The Mission Society

The year was 1983. My family and extended family huddled around a television in a Chicago, IL house waiting to see the debut of Michael Jackson’s new Thriller music video. I don’t remember many of the details from that evening, but I remember the emotions I had when I saw the video for the first time. I wasn’t thrilled; I was terrified. The zombie-like dancers absolutely scared me!

Years later, having learned to separate fact from fiction, I’ve seen that same video countless numbers of times. Each time I see it, I am amazed at the choreography, the music, and the sheer artistry of the video. As the world mourns the loss of Michael Jackson, I can’t help but wonder why many Christian artists don’t demonstrate that level of creativity. It seems to me that a lot of the Christian music sounds the same. The beats are the same. The shows are the same. The image is the same. Is there an unwritten rule in Christendom that says believers have to be confined to a box? Are we not permitted as believers to use maximum creativity to give maximum glory to God?  Michael Jackson was indeed a controversial figure; and I know of no information that indicates he was a believer. However, he used his God-given creativity to the best of his ability and created glory. Glory for himself? Perhaps, but glory nonetheless. What if we allowed Michael’s example to motivate us to use maximum creativity to give maximum glory to God? I think God and His creation would be thrilled!