MJ, Emergents, and Bishop Smith

[DAII]

O' God Help Me, I Am So Weary by Bishop Samuel Smith

According to Michael Jackson’s biographer Ian Halperin, in his forthcoming book, “The Final Years of Michael Jackson,” he writes that Jackson was addicted to drugs and was homosexual. His findings are supported by exhaustive research and documentation. I am not judging Michael Jackson, he was a soul that Christ loved; but, do not judge me for commenting on the state of our culture, and born-again Christians who idolize him. Some are calling him, “The Prince of Peace.”

I am tired. No, it is more than that, it is a weariness that exceeds working 16 hour days; constant travel, airplanes, airports, hotels and all that goes with it; dealing with crisis and problems that arise among ministries, nationally and internationally, who seek advise and counsel from the General Chairman. I am weary, really weary in mind and body. I am sure it is not a health issue, and I enjoy my work. Deep in my spirit I know it is something more, something quite dark and foreboding.

I am weary of increasingly being on the other side of the issue, and wondering “why do I feel so out of place.” The coarseness of our culture, the dangerous turn in the national politic, the changing face of religion, the apparent collapse of our economy, are all burdensome, to say the least. For a long time, I have felt the drift away from proven values and safe boundaries; but, now it is like someone has pushed the fast forward button. Those who have been engaged in spiritual warfare for years, cannot help but feel weary from the prolonged battle, especially now as it seems all hell is breaking loose and Satan, knowing his time is short, is working every angle available to him.

How is it that a beauty pageant contestant has more moral courage than the pastor of one of America’s largest churches relative to the subject of same sex marriage?

How is it that a Christian nation with millions of professing born again believers can rush to buy a book and go to the theaters en-mass to see a movie that portrays Christ faking his death on the cross, marrying a prostitute, and their descendants living among us today?

It grates upon my spirit that almost every TV sitcom is lewd and carries an immoral story line. It vexes my soul that the commentators of our time, from comedians to political pundits, pursue the theme that fundamentalist, born-again Christians, who believe in a Creator, eternity and moral values, are “whack jobs.”

I am troubled when Pravda, the Russian newspaper, reports that the USA is spiraling into the same Marxism that Russians threw off after 70 nightmarish years, and millions of horrible deaths. Among the many points that the editorial raises, are; American’s lust for pleasure; sports, movies, TV, theme parks, it never ceases: that most American churches have become “Sunday Circuses,” meaning; old values, salvation, eternity, have been traded for what the people want to hear; riches, prosperity, and the “feel good” gospel. Biblical teaching and Christian traditions have been replaced with religious hype and entertainment, all in the name of God.

Why are so few Christians, and even many in the ministry, no longer emphasizing heaven and hell? Where are the Elijah’s? In light of fulfilled Bible prophecy, that so many wish to ignore and do not want to be reminded of, how can we not be thinking about eternity?

C.S. Lewis has said, “the early church, recorded in the book of Acts, preached the heavenly kingdom that was to come; in doing so they reached their world in one generation. By preaching eternal values they greatly impacted their world. By contrast he states, most churches today are so preoccupied with earthly success here, that they have lost their true spiritual influence in this world. Lewis concludes; “when you seek first the hereafter, you gain both worlds, blessings here, and the assurance of eternity. When you seek success first in this world, you lose both; influence and blessings here, and the assurance of salvation in the hereafter.”

I expect the world to refute these points; but, what wears on me is the growing debate among believers! They challenge and dispute sound doctrine and separation from the uncleanness of the world as being “old school, judgmental, and regressive.” To quote some, “that kind of preaching doesn’t work any longer!” When did God Change?

How can our pulpits be silent when men marry men and women marry women? When the Ten Commandments cannot be displayed in our court houses any longer! Now, even late term abortion for any reason is condoned by an ever increasing number of

Americans. Small churches are losing members to the mega-churches, who in turn preach a people-friendly gospel, “come as you are and leave the same way, but make sure you feel better about yourself;” and maybe, attend church once a week. Can’t anyone see the pattern here? It is called, “falling away.”

