The Gospel According to Matt

By now you all know that Michael Jackson is dead.  Heart attack.  Maybe natural, maybe-stress induced, maybe drug-induced.  The autopsy will tell.  No need for conjecture.  Like everyone else, I’m stunned by the fact of his death but not at all surprised by the news.  What I am surprised by is the negative buzz from the Christian world on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter.

Quote: “At least he’s not wasting our oxygen anymore.”

Quote: “Michael Jackson ruined my day.”

Quote: “One less child molester in the world.”

Quote: “The world is a much better place.”

Quote: “You have a responsibility to take this opportunity to condemn Jackson.”

Seriously?  Do you think you would ever hear such words coming from the mouth of Jesus?  You might hear these words: “You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye,” (Matthew 7:5); “Do not judge, and you will not be judged.  Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned.  Forgive, and you will be forgiven,” (Luke 6:37); and ”If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone,” (John 8:7).  But you will never see such quotes coming from Jesus as I’ve seen on social-networking sites.

But what about making judgment calls about people?  Is there a proper time and place to point out people’s sin?  Jesus also said, “By their fruit you will recognize them,” (Matthew 7:20).  Don’t we have an obligation to inspect people’s fruit, so to speak?  Yes and no.  Yes, we have an obligation to inspect the fruit of a believer, but it is not our business to judge an unbeliever.  “What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church?  Are you not to judge those inside?  God will judge those outside.  Expel the wicked man from among you,” (1 Corinthians 5:12-13).  Therefore, we conclude that is is sometimes appropriate to judge a Christian, or a Christian leader, or a Christian who is a “false-teacher,” but it is completely inappropriate to judge an unbeliever.

Jesus Himself, while on planet earth, made it very clear in John 3:17 that he did not  come into the world “to condemn the world, but to save the world.”  And if we are going to be authentic followers of Jesus Christ then we must adopt the same spirit.  When we interact with the world, we should interact with mercy, grace, and compassion; and when speaking the truth we must do so “in love,” as Ephesians 4:15 says.  None of the social-networking quotes could even pretend to be “speaking the truth in love.”

I think the real problem is that even Christians fail to understand their own salvation.  “It is by grace you have been saved, through your faith.  This is not from yourselves.  It is the gift of God,” (Ephesians 2:8).  They may say they believe that salvation is by grace not by works, but their attitude of judgment demonstrates that they know nothing of the sort.  If they are operating in judgment, then they are operating in “law,” thus nullifying their own salvation.  “With the measure you use it will be measured to you,” (Luke 6:38b).  Likewise, Galatians 3:10 says, “All who rely on observing the law are under a curse.”

If Christians truly understood that their own sins are just as offensive to God as Jackson’s sins, they would be more careful in judging him.  In fact, an unbeliever who sins is less egregious to God than a believer who sins.  The reality is that my sins, as a Christian leader, are far more offensive to God and far more dangerous to our world than Michael Jackson’s sins (James 3:1).  Therefore, I have no right to judge him unless I myself want to stand in God’s judgment.  I do not!

Here’s the reality of it all: If Michael Jackson was not a Christian, then he does not have access to God (John 14:6).  Michael Jackson may have been a good and benevolent man, but being good and benevolent does not get you into heaven (Ephesians 2:9).  Michael Jackson may have been an evil, child-molester; we’ll never know so let’s not quibble over this one.  God gave Michael Jackson tremendous gifts and talents, and there’s nothing wrong with celebrating God-given gifts and talents.

God is likely grieved over the life and death of Michael Jackson because it is His desire for all people to be saved (1 Peter 3:9).  If we are true followers of God then we should be grieved as well.