Prince is Dead, the Prince of Peace Still Lives!
Note: I am praising God because He lives, not because Prince is dead. In case there is any confusion.
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So today the world woke up to the news that one of pop music's top sweethearts, Prince, has departed this world and entered into eternity. And while witnessing this news all over social media, we encounter the laments of mourners from both the secular and "Christian" world. I dared to make a comment on a local news article concerning this news and the apparent state of Prince's soul, and, well, even the "Christians" came out in full force to mock and curse me.
This was my comment:
"I guess Prince has finally met the King and is probably shocked to find that he was never a prince after all. May others consider their own salvation as they ponder the death of one who has now lost his title. There is only one path to salvation, that is through the shed blood of the King, Jesus Christ."
I had originally added that his title was a "self-imposed" title but was quickly corrected that that the name Prince was actually his real first name, so I made the correction and removed "self-imposed" from the comment.
As a result of my comment, I received many scathing remarks, as was expected. But the most astonishing of the bunch were from the "Christians" who not only accused me of giving Christians a bad name because of my "hatefulness" but who also claimed that Prince was a Christian! Prince was a Christian? Let's examine that claim.
Was Prince a Christian?
I think in order to confidently determine such a thing, we must first define what a Christian is and what it is not. Anyone can say they are a Christian. It's easy to say such a thing, but the Word says, "wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them". (Matthew 7:20) Did Prince have any fruits that could point me to conclude that he was a Christian? With his massive following, where he could have reached, literally, millions of people, did he ever once publicly share the Gospel? Can any one living soul claim to have come to Christ because of Prince's music, or actions, or words? (Notwithstanding those who may have run from the music, words, and actions of Prince and into the arms of Christ.) Matthew did not say, "by their words ye shall know them" but by their "fruits". I am not able to find any evidence that there was so much as one apple produced in the name of Christ from the works of Prince. Therefore, I am able to know him. At least I am able to, with pretty high confidence, judge the condition of his soul throughout his his entire life, with the exception of the time he was on his deathbed and maybe a couple of days before. (He played his final concert only five days prior to his death). And this judgement (yes, we are able to judge sin and actions (John 7:24)) leaves me to believe that, sadly, he is not currently singing God's praises with the angels in Heaven.
But who am I to judge, The Washington Post says he was a Christian, so he must have been one. Because, you know, he used the word God in his sex-infused music from time to time. I mean, even the pope had Prince on his music playlist! Now there is the true gauge of whether someone is a Christian! From Seventh Day Adventist to Jehovah's Witness, to songs about the Catholic pope, there is not a single shred of evidence that Prince had anything more than religion, if even that. First of all, neither of the above "denominations" are Christian denominations except maybe the SDA (and only because I don't know enough about them to say for sure), but are, instead, Christian sounding cults that do not recognize that salvation is found in Christ alone, but rather in one's works. You see, if you have not placed all your faith on Jesus Christ to save you, then you are not a Christian. A Christian is one who is Christ-like and has Christ living inside of them (the only way we are able to be Christ-like). Second of all, God also says that we cannot place our affections in both the world and in Christ; we cannot serve two masters. Because either we will love one and hate the other or we will hold to one and despise the other. (Matthew 6:24) We cannot mix music about fornication (for which Prince was famous) and music about the things of God and then believably claim to be a Christian. Nor can we, as Christians, righteously defend one who does so.
Am I hateful for saying such things?
I won't be popular for saying it, that's for sure. But Christ wasn't popular when He was here on earth either. In fact, He was so unpopular that He was crucified. And let's not try to pretend that Jesus was this master of "positive" speaking. Telling you that you must repent or you will die is not very positive. Telling you that there is only one way to Heaven and that's through Him is not very positive. Flipping over the tables in the temple and chasing people with whips wasn't very positive. Calling Peter "Satan" for, ironically, being positive and saying that Christ would not be killed, was not very positive.
If I hated those who I said this to, I would not bother saying it at all. I would not care in the least for their souls or anyone else's soul. I would just remain silent and "positive" them right into Hell, rather than warn them that they're in danger. I would give them a warm-fuzzy that they're just good people and doing just fine, and I'd say something like, "if Prince can remember God, then so can you...just keep doing what you're doing". And then all those people will happily and ignorantly plunge straight into the torment of Hell when they, too, died. And it would be of no consequence or concern to me, because my own soul is safe.
Friends, it is not a loving act to care more for people's ears, bodies, and self-esteem than to care for their souls. In fact, it is a great act of selfishness, pride, and hate.
And finally, are Christians allowed to judge? Well, I'd say we'd better! How on earth are we going to be protected from lies if we aren't able to judge what is and what is not a lie!? How are we going to be able to stand up to the Father of Lies if we are not practicing righteous judgement? Oh sure, the Bible says, "judge not" but it also says to "judge righteously". (1 Peter 2:23, John 7:24) Which is true? Surely, this isn't a contradiction, and it isn't. We are to "judge not" for things that we, ourselves are guilty. (Please read the entire passage of Matthew 7, not just that one verse.) 1 Corinthians 6:2 says that the saints will judge the world and because of that, we need to learn to properly judge the great and small matters. Are you a saint? If you are a born-again, saved child of God, then yes you are a saint. No, saints are not dead Catholic people. In the Bible, saints are living saved people destined for Heaven. Please just do a word search in the Bible of the word "saint" if you did not know this. (Here, I've done it for you. Click here and here to begin.)
If you are not a saint and you have any desire at all to live in Heaven with Christ when you die, you'd better get that way quickly. Consider this a divine appointment. You were meant to read this article because Christ is calling to you and desiring your salvation, for He does not wish that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9) So, dear reader, repent today! What are you waiting for!? Do you want to end up like Prince, having the form of godliness, but denying the power thereof? (2 Titus 3:5) This is what God calls a lukewarm Christian. We are to turn away from these "Christians" and He will spue these Christians out of His mouth. Don't be that guy/girl. It's not worth the cost. Give your life completely over to Christ today and be saved.
May the friends, fans, and family of Prince examine their own salvation, and the scriptures concerning it, while mourning the death of a loved one. And may they be comforted during this time through the words of God and through His amazing mercy and love.
Do you know, if you were to die today, whether or not you'll go to be with Christ after you die? Are you 100% and completely assured of your salvation? If not, please take the time to read this salvation message today. There is nothing more important than giving your life to Christ and securing your place in eternity. I pray the Holy Spirit leads you to a personal relationship with Christ today, and I pray that you follow where the Holy Spirit leads you.
#Prince #PrinceDead #PrinceofPeace #JudgeNot #JudgeRighteously #TrueSaints #Catholicism #JehovahsWitness #SeventhDayAdventist
