When icons die

Yesterday saw the deaths of two icons: one expected, the other a total shock to many. Farrah Fawcett, original Charlie's Angel who later became an accomplished actress, died after a long battle with cancer, aged 62. Michael Jackson, self styled king of pop, died suddenly at the age of 50. I happened to be watching Sky news last night as the story of Jackson's collapse and death unfolded. Then I turned to Twitter; it was amazing to see literally thousands of messages each few minutes popping up on the screen. Fawcett's death had been reported earlier in the day with measured and prepared tributes. Jackson's passing seemed to be a media event: helicopters over his house; footage of the ambulance leaving the home; his sister and other members of the family caught on camera in their moment of grief. Even in death he had no privacy.

While one is naturally saddened by these deaths, especially since both Fawcett and Jackson were relatively young, such events make us think of our values and hopes. I can remember that in the 70s every girl wanted Fawcett's hair and teeth and be able to beat up villains; we all thought that we could dance like Jackson! I can remember him as a young boy with the Jackson 5 singing 'I want you back': just great pop music. But values and hopes must have more substance than that, because icons die. Their memories live on, but they are gone. It's true they leave us values, but the fact that they are no longer here leaves a terrible chasm in the heart of their followers.

That's why for Christians, all ultimate values and hopes can be placed only in Jesus Christ. He is not an historical, popular, dead icon, but a living person. Many people confine him to the pages of the New Testament as a man who lived and died two thousand years ago. But Jesus is the Eternal God who became a man, and still is one today. Christians should never look back with nostalgia to history and a past life, as fans of Fawcett and Jackson will have to. We don't live with the memory of Jesus; we live with him. He is alive today.

Comments

[Louise]

Excellent post, Roger -- very powerful.

I found out about Farrah from my grandmother, and I learned about Jackson at a rehearsal that evening. It felt surreal. But we will never experience that kind of shock with Lord Jesus -- because He is very much alive and right here with us! Oh, hallelujah!!!

[John Juergens]

Hi, Roger!

I appreciated your comments on the passing of FF and MJ. Ironically, my first thought upon hearing of Jackson's death was, "Too bad for Farrah, she'll hardly get a mention now". Even the conservative Fox News Network spent hour after hour rehashing all of the speculations about MJ's past and present."Give the people what they want", I guess. I still am intrigued (and saddened) by man's fascination with the famous, especially in their worst moments, it seems. We become like that which we worship. We reflect it's/ His glory. It can't be any other way.