither omnipresent, nor the “knower of hearts.” See, and that is where we as “Christians” go WRONG! We pick out those whom we LOVE and immediately ship them off to HEAVEN (because that is so where want them to be and that’s beautiful) but, ONLY THE LORD JESUS CHRIST and that soul in question really “knows” the condition or state of relationship they had or DID NOT have. By the same token, we pick out those whom we LOATHE and immediately ship them off to HELL (and, oh yes let’s keep it real that is so where we want them to be!)but again, ONLY the LORD and that SOUL knows the condition of the relationship or lack of relationship they had prior to leaving this earth. I would so love to think that individuals like DAHMER, BUNDY, GACY, TRENCH-COAT MAFIA, HITLER and all the rest of the world’s most NOTORIOUS got their spiritual comeuppance of Hell in the end. OK. I would love to think that individuals like MICHAEL JACKSON, RONALD REGAN, MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. and all of the rest of the world’s most POSITIVE HEROES got their spiritual blessing of Heaven in the end, too! But, the stark reality is, as God’s Word clearly says: “Man looks on the outward appearance, God looks at the heart.” And, we as humans are limited, because we can only “see” the outer appearance of things because we are after all, flesh and human. It takes Holy Ghost discernment to live this life and be LED by HIM into ALL TRUTH. And, the TRUTH is, in those last waning and dying moments of a soul’s time on this earth as it is making its departure and transition we can NOT (none of us matter of fact) place a soul into Heaven or Hell. We can NOT know for 100% Fact if that soul made it into Heaven or Hell. Because there will be many whom have said: “Lord, Lord” (JESUS CHRIST CLEARLY WARNS US IN HIS WORD) “we did this, we did that” and He’s going to be like, “I know you not, depart from me.” Then there are those like the “Thief on the Cross” next to The Lord Jesus Christ Himself, who cried out in a true heart of humility and repentance at the last minute (after a life of debauchery)”Oh, Lord remember me…” Which brings this discussion back FULL CIRCLE. As much as we ALL can SPECULATE and ASSUME about whether a soul made it to Heaven or Hell… NOTE: Those of you whom have placed MJ or anyone into HEAVEN are speculating and assuming just as much as those whom have placed MJ or anyone into HELL. GOD ALONE IS THE KNOWER OF HEARTS AND THOSE LAST CRITICAL MOMENTS OF A SOUL. The ONLY SOUL that you can ASSURE whether or NOT it goes to HEAVEN or HELL is YOUR OWN SOUL. That goes back to working out one’s OWN salvation with fear and trembling. Meaning, I need to be MOST concerned and concentrated that I personally have a relationship with JESUS CHRIST as LORD AND SAVIOR. Remember also SALVATION is NOT BY WORKS and therefore, it can NOT be “determined” by GOOD WORKS that any individual does in this life. SALVATION is RECEIVING JESUS CHRIST AS LORD and KEEPING GOD’S WORD, letting HIS WORD ABIDE in one’s HEART through OBEDIENCE to HIS WORD and NOT being CONFORMED to THE WORLD and being TRANSFORMED by the RENEWING of one’s MIND and REJECTING the ways of the Flesh and the works of the Devil. See, it is what is going on behind-the-scenes that The Lord considers. Not just or solely what is going on out-in-the-open or on the “world stage.” That’s important. But, what’s MOST important is what is happening when (we think) NO ONE is around, when NO ONE sees us. Given that fact, I (unlike many of you) dare NOT in this forum say 100% fact where MJ’s soul resides. I will say in this forum that I will (and we all should) use MJ and any loved one or any soul that passes as an OPPORTUNITY to “number our days” and “draw nearer” to GOD in our PERSONAL LIVES and seek a deeper and closer relationship and walk THE LORD JESUS CHRIST for it is certain that a “man born of a woman is appointed to die.” Let’s use this is an OPPORTUNITY to make sure we have that blessed assurance so that when we leave we CAN KNOW PERSONALLY that our OWN soul will rest and reside with the Father in Heaven.