Does it bother anyone to hear Apostolic ministers discuss on TV how easy it is now to “grow” a church, because once we had it backwards; that we wrongfully insisted that people believed before they belonged, and now we should let them belong before they believe! What happened to; “these signs shall follow them that believe…he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved…he that believeth not, shall be damned?” Let me make the point, “belonging before you believe,” is the philosophy that brought voodoo into the Catholic church in Haiti, Santeria into the church in Brazil, and the old Druid paganism into the Roman Church throughout Europe.

It weighs heavily upon my soul when I attend an Apostolic event and hear a want-to-be reformer, exalt his intellect at the expense of the integrity of the gospel, by stating how society has changed to the degree that we must analyze the contemporary mind-set and alter our manner of presentation accordingly in order to gain the favor of people to the extent that they will not mind how we baptize, saying; “we could baptize them in the name of ‘Shazaam’ and they would not care.” Just hearing that phrase wears on my spirit. Decades of Salvation Army bell ringers, and Good-will stores has not brought revival. Where do we get the idea that trading our Apostolic heritage for social action in this late hour will save the day? I call it deceit!

Did not Jesus warn us about the deceit of the end-time? Of course there is merit in good works, but aside from the grace of God; repentance, baptism in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Holy Ghost infilling, and living an overcoming life; our self- righteousness is as filthy rags before God! Jesus declared that everyone “must be born again.” Would Christ have been crucified if he had p
reached the social friendly gospel of today? Have some, who should know better, crossed the line, ignored the warning of Apostle Paul, and “preached another gospel, that is not the gospel?”

For certain, it is appointed to man once to die. Death is a subject to be approached with all solemnity. Hopefully, someone reached Michael Jackson in time. I am not his judge. The Bible says that by their fruit you will know them. From what I hear and see, it is doubtful that he was born again. Is anyone else appalled at the attention his death has drawn? Not since the death of President Kennedy have I seen the nation so riveted upon the passing of one person. The TV n
etworks and cable channels have given this event wall to wall coverage. Each pundit, in their own turn, tries to outdo the one before with their obligatory praise at the passing of the “greatest entertainer of all time.” Critical issues that will affect this nation forever are slipping by unnoticed while the people blindly grieve the passing of their idol! The world has turned their eyes away from the desperate attempt of freedom lovers in Iran, who by last account, before the Michael Jackson story struck, were being shot in the street like animals.

The Geraldo Rivera’s laud Jackson’s legacy with worshipful tones. One commentator went so far as to say; “even grabbing his crotch, thrusting his pelvis and squealing, were pure genius comparable to Mozart and Beethoven.” I say, the primal beat, sensual grunts, vulgar sexual gestures, while squealing repetitious phrases is not the talent of a genius; it is more the traits of a pied piper leading the beguiled. In one dance routine Jackson assumes a demonic transformation, and it becomes a 100 million album seller. Need we more proof of the decadence of our time? I am sorry, but, he makes Elvis, Little Richard, and Jerry Lee Lewis look like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob by comparison. Surely these are the times the prophets and Jesus warned would come to pass upon the Earth at the closing of this dispensation, and the start of the Great Tribulation. The scripture is fulfilled, “the blind shall lead the blind.”

It is a sad commentary on the values of this generation when someone like Michael Jackson, captivates so wide a spectrum of the culture; receiving worldwide honor, ranging from such distant poles as the Apollo Theater to the halls of the U.S. Congress. One panel discussion on CNN stated that Michael Jackson embodied the “hope for the oneness” of the whole world, stating; “He began black and became white, he was male who became feminine, he was an adult who became child-like, and his sexuality could not be narrowly defined.”

Has anyone heard one word about his spirituality?

