Training Grace

For some reason, I’ve always had a heart for celebrities who are struggling with various issues. I think it’s the fact that they have to deal with their struggles with the paparazzi revealing all of their personal issues to the world that gives me so much compassion for them. The press and so many people, who read the often over-dramatized or factually incorrect reports of the press, are overly judgmental of celebrities. All the while, I wonder…”Why are they taking advantage of celebrities’ struggles simply for the sake of money?” “Do they not care about the reality that many of the individuals they write such horrible comments about could literally be on the brink of losing their lives?” Too often, I hear about celebrities making wrong decisions, whose lifestyles will lead to their ultimate destruction. I empathize with these celebrities just as I would if a close friend was going through a similar struggle, and as odd as it may seem, I long to have the opportunity to speak with them and offer encouragement from a Christian perspective.

Perhaps I’m a bit odd, but I often pray for these celebrities, just as I pray for someone who isn’t a celebrity, who is struggling with sin. I long to see God bring them out of the pit and to draw them to Himself. It infuriates me that so many in society today enjoy seeing a celebrity “fall” and are indifferent to the fact that “celebrities” are nothing more than men and women (just like us) who happen to be in the public spotlight.

I’ve always thought that Whitney Houston was someone with a voice that is undeniably powerful. Her mom, Cissy Houston, is one of the most respected Gospel music singers of all time. Cissy has been singing Gospel music for over seven decades! During that time she has also been a backup singer for some of the greatest singers of all time…Elvis, Aretha Franklin, Luther Vandross, Otis Redding (famous for singing “Sitting on the Dock of the Bay”), Wilson Pickett (I’m sure your familiar with his song, “Mustang Sally”), Van Morrison (”Brown Eyed Girl”), Jimi Hendrix, her daughter (Yes, Whitney Houston!), and even (believe it or not…though she is 76 years old now) Beyonce! As impressive as the info listed above may seem, it’s only a short list of her musical credits and the artists she has worked with over the years. I’m sure that you will agree, Cissy has made her mark on the music industry. She has even won a Grammy Award for her work.

Do you know what I find more impressive than all Cissy Houston’s musical accomplishments? Throughout the years she has sought to live a life above reproach and has never ceased to give full glory to God. Never has there been a time in her life when she was not singing Gospel music, leading choirs at her church, etc. She passed along her love for music to Whitney. However, more importantly, she sought to instill in Whitney a love for the Lord. Cissy never wanted Whitney to forget that her voice and any success Whitney had as a result of her amazing voice was all due to God’s grace and that He alone should be given the glory! I view the relationship between Cissy and Whitney as a beautiful example of a God-glorifying relationship between mother and daughter. Cissy has never left Whitney’s side and has always encouraged her to look to God for strength.

As you probably know, Whitney is the most awarded singer in history. Yet, she has faced many trials along the way. I think the reason why I identify with Whitney and have always had a notable concern for her physical and Spiritual health is that, on many levels, my life experiences with regards to addiction and Spiritual battles have been similar to hers. I know what it’s like to be addicted to drugs (prescription medication in my case), and I know that dealing with addiction is extremely difficult. I become furious when I hear people comment about her past addictions as if it’s simply juicy gossip or entertainment news. She is a real person who faces real struggles. People seem so quick to judge her and talk about how her use of drugs ruined her voice. Lately, people have been comparing the Whitney of today with the Whitney of years past. They say she has ruined the gift God gave her, will never be the performer she once was, and often make other demeaning comments about the state of her voice as well as her personal life. These very same people fail to recognize or speak about their own struggles, seeming to imply that they have never and never will struggle with the issues she has faced in recent years. They speak out of ignorance. They have no idea what it’s like to be a celebrity of the caliber of Whitney Houston. She has endured about three decades of being in the spotlight. This is certainly no excuse for her sin. However, people who have never experienced the “diva” status that has characterized Whitney for so many years, are in no position to speak on her behalf. Let Whitney speak for herself. She may have made a lot of mistakes over the years, letting temptation to sin guide her down dangerous paths, but she alone is in a position to speak about her trials.

Earlier I mentioned that I have a lot of respect for how Whitney’s mom, Cissy Houston, has always been there for her daughter. As you likely know, Whitney’s marriage to Bobby Brown led to many of her struggles. Yet, despite their often tumultuous relationship, Whitney continued to endure abuse from Bobby Brown. I heard Whitney speak about a time when Bobby spit on Whitney. Put yourself in Whitney’s shoes and imagine how it would feel to have the person you are married to, the father of your only child, demean you by spitting on you. Now, consider this story, which literally almost brings tears to my eyes. After years of watching her daughter change and suffer because of her marriage to Bobby Brown, Cissy Houston took matters into her own hands. Cissy went to Whitney’s house with some sheriffs, walked into the house and said:

“I have a court junction here. Either you do it my way, or we’re just not going to do this at all. We’re going to go on TV and you’re going to retire and say you’re going to give this up, because this is not worth it.” Then Cissy said (this is my favorite part), “AND IF YOU MOVE BOBBY, THEY’RE (referring to the sheriffs) GOING TO TAKE YOU DOWN. DON’T YOU MAKE ONE MOVE!” After shutting down Bobby and leaving him speechless, she looked at Whitney and said, “Let’s go. Let’s do this. I’m not losing you to the world. I’m not losing you to Satan. I’m not doing this. I want my daughter back. I want you back. I want to see that glow in your eyes…that light in your eyes.”

