Saint or Sinner?

The singer Amy Winehouse was found dead in her flat, at the young age of 27. She had a chequered career, and openly struggled with her own demons of alcohol and drugs. She was no role model to the youth of our country, and made no pretence of being so. In spite of that, she was too young to die.

Our society does strange things to celebrities. When they are alive, and struggling, the media makes sure we know all about their shortcomings, and make headlines of their inadequacies and failings. They are mocked and ridiculed. We like that. We seem to like to hit out at those who struggle, especially those who try to face up to their demons, and fail.

Then overnight, a stranger thing happens. The same media who made their living out of debasing her, now make her out to be a saint, with glowing tributes, and statements of how richly talented she was, and that she would be a loss to the world wide music industry. She, who had nothing left to give, now is in the situation of having so much more to offer, if only we had realised it! A real case of double standards if ever there was one!

Let's not fool ourselves any more than we need to. Amy Winehouse lived a terrible, addicted, sinful life, and was often in the headlines because of her problems, and for all the wrong reasons. She was most certainly not a role model for anyone, especially our youth. But having said all that, she was still cherished by a loving God, but one who had strayed far from His love and care. Who are we to either bring her down, or to lift her up in praise? Who knows her final minutes, except God Himself? And who are we to think anything else, except “there but for the Grace of God, go I”.

I saw the following quote by Steven Crowder on twitter:

Maybe if the entertainment industry didn't reward/encourage such immoral behaviour, she'd be alive. RIP Amy Winehouse.

Now, what does that tell you?

So let us thank our God anew for His great salvation, and free grace, which is ours just for the asking. For me, it begs the simple question, “why do more people not just ask”?