As you well know, yesterday Anna Nicole Smith died unexpectedly of what looks to be an accidental drug interaction of some sort at least, that is the early indication of several sources, toxicology reports will require several weeks to get to the bottom of the issue.
No Judgments Necessary
No doubt, pulpits across the US will be filled with announcements of the Christless eternity that faces Ms. Smith in payment of her life of sin and debauchery. I say, “Not so fast!” and “Who died and left you in charge of such announcements?”
I remember some years ago a well-intentioned pastor friend of mine announced to his congregation the weekend after John Lennon’s murder, “Well, it has been about 6 days that Lennon has been in Hell… I wonder what he thinks about Jesus now…”
Of course, as a biblically-based person, I believe there are severe consequences for not trusting in Jesus to take care of the issue of sin. As any who take the Bible seriously, I believe that Hell is a real place and there are consequences for living and especially dying apart from Christ.
However, as a preacher-teacher-communicator of God’s word in public, in my opionion, something like my friend did with John Lennon is completely inappropriate. At the top of the list, he has no idea what was going through the mind of Lennon in his final moments on earth. I know for certain that Yoko Ono’s daughter is a very committed believer, something that has been an irritation to Yoko for many years. It is likely that she has explained the gospel to Lennon more than once. Lennon didn’t die instantly as he lay in front of the Dakota apartments, he lay on the sidewalk and bled for some time while he was fully conscious but unable to be moved. He was conversant.
It seems likely that any thinking person with any common sense would call out to God in the closing moments of life. No matter what Yoko may say. She has a vested interest in conveying a certain image of Lennon to the public. Thus we may never know until we stand before Jesus ourselves if he did business with God.
Believing The Best = Love
So it is with Anna Nicole. She lived a life of tragedy, one after the next. Don’t blame. Please don’t take the cheap shot. It is difficult to see Jesus doing that. Paul tells us that real love believes the best about a person’s efforts, intentions.
I have done many funerals where a person’s spiritual state was unclear. I have chosen to simply say, “I can guarantee you that if this person were here today they would strongly encourage us to take Jesus seriously, very seriously, while there is time and opportunity.”
While it is still “now” let’s also take the things of forever to heart.
Steve Sjogren is the author of The Day I Died which describes his near-death experience as the result of a medical accident.
6 users commented in " Anna Nicole Smith: Overcoming the Fear of Death: The Tragedy of a Life Less-Lived "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackI blogged about this exact thing. I was sitting with another pastor who said, “Well that is what she gets for all those wrong choices.”
I could not help but think about the compassion needed for her, and how helpless and unloved she must have felt her entire life.
Hear! Hear! Let us never forget about Gods grace. When we cry out does He not hear us at that very moment.
Hey Steve–Terri and I picked up “The Day I Died” yesterday and both of us almost finished it. Thanks for opening your heart so widely to us all.
You have understandably become sensitive to any person who is near death or who has died–an indelible mark of God on you and your life message in light of what He allowed you and yours to suffer through.
Why would any of us be quick (God forbid…almost excited?) to cast opinions about regarding the eternal fate of any other person who might indeed call upon Jesus in the face of death?
Steve- You are so right. Seems to me the only people Jesus had harsh words for were the religious communicators of the day who were speaking for God in a mean spirited way. My thought is that pastors need to be mobilizing people to love the lost.
I wonder what motivates Christian talkers to take such positions about things they have no knowledge. Do we get a rush when we seem so all knowing and all powerful even though we are ignorant?
Every one of us has relatives whose lives are similar to Ms. Smith and our hearts are broken to think they will be in hell. To assign her to eternal damnation is to communicate to us hopelessness and alienation toward God. This makes the good news bad news.
My opinion is these pastors have harden there hearts.I agree with the fact she must of had a terrible sadness inside her to feel the need for so much self destruction and the great need for attention she desired. I believe God takes the things the enemy tries to destroy us with and turn it around for our good if we are willing and obedient. I also believe when someone is going to die that the Lords start speaking to them, to get right with Him. I believe He gives us every opportunity to turn to Him before it becomes finale.God sent His son to save the world not comdemn it. He’s trying to get people into heaven not leave them out. Of course we chose our own fate by either rejecting or receiving Christ into our heart. By judging others it exposes the condition of our own hearts.
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