Michael Jackson's funeral approaches. Some wonder what religion, if any, will be emphasized in his memorial service. Jackson was raised a Jehovah's Witness and as late as four years ago still affirmed this as his faith.
Aside from recent conversion stories to Islam--or Scientology, Kabbalism, Jediism, and so forth--it appears that Jackson retained a close affinity with the religion of his upbringing.
However, a last-minute twist came to the circuitous road of Michael Jackson's life. Three weeks ago, the pop star invited famed gospel songwriter Andrae Crouch and his twin sister Sandra to meet with him. This was not, according to the Crouches, an unusual meeting. Frequently, they got together, talked, prayed and sang.
Crouch noted in his visit to Jackson's rented home that the pop star's Christmas decorations remained intact. As a child growing up in the Jehovah's Witness faith, Christmas was forbidden to Jackson. Christmas decorations are no evidence of a switch to Christianity. If so, the Radio City Music Hall would be the New Jerusalem. Yet, the statements by the Crouches are interesting.
When news broke that Michael Jackson had converted to Christianity because of the Crouche's visits, Andrae was quick to clarify the content of the visit through a spokesperson:
"Andrae and Sandra did in fact visit with Michael Jackson two times, once at the recording studio, and once at his home in the last two months, as recently as three weeks ago, asking for prayer concerning the anointing of the Holy Spirit, and how he could make his music more 'spiritual.' So Andrae and Sandra explained to him about the anointing and about Jesus."
"He wanted to know what makes your hands go up, and makes you 'come out of yourself,' and what gives a 'spirituality' to the music? He then requested to hear his favorite song that he loves and wanted then [them] to sing to him, so they...joined hands and sang together, and he said, 'it was beautiful.' He first heard it in New York, and loved it and wanted it on tape. He had the engineer tape the song sang to him by Andrae and Sandra. He definitely had an encounter with them."
Jackson asked Crouch to sing "his favorite song" written by Crouch years before: "It Won't Be Long." For those of us who grew up with Andrae Crouch's stirring lyrics and music, the idea that a talented, but troubled pop star would reach out to a talented, but tried gospel songwriter is in itself heartwarming. And when you hear the lyrics of the song sung that night, it almost seems Jackson had a premonition of his soon departure. "Any day now," says the song's last line, "we'll be going home."
Did Michael Jackson turn to Jesus in the end? Crouch was ambiguous on this saying that Jackson prayed with them and did not "reject" Jesus. Absent evidence to the contrary, it will be assumed that Jackson died in the Jehovah's Witness faith. Although, some still hold that Jackson did convert to Islam and will have a Muslim burial.
One thing is for sure, however, each of us have an appointment with death and a planned encounter with God. When we stand before our Maker, I hope we are all clothed in Christ's righteousness.
Source: Houston Belief / Houston Chronicle
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07/03/2009 Friday 0847AM
It does not matter what religious preference that Michael was; no religion nor an individual can put Michael in heaven or hell. Only Michael
and his Creator on 06/25/2009 was present when th
e transition from this side to the other side was
made.The Soul returns to the Creator and the body
returns to the earth;Man likes you for what you can give and for your status in this material wor
ld but GOD loves everyone unconditionally.
Ms Eugenia M Brown
Houston,Texas
True, God does loves us all, unconditionally, without respect for person,but, according to His Word as written in John 3:16 because He loved the world He gave His Son,Jesus. Though God loves us all, the condition for our salvation is met by believing in Jesus, believing that Jesus died for our sin, believing that He rose from the dead and that He is the soon coming King! If we love God we believe that what His word says is true, and we demonstrate our love and faith in Him by our obedience and acts of love towards others. We are enabled to do whatever God requires by the power of the Holy Spirit. I know that the JW's do not believe that we can be indwelled by God's Spirit. They say they believe in Jesus,but yet deny the very words that Jesus spoke about Himself and the Holy Spirit. Poor Micheal, so rich but so poor in spirit. A lesson to be learned: "what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet lose his soul?"
I AM SO GLAD THAT GOD IS GOD AND IS IN CONTROL, AND NOT MAN AND THAT HE IS SUCH A FORGIVING GOD! AND THAT HIS WORD IS TRUE! HE SAID IN HIS WORD IN ISAIAH 55:11. "SO SHALL THE WORDS THAT GOETH OUT OF MY MOUTH, IT SHALL NOT RETURN TO ME VOID, BUT IT SHALL ACCOMPLISH THAT WHICH I PLEASE"! ANDRE WHITNESSED AND PRAYED WITH MICHAEL ON THAT DAY 3 WEEKS AGO, AND WE DONT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED AT THE MOMENT OF DEATH, WE WERE NOT THERE, ALL WE KNOW IS THAT GOD IS A FORGIVING GOD, AND IT ONLY TAKES A MOMENT OF TIME TO REPENT!. I DARE SAY WE ARE GOING TO BE REALLY SURPRISED WHEN WE GET TO HEAVEN AND SEE SOME OF THE PEOPLE THERE THAT WE SENT TO HELL. BECAUSE GOD IS NOT LIKE US, ITS NOT HIS DESIRE THAT ANYONE SHOULD GO TO HELL, BUT HE DIED THAT ALL WOULD BE SAVED!
