Michael Jackson: What his associations revealed about his faith in God.

Michael Jackson died on June 25, 2009. Decades later, some fans are still curious about his faith journey based on social media posts. Michael was raised a Jehovah's Witness and expressed a personal belief in God.

He said in an interview with Oprah that he believed his musical talent came from God and said his goal was to imitate Jesus and to love and be innocent like children.

He also stated that Jesus taught to care for children and the elderly and he was raised with those strong values in his family. Jackson also said he felt God’s presence in nature and silence. Michael did not make a public declaration of his beliefs, but there are some things that fans can glean from.

In 2013, Steve Harvey performed a comedy routine at the annual event Megafest, hosted by Bishop TD Jakes. Harvey shared a story that you can listen to in part in the following video.

He says that he received a call that Michael Jackson (August 15, 2004) wanted to attend a church service with him. When he picked Jackson up, Steve told him his outfit made him look like Captain Crunch or the Nutcracker.

The audience roared with laughter, but this revealed that the King of Pop was not accustomed to church attire. Harvey laughed as he said Michael told him that what he was wearing cost $20,000.

Harvey says the pastor of the First AME Church in the Crenshaw district of California allowed the news to slip that Jackson would be attending, and the church was running over like it was Easter Sunday.

Hr added that Jackson enjoyed the choir and was clapping along and rocking to the music. Nothing was mentioned about Michael sharing any faith beliefs.

There was a story circulating that Gospel singing twins Andre Crouch and Sandra Crouch led Michael to the Lord two weeks before he died but the siblings deny this happened.

The Crouchs admit they met with Michael, who wanted to know what made people lift their hands during gospel music. They said he stated he wanted his music to become more spiritual, but there was no sinner's prayer.

There was a discussion about his singing with them on a gospel project. The Crouchs gave the following official statement after Jackson's death.

"It has been brought to our attention that several media outlets have been erroneously reporting that we met our dear friend Michael Jackson several weeks prior to his death so he could accept Christ. This is incorrect and absolutely not true. We loved and respected Michael enormously and we've been friends with him for many, many years, and are deeply saddened by his sudden and tragic death. We recently met with Michael to discuss recording two songs with our choir for his newest recording project. Michael always had a respect and curiosity for spiritual things. During our meeting, not unlike many other creative/music meetings we've had with him in the past, we sang together, prayed together and had a wonderful time. We are praying for Michael's family and desire nothing less than God's best for them."

Jehovah's Witnesses and mainstream Christianity differ on some tenets but agree that heaven is gained by faith in the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. The Bible states the following about salvation in Romans 10:9. NIV. If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

The late Andre Crouch and his sister Sandra Crouch openly expressed that this is their faith belief, so their prayers with Jackson were offered in Jesus Name which is the Christian method.

There are online articles stating the music icon explored Islam in 2005, but no record of his stating that he had chosen that path. The King of Pop was raised in a branch of Christianity and chose to reach out in later years to people in the Christian faith.

The Crouch twins acknowledge they spent time with him, and Steve Harvey admits to taking him to a Christian church. The King of Pop stated that he believed in the teachings of Christ, but there is no evidence of a public confession based on Romans 10:9.

Jackson was given a Christian funeral service, where Lionel Richie sang Jesus is Love and the Reverend Al Sharpton delivered the eulogy. Pastor Lucious Smith of the Friendship Baptist Church in Pasadena gave opening remarks and a closing prayer.

Smith's final words were "The King of Pop must now meet the King of Kings." These are the facts. Whatever took place in private between Michael Jackson and his Creator, the world will never know.