The Christian Perspective on the Kings of Pop Culture

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   glendoncabaposted 14 years ago

   The sudden passing of Michael Jackson, and the philosophical introspection induced by the global grief has prompted me to preach on the place of pop kings in the cosmic order, as well the rule of the King of kings.

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      Paragliderposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I'd have to say I've not been aware of much philosophical introspection or global grief. I bore no ill will towards Michael Jackson, but he wasn't exactly John Lennon, was he?

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         glendoncabaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Are we on the same planet, my friend?

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         1. 82

            Jewelsposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            I'm with Paraglider too.  I'm very empathic and it's so interesting to feel what's going on.  The grief is a bit of a vacuum and not as sweeping as I would have first thought it would be.  There are sweeping statements like he was THE most wonderful entertainer ever.  That's quite false and quite emotionally and unintelligently said.
            
            No doubt Michael Jackson had a great influence on music but there needs to be perspective here.  If he wasn't so emotionally tormented his influence on the world could have been enormous; far greater than it was.
            
            Media hype is like a cancerous growth.  The frenzy is quite sickening and is something to be aware of.

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         quicksandposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         John Lennon WAS talented. He was! He was!

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      3. 75

         glendoncabaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Sorry paraglider I should have restated my opening statement for clarification to say "and my own philosophical introspection".  Truth be told, I dont think I'm the only believer who feel the need to process the MJ events in a deliberate and analytic fashion, and apply perspective by looking on the cosmic scale.

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2. 82

   Jewelsposted 14 years ago

   Interesting the mourning is a mixture of joy as well as grief.  People who respect his work are dancing to his music.  I'd be wary of the tabloid hype that is involved in celebrity deaths. After awhile it's not real, it's the wave that drags people into a cesspool which is sad in itself.
   
   You're not going to preach here at hubpages are you?  I thought that was what church's are for.

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      glendoncabaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Preaching is what preachers do.  Forgive my persistence but since this is the religion forum please allow me the liberty of inviting you to take a look at my hub with the sermon.
      
      The word preaching connotes negative and annoying persuasive communication nowadays, but scripture declares "How can they hear without a preacher".

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3. 75

   glendoncabaposted 14 years ago

   I am half expecting the erudite Mark Knowles to turn up and rebuke me for something sooner or later.

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      Mishaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Oh, don't worry, as soon as you start preaching he'll show up

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         earnestshubposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         And as soon as you tell us what to believe, I'll be here too!!

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            glendoncabaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            As a relative newbie to hubpages I'm reluctant to post the link here but just follow the usual path (profile to hubs)to the sermon/hub: A Friend of the King. 
            
            Thats what I'm telling you on the authority of God's Word to choose to believe.

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               Mishaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               Mark does not usually comment on hubs, especially religious. Bring it to the forums if you want his attention

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                  Jewelsposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                  You gone and done it now!

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               Mark Knowlesposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               Well, as you invited me over - I will just point out that there is no god and you have no authority. And quite honestly - it is this type of condescending rubbish that encourages people to despise your religion.
               
               You seem to be arguing that there is a god and you can choose to believe - or not.
               
               LOL - This is entertaining - condescending garbage actually.
               
               As for Michael Jackson - as Paraglider pointed out - he was no John Lennon and the fascination with his death is more about our current rotten society - bought about by religionist "I am better than you" philosophies. Great........

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                  glendoncabaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                  Mark until you agree to sponsor my trip to Nigeria I will not discuss religion with you.  Lol. 
                  
                  You remind me of the most popular talk show host in Jamaica by the name of Wilmot 'Mutty' Perkins.  When the PNP (socialist leaning)  government was in power he blamed everything on the government. 
                  
                  You Mark blame everything on religion.  Come on, step back and look at the big picture. 
                  
                  If you care to you could read my sermon and see its the opposite.  Conservative Christians like myself, many of us oppose the very concept of celebrity.  We dont place mega attention on life and death of any single human being.

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                     glendoncabaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                     EDIT:  Meaning we dont play the media frenzy thing.  I mean I just don't get Al Sharpton.  Let the funeral happen bro.  Stop that blame game and sound bite thing.

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                  noonatyumaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                  Wow Jim Jones you are PATHETIC!

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                     glendoncabaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                     Explain yourself.
                     
                     Jim Jones was a cult leader who went into commune in Guyana and comitted mass suicide.
                     
                     This thread is propounding a God of free choice where we follow only Jesus.  Not celebrity.  Not religious leader.

