Did you know that Selena Quintanilla was raised in a devout Jehovah’s Witness family? Or that the Mexican-American singer who was murdered by the founder of her fan club on March 31, 1995, would have turned 44 on April 16th?
Tens of thousands of her adoring fans are expected to gather in the late singer’s hometown, Corpus Christi, Texas where a special two-day tribute will be held on April 17 and 18, 2015. Many other events have already started in honor of the singer.
In an article published on NBCNews.com, Selena’s father expressed mixed feelings about the remembrances and celebrations:
“As Jehovah’s Witnesses, we don’t celebrate deaths or birthdays, and we don’t want people to think we’re behind all the festivities,” said Abraham Quintanilla to the Associated Press. He said his family has never gotten together and celebrated on the day of the murder of his daughter because there is nothing to celebrate, and they remember her every day.
But the family says they are happy to see her fame endures, which is no surprise to those who have chronicled the late singer’s popularity.
One Selena fan said, “She is someone who deserves to be remembered, because she was a great role model.” Many feel the same way as they have created fan websites and social media accounts devoted to Selena, a woman raised by her Jehovah’s Witness father in a religion whose members are supposed to be “no part of this world.”
[Inappropriate comment removed by Webmaster.]
Hell or Hades translates to “the common grave of mankind.” Gehenna was a place outside of Jerusalem that people threw their garbage in to burn. Much like our dumps. As far as a fiery place of torment? That is neither in the Bible and it was adopted in medieval times to scare thousands of uneducated people who were shown pictures (they were illiterate) of a demonic entity, trapped souls, and flames so that they would be scared into giving the church 10%+ of their income. If they didn’t convert, they were faced with being put to death. Lovely? Not.
[Inappropriate text deleted by Editor] …Selena was an excellent role model who brought nothing but beauty, positivity and inspiration to the world.There was nothing “ungodly” in the lyrics of her music, and you don’t “go to Hell” for merely singing music that isn’t of a “religious” nature.She went to schools to warn kids about the dangers of using drugs, did work at shelters for victims of domestic violence and the homeless, raised money for charities, and sometimes donated all the money she made from a show to charity.She believed in God, and Jesus Christ. So, if Jesus comes back tomorrow, and asks you why you perpetuated the lie that one of his true children is “in Hell”, what are you going to say?
@Jessie
If by “hell” you refer to the badly translated Hebrew & Greek words “Sheol” & “Hades”, then indeed she is peacefully resting in the common grave of mankind.
If you were trying to refer to an eternal place of fiery torment, then I’m sure glad that I don’t believe in your vindictive god who would torture people FOREVER for just a relative few years of sin (being born imperfect then we are all sinners in God’s eyes).
That aside, comments like yours really show how humankind churns out some nasty pieces of work, ironically from amongst supposed “Christians”, whose motto should be to live by love & forgiveness. I will leave you to meditate on your own future that awaits and I hope that your “hell” will have cooled down a bit by the time you get there! 🙂 According to Eddie Izzard, it’s run by the British too!
Peace.
I am certain that the elders gave her father flack for getting his kids into music…extra curricular activities which were shunned at the time of her murder. I knew folks that were in the entertainment industry for a living and they were always singled out as “different” because they were not janitors and laborers like so many are world wide barely making enough to survive while going out door to door regularly. A college education and a vocational school was even shunned because of the “worldly influence.” In recent publications “because of the financial state of the world,” they have changed their tune. Think of the thousands of folks that were treated like dirt…shunned even because they just simply had a mind to go to school, and they wanted to use it to help them stay afloat! How CRUEL is that?!!! Not Christlike at all!
One thing I’ll say this the ordinary JW members are forced to live on Welfare because they are told to not try finding a better living. But Selena was a great singer.
Jd, It’s crazy to see how misinformed you really are there is very very few who do live on welfare. We are not shun to go to school or seek higher education. We are not a Welfare religion a lot of us own businesses and have great paying jobs we find the time to go out in service or as you call it door-to-door preaching the good word of God as much as we can.