The Bible says that some will enter heaven by the skin of their teeth. This is probably the case here. I am relieved to know that MJ accepted Jesus. The Bible also says come as you are. Working through the sin issues is not always instant but a Holy Spirit process.
The word of GOD says in the book of ROMANS 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth the LORD Jesus and believe in your heart that GOD raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Yes GOD looks at the heart and man looks at the outward appearance. But GOD has given us all an appointed time and opportunity where no one will leave this earth without having heard his word and accepting his son as their personal LORD and savior. The word of GOD is truth, and he has promised in his word that many are called but few are chosen. Those who have accepted GOD'S son have been predestined and GOD foreknew they who would be called his. However, GOD gives freewill to accept his son as our own personal savior. Yes Michael Jackson did do much for millions but giving does not constitute your getting into heaven. "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of GOD". That means Michael was born into sin and had a choice whether to confess JESUS as his personal savior or not. If its true that Michael Jackson was a Jehovah Witness then he was not a child of GOD but only his creation. Jehovah Witnesses don't believe in CHRIST as the Christian does. It was cleared that with all of his money and etc, Michael Jackson had no peace in his heart or joy. FOr those who have a personal relationship with GOD, the fruits (characters)of the spirit of GOD is love, peace, joy, longsuffering. Michael Jackson, its unfortunate was miserable and empty inside. He attempted to fill that void in his heart not with the wisdom of GOD but with empty meaningless things and people who meant him no earthly good. JESUS CHRIST said "Come unto me who are weary and heavy burden and I will give you rest". Not drugs, not people, not things. But GOD has the final say because we all are going to come before him for judgement. When GOD asks the question I believe when we go before him for judgement will he say to you "Have you accepted my son as your personal savior"? Will he say to you "Well done my good and faithful servant?" or will he say to you "Depart from me for I knew you not"? Whom do you choose to serve this day? GOD or Satan? As for me and my household we serve the LORD. GOD BLESS!
Acts 2:36-38 and Acts 2:1-4 This is the first step to be able to be eligible to see the kingdom of God. Next we must live a sin free life
I pray for Michael Jackson. I pray he is with the Lord. Who is to say that in his final moments he may have accepted Christ. NO man cometh unto the Father but by Christ, and Christ alone. It does not matter what I think, or what anyone else thinks. The Bible is clear as to how to get to Heaven. We are all sinners saved by His grace, which is a free gift to all who ask and believe. Search and ye shall find. It was NO coincidence that this meeting occurred with Anrae Crouch. It was destiny and perhaps a last chance from God. Peace, Love, Mercy and Grace!
Romans 10:13 says that whoever calls upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved. Nothing is mentioned about needing to add any good works in order to receive salvation from God. In fact, Ephesians 2:9 says: NOT OF WORKS, LEST ANY MAN SHOULD BOAST. The Bible does seem to indicate that it’s possible to fall away from the Lord, though, in Hebrews 6:4-6. Christians who get saved many years before their death DO have an ongoing battle against satan and are sometimes tempted to abandon their faith when the going gets rough. If Michael Jackson WAS truly born again shortly before his death (I hope he was!) then his time of testing as a believer was much shorter than a Christian who walks with God for many years before leaving this world. Could there be an element of JEALOUSY involved as Christians speculate on whether Michael’s conversion experience was valid, just because it was “last minute” like that of the Thief on the Cross? In Matthew chapter 20 Jesus preaches the Parable of the Vineyard Owner, who continues to hire farm workers throughout the day, up until five o’clock, an hour before quitting time.' Back then it was customary for workers to be paid at the end of each workday. Surprisingly, ALL the laborers in Jesus’ parable end up getting exactly the same pay, even the men hired an hour before quitting time. The men who had sweated and toiled since early morning grumbled that it wasn’t fair. But the owner of the vineyard said, “Is your heart evil because I’m being kind?” If Michael truly received Christ as Savior, even at the last possible moment, we should all rejoice instead of begrudging the fact that Michael won’t have to suffer decades of being tempted by satan. And the fact he won’t have the opportunity to do good works down here on earth for the Lord doesn’t make God any less merciful. As unfair as this seems to self-righteous Christians, the precious blood of Christ is the ONLY payment for sin and the ONLY fare to heaven God requires.
Amen Patricia!