[DAII]

This is not a racial thing; people who know me know that most of my friends are people of color. The only color that I observe among humankind is “red” the blood of Jesus. These are facts: Michael Jackson bleached his skin, went under the knife to change his appearance, wore make up and assumed the appearance of a white woman. His indiscretions with little boys were more than just tabloid fodder. Thanks to millions of dollars in pay-off money and good lawyers he slipped by Lady Justice. Dr. Keith Ablow, MD, a psychiatrist who serves as a Fox News contributor, said the day after Jackson’s death; “Here was a man who loathed his race, his gender, his appearance, and his sexual orientation.” Dr. Ablow nor I rejoice in Michael Jackson’s misery, it was tragic; but, the adulation shown the Jackson phenomenon is an indictment of this generation. I stand by my statement!

No one should make light of his death; his soul was one of the billions whom Christ loved and died for. In retrospect, his life was one of carnal excesses, and his talents led millions not in the direction of the cross, but toward the same sinful pit that finally swallowed him. There is a lesson to be learned here; “…and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” (James 1:15).

The reality of the end-time bears heavily upon me, when I read a tribute to Michael Jackson’s life and legacy from an Apostolic minister. My spirit is grieved when I hear of young Apostolics who say they will “moon-walk” with Michael Jackson in heaven. Has anyone ever heard one spiritual thing come out of his mouth?

Is this weariness, born of intense spiritual warfare, what Daniel warned would come upon us in the last days; “…and shall wear out the saints of the most High” (Daniel 7:25)? Is this why Jesus warned; “…but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened” (Matthew 24:22)? Is this why Jesus promised His faithful remnant in the next to final verse of the Bible, in full view of the inevitable fulfillment of prophecy; “Surely, I come quickly” (Revelation 22:20)?

Surprisingly, as I conclude this commentary, I feel re-energized. Having been challenged anew by the Michael Jackson drama, and taking time to revisit the issue of end-time battle fatigue, and analyzing its two-fold roots, a devil-deceived world and a luke-warm church-age; I feel a resurgence in my soul. I want to shout, “Not on my watch!” Surely, the Lord has a host of spiritual warriors who can discern the times, who are ready to put on the whole armor of God and fearlessly proclaim His full counsel to a world racing into eternity!

Often good and evil travel on parallel tracks. The Bible warns; “…that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first” (II Thessalonians 2:3). God promised, in the last days, “I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh” (Joel 2:28). The same prophet Daniel who forewarned end-time weariness, also prophesied; “…but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits” (Daniel ll:32).

It is time for the Sunday Circus to cease; enough drinking the “Kool-aid” of this hell-bound culture; it is time to draw a line in the sand, and take our stand. We are ministers and witnesses of Christ’s gospel; still the greatest message the world has ever heard! There is a Creator, and His creation has fallen under the influence of an outlaw spirit, and must be born again.

Finally, aware of the late hour wherein we live, can we agree with Apostle Paul, “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, it is the power of God unto salvation” (Romans 1:16)? We do not walk in darkness, nor are we under the spell of the “King of Pop.” Our allegiance and adoration must be for the same one whom Paul faithfully served, exalted, and gave his life for, the “King of Kings,” the only Lord and Savior, our beloved Jesus Christ!

[DAII]

There are some worrisome things said here coming from the head of one of the largest Apostolic orgs. Will comment later ...

Why resort to the this is not a racial thing, most of my friends are colored argument?

[deltaguitar]

Some folks are fighting battles that that they alone have invented.

They have mistakenly believed for years that they have the truth, that they are winners and that the great world changing revival is just around the corner. It hasn't happened. It won't happen. The results are men who have spent their whole lives chasing something other than Christ and Him crucified.

[DAII]

When professing Christians say: Decades of Salvation Army bell ringers, & Goodwill stores has not brought revival " - because their fossilized traditions are threatened,I wince. Our Master punctuated His Gospel with a towel & washing feet before laying down His life. A rabbi who fed thousands while He cared, tended and ministered to every need of the disenfranchised in His society while calling it Truth.

" I tell you the truth. Anything you did for any of my people here,you also did for me"

While some forlorn wax nostalgic about the good ol days and getting the formula right to "obeying the Gospel" - Jesus just lived His Gospel as the very embodiment of the Truth.