Cissy’s love for Whitney is clearly evidenced by the initiative she took to do what needed to be done to stop the steadily declining condition of her daughter. She longed to have the “Old Whitney” back, the Whitney who was confident, healthy, and using her God-given talents to glorify God and inspire her fans. Fast forward a couple years and consider the current state of Whitney’s life and career. She is no longer married to Bobby Brown, is no longer using drugs, has released her comeback album, “I Look to You,” and has made several statements attributing her comeback to the Lord. There remain many people who question the legitimacy of her recovery from drug addiction and return to the music industry. After listening to the statements that she has made in recent weeks, I have confidence that she has truly returned. The “Old Whitney” that her mom so desperately longed to return, the talented, God-loving performer who has the ability to leave fans in awe with her pure and powerful voice, has forsaken the sin that was destroying her and returned to her first love. The prayers of her family and friends, coupled with her mother’s loving reproof, were used by God as a means of drawing Whitney out of a deep dark pit of sin. My prayer is that her faith will be strengthened as she continues to focus on God. She has experienced a fame that few performers have ever experienced and won numerous awards. At this point in her career, I think she realizes that all the stardom and all the awards are worth nothing in comparison to the love of God.

You may be wondering why I have taken the time to write an article about Whitney Houston. As I mentioned earlier, I identify with many of Whitney’s struggles. I’ve struggled with addiction to prescription medication. There have been times in my life when the drugs left me as a mere shell of the man that I once was. I too have been told by the friends who care for me that they want the “Old Brad” back. I know what it is like to recognize the serious, potentially deadly outcome of addiction and at the same time feel powerless to overcome the addiction. I also know what it is like to be harshly judged by those who do not understand the nature of addiction or the underlying depression that causes an addict to feel worthless and unloved. I know what it’s like to feel like the God who has always been my comfort is now beyond reach, because I have fallen too far to ever be forgiven and restored. Thankfully, I have also experienced the beauty of loving reproof from brothers and sisters in Christ. During my times of deepest struggle, when all hope seemed lost, I was blessed to have friends who never ceased to pray for me and continue to encourage me to humbly come before God and seek the healing that can come from Him alone. To be vulnerable enough to reveal your struggles to others is so difficult. Unfortunately, I think pride prevents most people from being willing to accept help from others. Instead, they choose to keep their struggles a secret, seeking to handle their issues alone. Many of you already know about my struggles with prescription medication, depression, insomnia, and other issues. Just as most of Whitney Houston’s fans never thought she would struggle with drug addiction, I have no doubt that those who know me ever thought that the issues I listed above would ever be part of my life.

My hope is that this article has reminded you of the reality that sin and temptation do not discriminate. Pastors, Presidents, prostitutes, professional singers, doctors, teachers, men and women, young and old, all face temptation. How do you respond when you discover that someone you know is struggling? Do you consider them as being somehow weak? Do you judge them in an unloving way and leave them to fend for themselves? Do you consider yourself as being a better person than they are, convincing yourself that you would never do what they are doing? Or, do you love them with a love that is genuine and speak with them as a brother or sister in Christ to assure them that you will be there for them, pray for them, and do whatever you can do to help them?  I urge you to consider the love of Christ. He willingly died for all who would believe in Him. He who was without sin died to effectually atone for the sins of those who are infinitely ill-deserving. God’s grace is His favor through Christ to those who deserve His wrath. Keeping the amazing grace of God in mind, how can believers fail to encourage each other to live lives that glorify God? I know that God’s promise to work all things together for the good of those who love Him is trustworthy. All my doubts, trials, pain, and failures were ordained by God for His glory and my ultimate joy. I will trust in Christ, the author and finisher of my faith.

I’ll end this article by posting links to three different YouTube videos:

Video 1 – An old recording of a young Whitney Houston singing a Gospel song, “A Quiet Place,” with a choir directed by her mom. Notice how Whitney sings this song with so much conviction. Also, notice how proud her mom is to watch her daughter sing.

Video 2 and Video 3 – These two videos were recorded by an audience member at the Whitney Houston concert in St. Petersburg on 12/12/2009. Video 2 is a video of Whitney singing a version of her classic recording, “I Love the Lord.” Video 3 is the song that Whitney sang directly after singing “I Love the Lord.” The song she sings in Video 3 is, “I Look to You,” the title song of her new album. Her voice may not be exactly the same as it once was, but the raw emotion of her performance is undeniable.

I pray that this article and the attached videos have impacted you in some way. Feel free to respond to this post with comments and questions.

Love in Christ,

Brad