I’m concerned about her soul.

Now don’t email me if you’re an unbeliever or worldly as sin or don’t hold to biblical morals for it will only be a waste of your time and mine. I already know what you’d email me. So don’t.

But I see JS’ photo on everything. Just today at the grocery store I was buying some raisin bread and some other items that wouldn’t interest you at all. While going to the check out counter, I saw JS’ picture to the right and left. She’s hanging out with this new guy or crying the blues over something. Whatever.

Anyhow, I know the rag mags tell lies. And probably everything they’ve printed about her is worth a bar of soap. But at least some bits they pick up must be factual for they’ve played out in JS’ real life. And it’s that play out that bothers me. For I am concerned about this beautiful young lady’s soul.

What ticks me off is not JS. What really gets to me is her dad. He’s the one to blame.

Jesus said, "What will it profit one if he gains the whole world and loses his soul?" There you have it in a verse. JS appears to have gained the whole world from late teens till this very minute. Of course she’s had a few bumps in the road. But the press always brings her back on top. What a hoot.

She not on top. She’s already slid far back from what her dad and mom taught her as a little girl trotting off to church and Sunday school. There she learned the Bible verses: John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

There she learned the children’s choruses. And in the Baptist Church down Texas way, she must have had major parts in one biblical play or another, especially at Christmas time with the cantatas those Baptists can bring off.

JS learned about being saved, born again, following Jesus, or however you want to put it. In any case, her dad, the youth minister of the congregation preached to the teens about surrendering their lives to Jesus as Savior. JS would have been right there in the front row. I can just see her broad smile taking it all. After all, she was daddy’s girl. And she wanted to please daddy for daddy knew his Bible, had a way with kids, and just lit up a Friday evening social with all the sparkle a bunch of Baptist kids could hope for.

Naturally, the church’s parents were exceptionally thankful to God that they had a Mr. Simpson, Youth Pastor, who knew how to lead their sons and daughter into the way of salvation. And not only that, but nurture them in spiritual deepening. He knew how to quote by heart those Bible verses and bring Bible stories three-dimensional. He knew how to apply Christian doctrine to everyday life. He was certainly God’s man for the job!

Right alongside him was his dedicated wife—Bible in hand, always ready to counsel some troubled teen. And not only mom and dad, but the whole clan was squeaky-clean Christian—certainly proud to be Southern Baptists.

I saw a whole block of them on a Christmas show some years ago and thought: "Now there’s a Baptist Church in itself—all those upright looking men and women, boys and girls, and grandparents smiling so proudly."

But if what we hear and read about JS is anything near the facts, JS is far from all that. And dad is mainly to blame. He’s gone for the fame. He’s after the money. He’s rubbed shoulders with the celebrities, moved into the mansions, and groomed himself for one photo op or another. With the paparazzi his family has been ready fare, not just JS. It’s been quite a gig, hasn’t it?

But daddy knows full well that that tinsel world is crafted as the devil’s toy.

That’s why I’m concerned about JS’ soul.

Copyright © 2006 by J. Grant Swank, Jr.