Was Michael Jackson a Missed Spiritual Opportunity?

Written by Rev. Elijah L. Hill, Arlington, Texas, The President of the National Presidential Ministerial Alliance and President of The National African American Museum of Religions

Does the Religious community focus too much on prosperity that they have moved away from spirituality? The purpose of people of religious backgrounds is to under grid the underline theme of sharing of God's Holy Word to make the world a better place exists.

When it comes to the stars, entertainers, actors, and successful and wealthy business people do we look up to their material wealth so much that we have moved away from fulfilling our true purpose which is to penetrate the human spirit of the human being to bring about a greater enlightenment to the human consciousness.

Have we sold out our spiritual birth right for a mire bowl of soup in exchange for attention from successful secular individuals, for instance in the case of the recent death of Michael Jackson was he a missed opportunity for those who could get close to him within the religious community to have shared spirituality with him to have fortified his heart or emotional emptiness. I have been a minister for over thirty-four years, and I strongly support the image of the religious community, but could it have been that we dropped the ball with the likes of a Michael Jackson?

This doesn't not take away the irresponsibility of Michael to take responsibility for his own actions by dealing with his challenges by trying to change his color or trying to survive a normal existence through prescription drug use, but as the religious community those of us who had opportunity at those moments should focus on the task as stated in the Old Testament stated well, "He hath anointed me to preach good tidings, and to bind up the broken-hearted."

Can you imagine growing up as a child star from five years old revered by billions of fans with all the money in the world with everything you want, but feeling like nobody really loves me for me.