Instead, silly talk about the "King of Pop" and the way he entertained us and how he touched us. What a waste. All his money and his songs and his dance routines can’t help him.
He probably once was a Christian by default in his youth and then became a Jehovah’s Witness. But he never professed his faith then and never publicly said anything like the sinner's prayer. And salvation by the Grace of Jesus Christ is the way to heaven in Christianity.
He converted to Islam about a year ago. In Islam, it is good deeds vs bad deeds on the way to get into heaven. Allah measures your good deeds (mostly toward other Muslims) against your bad deeds. But no one knows what quota on the Islamic scale tips it in your balance (except dying in jihad fighting infidels which obviously did not happen).
Was Michael Jackson a good Muslim? Hard to quantify his deeds. I do know that a good Muslim has some work to do upon death.
He needs to be buried quickly (always within a day and it STILL has not happened yet), washed in a mosque and have a quiet and low key burial (I know - yeah, right). And he better answer some questions correctly or he is going to feel the heat!
From: http://studentwebs.coloradocollege.edu/~l_jenkins/islam.htm
Pre-Burial Rules and Rituals In the Islam religion, it is customary to begin processes for burying the dead within 24 hours of the death. In non-Muslim countries, this can sometimes be a problem if the death occurs on a weekend or a holiday, when a death certificate can not be attained, and therefore the process cannot start. It begins with a ritual washing of the body; men washing men's bodies and women washing women's bodies. Either a man or woman may wash a child's body, and a husband is allowed to wash his wife's body, and vise-versa, if the need arises. It is preferred that the body is washed by close friends or relatives, rather than hospital staff or undertakers. Imams (prayer leaders of mosques) may also wash men, as well as midwifes may also wash females. Washing was traditionally done at the graveside, and still is if facilities are available. However, it is more common now to perform this in a mosque, which often has special sections for this purpose. The entire body is then wrapped in a funeral shroud made of clean, white cloth, tied at the head and the feet.
Typical funeral prayers include saying "Allāhu Akbar" which means "God is Great," followed by the mourners folding their hands on their chests. The site of the grave is also very important in the Islam religion. Additionally, both cremation and embalming are forbidden in the Muslim faith, and the practice of burying at sea is only allowed if absolutely necessary. The grave itself should be aligned on a northeast to southwest axis, facing Mecca.
From http://www.truthnet.org/islam/Islam-Bible/4Islambeliefs/index.htm
According to Islam, life continues in the grave after the body is buried. Life in the grave is known as Barzakh. According to Islamic tradition, while in the grave, two angels question the newly dead.
Their names are Munkar and Nakir.
They ask the person three questions:
1. Who is your God?
2. Who is your prophet?
3. What is your faith?
If the person answers correctly -- Allah, Islam and Muhammad -- the angels will make the grave more comfortable. They open a window where the view and orders of paradise can be enjoyed. For those who do not answer correctly, a window to hell will be opened, their grave will narrow, their ribs are crushed as they feel the heat and hot winds of hell. This will continue while the person awaits judgment. Only those who die in Jihad will go directly to Paradise. Torment in the grave is clearly taught in Islam, especially in the traditions of the prophet.
So by Christian or Muslim standards, where is he?
He’s playing checkers with Adolph
“I had watched his “Memorial Concert” on and off for the entire day. Not one word about salvation or where he is now or even about God (what a platform that could have been!).”
I watched every minute...WHAT were you watching?
I was inspired by the many prayers, not only by clergy, but by his brothers and friends. In fact, the very first song was sung by a gospel choir who sang “Soon and Very Soon.” It was beautiful.
The lyrics:
Soon and very soon we are going to see the King
Halelujha, halelujha, we’re going to see the King
No more cryin there, we are going to see the King
Halelujha, halelujha, we’re going to see the King
Should there be any rivers we must cross
Should there be any mountains we must climb
God will supply all the strength that we need
Give us strength till we reach the other side...
We have come from every nation, God has already signed our name. Jesus took his blood and he washed my sins.. he washed them all away. Yet there are those of us who have laid down our lives but we all shall meet again on the other side... soon and very soon.
Should there be any rivers we must cross
Should there be any mountains we must climb
God will supply all the strength that we need
Give us strength till we reach the other side...
“I had watched his “Memorial Concert” on and off for the entire day. Not one word about salvation or where he is now or even about God (what a platform that could have been!).”
Again...WHAT were you watching?
Lionel Richie sang, “Jesus is Love.”
Magic Johnson said, “His three children have the most incredible grandmother God has put on this earth.”
Stevie Wonder said, “I know God is good...and as much as we needed him, God must have needed him more.”
There were clergy who prayed...his brothers prayed...
Apparently, all this was not enough for you. I thought it was beautiful and inspirational.
Jesus is Love...lyrics:
Father
Help your children
and don’t let them fall
by the side of the road..
And teach them
to love one another
that heaven might find
a place in their hearts
‘Cause Jesus is love
HE won’t let you down
And I know He’s mine forever
Oh, in my heart
We’ve got to walk on
walk on through temptation
‘Cause His love and His wisdom
will be our helpin’ hand
And I know the Truth
and His words will be our salvation
lift up our hearts
to be thankful and glad
That Jesus is love
He won’t let you down
and i know He’s mine
deep down in my soul
Jesus is love
oh, yes, He is
He won’t let you down
and I know He’s mine, He’s mine, He’s mine, all mine
Forever, oh, in my heart
help me,
heart
heart
(Deep in my heart)
I know, I know, I know, I know
Ah, ‘cause His love’s the power (power)
His love’s the glory (glory)
forever (ever and ever)
I wanna follow your star
Wherever it leads me... and I don’t mind, LORD
I hope you don’t mind
I wanna walk with you
And talk with you
and do all the things you want me to do
‘Cause I know that Jesus
(Jesus is love, I know) ‘Cause I know, Lord
(and if ou ask, I’ll show)
(Love is the word forever) and ever and ever
Who can bring you love (JESUS)
Who can bring you joy (JESUS)
Who can turn your life around (JESUS)
Who will pick you up (JESUS)
when you fall (JESUS)
who’ll stand beside you (JESUS)
who will love us all
Jesus (yeah, yeah)
Jesus (yeah, yeah)
oh, yeah (yeah, yeah)
One thing I wanna say
who can heal your body (JESUS)
who can make you strong (JESUS)
who can make you hold out (JESUS)
a little while longer
Jesus love you (yeah, yeah) Jesus wants you
If you call HIM, HE will answer
(Jesus) call him in the mornin’
(Jesus) call him in the evenin’
(Jesus) call him in the midnight hour
I thought the questions were -
What is your name?
What is your quest?
What is the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow?
I should have known better than to buy the crib notes from Darks!
Brooke Shields said that he was somewhere up there sitting on a crescent moon.
Al Sharpton comparing MJ’s so called “lifetime accomplishments” to the struggles MLK dealt with in an entirely different era, besides being laughable were way over the top. If MJ truly had ended racial inequalities like Sharpton says, Sharpton would be out of work. It’s the idea of racial inequalities that keep shakedown artists like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson in business.