I wept openly when I read the e-mail statement issued by the pastor of the Australian mega-church Planetshakers regarding one of their own, singer/songwriter Michael Guglielmucci :
“Michael Guglielmucci has informed us that he does not suffer from cancer, was never diagnosed with cancer, and has never suffered from the disease. This admission has come as a great shock to everyone including his wife and family who had no knowledge of the matter. We know this will shock and hurt many of you and we offer you our support and prayers… We are all saddened by this revelation and our prayers are with the Guglielmucci family.”
I wept for the family and friends of Michael Guglielmucci who have been subjected to the lie that their loved one was fighting for his life after having been diagnosed with a rare form of blood cancer. They stood beside him, agonizing & pouring out their hearts in prayer for healing even as he crafted the now famous Hillsong melody Healer that is identified with this fabricated illness.
I wept for all those who have suffered and died with cancer as well as for those who are currently battling this insidious disease. The image of a man of God proclaiming in song…while wearing oxygen and dependent upon a cane to walk…that God is his healer mocks those who genuinely suffer.
I wept for the church of Jesus Christ that will most certainly face increased persecution and cynicism at the revelation that another “church giant” has fallen. The world laughs and scorns each time the Body of Christ receives a black eye. They’ll no doubt use this reprehensible incident to point to the fraud that so often plagues “Christianity”. And they will be justified.
I weep for the lost who stand in desperate need of the HEALER while questioning the veracity of the One who truly Heals. This world is sick and its inhabitants stand on the threshold of eternal death. God tells us that He is Jehovah Rapha, the God who heals. It is only by His grace through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ that we will ever be whole though certainly not in this fallen world, not in a life lived in this flesh. But to those who repent, there is hope and true healing.
Finally I weep for the “believers” who have born witness to the saving power of Jesus Christ but who lead lives of apathy, believing their own lies that it’s acceptable to be lukewarm in the faith. As hurtful as Michael’s behavior was and is, he is no different than any other believer who hears the Truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and marginalizes it. We will all be judged for the sins committed in our bodies and everything that is hidden will be revealed. A just God will deal harshly with ALL who lead others astray.
The good news is that God’s message is not altered by those entangled in deception…and that is ALL of us. Hypocrisy is nothing new. There have been false leaders before, there will be again. But the Gospel of Jesus Christ is unshakable and unstoppable. The moral infirmity of the writer of Healer does not diminish the power of the lyrics. Our Healer still walks with us through fire and heals our disease. He continues to calm the raging storms of our lives. He holds our world in His hands. He remains our portion. And He is more than enough for a sick and dying world. God IS the Healer. He IS ALL.
You can view the song HEALER performed live at http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=JLbjqcG4OT4
Look upon the faces of the worshipers as they proclaim the truth in one chorus “Nothing is impossible for You” and believe that God is still the Healer of the sickness of sin in all mankind.
Livin4Jesus 