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   Mighty Momposted 14 years ago

   Let's go with the comment, "He was no John Lennon." No, he wasn't. He was much more like Elvis or Marilyn Monroe. Universally renowned. Worshipped by the masses.
   But unlike Lennon or Princess Di, there is no humanitarian impact, only an enormous musical/cultural impact.
   
   Does that fact dimish the global grief? I don't think so.

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      Eaglekiwiposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Im with you MM...NZ paid tribute along with the rest of the globe and family back home cannot understand the media frenzy , seems he cannot find peace even in death!
      
      John Lennon well I respect him as a fellow human being ,but musically each to their own 

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5. 63

   Mishaposted 14 years ago

   Ramen MM. Not that I am a big fan of him or pop in general for that matter, but he definitely had his own say in pop music, and it was enjoyable

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      Jewelsposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Ramen Misha.  I found him enjoyable but I wasn't going to get a concert ticket for his comeback.  My favorite is still Ben.

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6. 75

   glendoncabaposted 14 years ago

   Lots of wonderful thoughts already.  Good.  May I insist that we stick to topic:  Christian perspective on kings of pop culture. Here's the sermon to help you focus (now I'm anxious re both Mark and HubPages scolding me for promotion):
   
   http://hubpages.com/hub/A-Friend-of-the … ost-MJ-Era
   
   a)  What is the Christian perspective, if there is any?
   
   b)  How does the Christian believer respond to the persons inside and outside the church who are grieving for MJ.
   
   c)  What is the responsibility of the Christian who serves the King in an age of hollow pop kings?

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      earnestshubposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      There is no responsibility for christians in this matter, nor many others that you get all weird about. Has it occurred to you that most people do not give a toss what "Christians" think?

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         glendoncabaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         But there is my friend, listen to the words of Paul to the Church at Rome.  This is the powerful message persons lack why they centre their joy on the life and times of drug-addicted pop idols: 
         
         Romans 5
         Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 
           5:2   By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 
           5:3   And not only [so], but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 
           5:4   And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 
           5:5   And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. 
           5:6   For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 
           5:7   For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 
           5:8   But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 
           5:9   Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 
           5:10   For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 
           5:11   And not only [so], but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

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7. 61

   Lisa HWposted 14 years ago

   To each his own, but I didn't find anything in particular to process.  I heard he was dead, wasn't surprised (because I've always figured he'd be dead in his forties), and thought, "Oh well.  Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett and now him."    I really think a lot of those people who show up to put flowers in front of one place or another are just glomming in the "big thing" (rather than being all that genuinely emotionally impacted).
   
   However, I'm sure there are the folks who are either not very mature or not very well adjusted, who have gotten inappropriately wrapped up in the grief thing; so I'm sure your sermon may benefit them.

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      SweetiePieposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Why does it matter if some are not perceived as mature or as well adjusted as others?  Personally I would not go to a memorial service for a celebrity or cry about him or her, unless they were part of family or a friend, but I would not feel harshly towards those who do. 
      
      Different people have different heroes/role models in their lives, and I have a few friends that truly enjoyed the music of Michael Jackson.  For them it was a very sad day because his passing some how symbolized the passing of their youth, especially for many of us in our twenties and early thirties.  Here is a man that was troubled, but he died relatively young and that is bound to effect some people.  I say each person is allowed to grieve in their own personal way, and who is to say what is and what is not a better or worse way to grieve?   As long as people are not hurting others their grief is really none or our concern. 
      
      Some people are more drawn to old fashion pop stars than to certain celebrities who conduct humanitarian work. In the old days movie stars and other celebrities did not make a big to do about their charity causes, but today this has some how been given more inflated importance.  I even saw one local restaurant critiqued because they did not donate to a local charity when asked, but is that not the choice of the business owner?
      
      Also, not to begrudge those people who commit themselves to great humanitarian causes, but some of these celebrities do conduct these activities for popular opinion.  Some people are more authentic to themselves and do not feel they have to be involved in a humanitrian effort to win world wide support.  I am not downplaying the significance of humanitrian efforts, but there are many people in the world that do small day to day things for each other without wanting attention for it.  I say grieve however you want and for whomever you want, and no one can say how that grieving should be conducted.  It is like the old Rick Nelson song "I can't please everyone, so I might as well please myself".

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8. 75

   spiderpamposted 14 years ago

   I liked Michael Jackson, but I didn't worship him.
   <snipped link - do NOT post hub links in the forums>

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