Oh, of course... Today is Michael Jackson's funeral. That's cool and all, but I'm not too huge of a Michael Jackson fan. I turned the channel up one to HLN: "Remembering Michael Jackson." Then up another to Fox News: "Michael Jackson - 1958-2009." Up another to MSNBC: "Michael Jackson Memorial."
Seriously? That's ALL that's going on in the world, CNN, HLN, Fox, and MSNBC? That's ALL I need to know this early Tuesday morning?
I think it's so weird that everyone's making a big deal out of Jackson's death. It sucks, yeah. He died unexpectedly at an early age and his name was know world-wide. Yet I can't help but think that this is all so ridiculous. What makes a person's death important or unimportant? What makes it worth the focus of every major news channel and what makes it forgettable?
I'll admit that my feelings toward Jackson's death may be, in part, fueled by jealousy. Maybe I'm wrong, but I doubt that CHP will spend thousands and thousands of tax dollars to close down interstates and escort my memorial motorcade across California.* Yet despite my feelings of jealousy, I still can't shake the ludicrousness of it all.
So many people are mourning the death of a single person, while elsewhere in the world, thousands of people are dying while defending justice or standing up for what's right. I guess if they were better singers or songwriters or could dance the Thriller, more people would care.
* * * *
I heard a joke soon after Jackson died that went like this: "Ferrah Fawcet died and went up to heaven, and God granted her one wish, so she said, 'I wish that my children could be safe.' And that's how Michael Jackson died." The news announcer just said that fans are taking respite in the fact that Michael is now in a "better place, where there is no pain or sorrow." I listened to a song once that went, "Everybody wants to get to heaven, but no one wants to go there now." All three of these instances only reinforce the fact that so few people realize what heaven entails.
Suddenly, because Jackson was accused of child molestation and Ferrah Fawcet was such a good person, she goes to heaven and he burns in hell. Suddenly, because he was so loved by people, Jackson without-a-doubt goes to heaven. Heaven is nice and all, but I want to stay here on earth a bit longer, partying and having sex and whatnot.
Look, the gospel message is offensive because of this claim: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6)." That, my friends, offends A LOT of people. Jesus is the way to heaven, and nothing else. Which means that unless Jackson made a personal commitment to following Him, he didn't make it. If Fawcet failed to make the same commitment, she failed to enter heaven, too.**
That's hard, and I understand that. Before I became a Christian, that's what set off my 'red flag' alerts about the Bible... it's so black and white, so exclusive. Yet as my understanding of the Bible increased, I realized that Jesus' invitation to, "come, follow me," extends to every single person alive. There is no one on earth beyond the reach of God's invitation or His love.
Heaven isn't a reward dolled out to people who are exceedingly popular or who said nice things or starred in hit TV shows. It's a promise given to those who say, "I wish that I will die that You, Lord, may live through me. May my life stop and Your will take over."
Thanks for reading,
-Daniel K
*Neither would I want this to happen, by the way. When I die, I want a party to commemorate the day. A party where God is remembered more than I am, and where tears are shed only in confusion to God's plan, not in bitterness or anger towards my passing.
**Now I personally have no idea whether Mr. Jackson or Ms. Fawcet made such a commitment or not. That's not up to me to judge.
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