The sign to a lost world that we are His disciples is not your
Apostolic heritage or your foot-stomping, glossalalic Pentecostal experience but that we love one another.

[DAII]

You've nailed it Delta. Its a spirit of Don Quixote chasing rhetorical windmills while pooping themselves out. Maybe the Bishop would get some rest if he cut down his 16 hour work days and plane hopping ... and served in his local community

Originally Posted by deltaguitar

Some folks are fighting battles that that they alone have invented.

They have mistakenly believed for years that they have the truth, that they are winners and that the great world changing revival is just around the corner. It hasn't happened. It won't happen. The results are men who have spent their whole lives chasing something other than Christ and Him crucified.

[deltaguitar]

Originally Posted by DAII

You've nailed it Delta. Its a spirit of Don Quixote chasing rhetorical windmills while pooping themselves out. Maybe the Bishop would get some rest if he cut down his 16 hour work days and plane hopping ... and served in his local community

Dan, I never realized until I was out of the movement that the battles the Apostolic movement is facing are of it's own creation. These men are sincerely fighting battles that the rest of Christianity is totally unaware. They have separated themselves from the body of Christ and His fullness.

[James Griffin]

Knowing Bishop Smith and the spirit in which it was written, I give a heartfelt AMEN.

I will probably print copies and distribute them to my church.

[Withdrawn]

Sorry, Dan... I couldn't read the whole thing. It started to make me a little nauseous - as my nerves started to tighten because of years of hearing this moaning from pulpits. I agree to an extent with a concern for how worldly (materialistic, and fixated on Hollywood) Christians have become, and I think that too many churches in "the movement" have lost sight of their calling and are pursuing glitz and popularity rather than the simplicity of Christ.

But the fear tactics just make me sick. And the judgmental spirit makes me cringe. When will people understand that another "church service" and another "conference sermon" are not going to change the world? Once the emotional high of these sequestered meetings fades, it's back to business as usual.

Also, I don't agree that the early church preached "a salvation message." They preached Jesus Christ FIRST AND FOREMOST! The gospel has Jesus Christ at the center, not a formula. And it really gripes me to hear someone condemn those who are actually serving and doing (using "social gospel" to degrade and downplay what we are actually called to do) and exalting themselves as the lone defenders of truth. Wouldn't it be great if I never had to hear some preacher proclaim "we have the truth" while condemning all others who have a different point of view. Our arrogance will be our undoing for sure.

Sorry for the rambling...

[Jermyn Davidson]

From reading this commentary, I don't see where this is a "racial thing." He is making a valid point and is trying to ensure that he is not misperceived.

He realizes that the burden of communication is on him.


The points this man of God have expressed have been expressed by other men and women of God, black and white, Apostolic and Non-Apostolic alike.

He's concerned about the worldliness that has crept into the churches in his fellowship-- and rightfully so.

If there is a preacher that said, "we could baptize them in the name of ‘Shazaam’ and they would not care” the preacher should be held accountable for his statement.

Even in the best context I could think of, the statement should not have been made. In fact, it was only made because that preacher believes that!



Do you guys understand that we are engaged in a battle, a spiritual battle in a world that calls right wrong and wrong right?!

I like MJ as much as anyone else and his passig litterally made me sad. It shocked me and I was truly sad for days.


However, there was an faithful old lady in my church, who was employed as a Walm-Mart greeter part time, and was a praying, Holy Spirit filled woman.

I knew her, talked with her hugged her, worshipped our God with her.

When she died, I wasn't affected by her death as much as I was by MJ's!


This is my own condemnation. While reading his commentary, I took inventory of myself and I can clearly see that the influence of this world, the pressures, the everyday stuff dulls my sensitivity and yes, even my own desire at times to pray.

I think that our older preachers who are sounding the alarms are not completely off base.


Their wisdom should not be summarily dismissed.

Dan, the commentary of Bishop Smith is timely and valid for today.

Do you suggest it isn't?