Ever since this happened with Michael Jackson suddenly passing as he has, I felt compelled by God to pray for him and his soul. There's no hard core evidence that he actually DID accept Christ, but the meeting with Andrae Crouch though not conclusive, was crucial, because maybe it got Michael seriously thinking. I literally begged God not to send him down to that horrible place after the judgement, but asked him to please have mercy on him. Usually I never get this way about anybody, especially a star. But for some reason this was different. Maybe it's because I faced some of the same things growing up he did, and knew how some of it felt like, and how isolated and how badly hurt you can get. And, the Jehovah Witness faith was the only faith he KNEW. Jehovah Witnesses are forbidden to enter a christian or other church, GEE, I WONDER WHY??? Simple. It's Satan's way of distorting and preventing the truth from coming to Michael. Knowing this, I hope God's mercy will follow him. R.I.P.
I don't think he was still a jehovahs witness any more! for he was celebrating Christmas which they do not do. Also on a privatwe home movie he stated that he was not!
he was not a jehovahs witness. He celebrated christmas for one thing and he also said so in one of his own home movies.
The Crouches are big fakes! They love the money and fame..........Not GOD!!! God will judge them today and I am glad!!!!!!!!! AMEN AND AMEN~!!!!
Even his children went to Jehovah's Witness meetings after he passed. That shows that the Crouches had NO EFFECT on him or his family whatsoever...........
YOU WILL KNOW THEM BY THEIR FRUIT!
Their fruit is evil.....just plain evil and God will prove that! His judgment is just!!!!!!!
am just surprised and very sad after reading this , how could somebody know Michael Jackson and consider himself a friend to MJ , seeing him destructed & depressed running in such a dark path of fame & money and all the horrible things about being a celebrity and not sharing the word of God clearly with him ? mmmm, and they went to discuss business and recording with him ? very funny and makes me very sad at the same time , if I had the chance to meet MJ first thing I would do is talking with him directly about salvation and try to get him to the ponit that he may feel he needs Jesus's blood not to discuss business with such a tortured soul like Michael's soul , am 24 years old I grew up hearing many bad and disgusting things about Michael and I believed them all without questioning , But after his death I begin to read about him and about his father , about the sort of life he had , and believe me i dont know why I believed he was innocent of the child molestation charges , after reading about him I felt so sad for him and I still my heart is aching for all the sad things he has been through , many celebrities die everyday but I have never felt that way towards anyone of them . I hope if I could meet him someday to tell him that I do feel his pain , his wounds and his confused thoughts about God , I wouldnt let the chance go without sharing the gospel with , the real gospel about Jesus"blood repentance and salvation , not the diluted distoted gospel we hear it nowadays , I really hope that Michael prayed the salvation prayer before his death we cant be sure now but I only hope and I deeply deeply feel very sorry and I feel pain in my heart for the life he had , I understand that the only thing he longed for is to be loved ,I wanna apologize to him because when he was here I disrespected him and believed every bad thing about him without giving him a chance without do some more effort to pray for him and for his salvation I regret , but I have learned the lesson
There are several judgement statements about the Crouches.All hide behind "Anonyously" That'ss their right to do so, cool. There are those that shared verses from Gods'Holy Word, and left their names.Awesome! Each verse shared is TRUE. God said it, that's that. WE are not big enought to argue with Him. Not of fear, but RESPECT Who He was, IS, and ALWAYS will be. Since HE never changes, WE always KNOW wher HE stands on ALL issues. MAN changes, God IS NOT made in the image of God... "gods" yes, GOD no. On Judgement Day, WE stand before HIM, not Him before US. If,We Born Again,Spirit Filled Christians are wrong, we have not lost anything. Yet if those that REJECT Jesus are wrong...they've lost everything to their soul. I challege you, call a solid BIBLE teaching church, have a pastor, elder share with you. And don't do it because I ask, seriously do it for YOU, your family
You need to get a life and stop religion bashing.
Ignorant is as ignorant does. How can you judge or claim to know a religion when you don't even know the history of your own. By the way, who chose your belief for you? Did you venture to see what others have to offer? Do you even know the history of King James and that time? So leave the JW alone and mind your own relgion.
Do some research and maybe you'll get the answer.
Dee
USA
Please check once again Pastor Andrae Crouches Facebook page. You will find the real answer. The Crouches were reluctent in broadcasting information because of the wretched media attention for MJ.....His page states:
Andrae' has now told Clifton Davis (when he saw him at MJ's family funeral on Sept. 4) that he is "confident that Michael Jackson knew the Lord." This was reported by Clifton on TBN's "Praise The Lord" on 9/8/09, Tuesday night to the world. (Dave)Andrae's FB master
Did you know.... your god is not Jesus.. but Judas Iskariat
God bless Andrea/ Sandra. great job. every christian should emulate them. In the midst of fame and riches, they shared their faith in Christ Jesus. Leave the rest to GOD. It took few words for the thief on the cross at Jesus's side but here several transactions took place.Michael is a superstar. He picked the brain of every religion to accomplish his task but he anchored his soul on the last days with the right camp. Praise God-Alleluyah -------mary