Jw are the most happiest successful people what are u saying we endure we are full of courage
That’s actually not true. I was raised a Jehovah’s Witness. My family was not on welfare and everyone I knew in the congregation worked. My dad was an executive, there are doctors, teachers, carpenters, etc. just so you know that you have been Misinformed.
Nevertheless, JW upbringing means that persuing anything other than being a publisher, or a pioneer is discouraged and or frowned upon. You can persue higher education and the organization will secretly think that you are not doing as much for the kingdom ministry as you should or they would want you to; eventually labeling you as an inactive witness who is about to fall into the world. Its the brainwashed mentality of the members caused by the society that is to blame. That is why this cult is so dangerous…
As a still recovering JW, I’m saddened by way i see. Although i still have love and forgiveness for my family which are still in… it’s sad to see that jw’s call themselves Christians. It is a cult, nothing more.
Nothing but the blood of Jesus can set you free and wash away all sins. Not changing words in the bible to make a religion.
What are u saying sister
What are u saying sister…
recovering ?
Not sister, a man. And by recovering, I mean formerly in the cult. I’m now out, after being shunned and couldn’t be happier with my wife and kids and especially being an ACTUAL Christian.
“For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”(Matthew 16:26)
I have nothing against JW’s or against Selena. But we all must be honest. One is either in God’s sheepfold or in the world. If one is not going to live by the name, then the name should not be professed at all.
I don’t know what the JW’s position is on listening to worldly music and playing worldly music, wearing jewelry, make up, dancing for entertainment, tatooes, alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, etc. These practices, however, are not condoned (not permissible) by the teachings of the Bible.
Let’s take a look at some of these things.
“They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.”(Titus 1:16)
“Many a man proclaims his own loyalty, But who can find a trustworthy man?”(Proverbs 20:6)
“Likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire”(1 Timothy 2:9)
“Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear”(1 Peter 3:3).
God’s people are supposed sing Godly “hymns” and “spiritual songs” and not play or hear worldly music (Ephesians 5:19).
“Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.”(Leviticus 19:28)
Now let’s talk about alcohol.
“Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.”(Proverbs 23:31)
We are only allowed to drink wine when it is color purple and not color red: purple grape juice and not red grape juice. And what does “moveth itself aright”(Proverbs 23:31) mean??? Freshly squeezed or blended grape juice and pineapple juice begins to ferment after a a day or two if left unrefrigerated. If you don’t believe me, try this experiment. Squeeze or blend yourself some grape juice or pineapple juice and leave it out unrefrigerated for about two or three days. You will notice that it will start to bubble or sparkle. It might even still taste pretty good and can even taste just like a bottle of “Martinelli’s” non alcoholic sparkling cider or grape juice. Just by leaving the juice out for two or three Days unrefrigerated, the juice will begin to carbonate or “moveth itself aright”(Proverbs 23:31). Moreover, refrigerators did not exist when the book of Proverbs was written.
The lesson here is that the verse of Proverbs 23:31 is teaching us that there are actually two kinds of wines: fresh purple wine and fermenting red wine. We are supposed to drink fresh purple wine (juice) and not red fermented wine. Again, this what Proverbs 23:31 says and not what so say.
“Woe [trouble, problem, or regret] unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!”(Isaiah 5:11).
Now let’s talk about dancing. Unfortunately, the devil has perverted the original essence of dancing. Dancing in the world today has simply become vain show off competition and overly sexualized. In the ancient days, the 12 tribes of Israel danced in celebrations: war victories, weddings etc. Ancient Israel’s kind of dancing was nowhere nearly perverted, sensualized, or sexualized as it has become today. Israel’s ancient dance was very modest, descent, PRACTICAL, folkloric, and within family and always involved the family: it was almost like a game of joy and celebration. The ancient dance of Israel of that time did not advocate elopement or romance in their dancing. And not all of their ancient dance required or involved hugging or contact. The dance could often be one giant tribal circle of dance. A son could dance with his mother, a father could dance with his daughter, a brother could dance with his brother and a sister could even dance with her sister. Again, the main essence of their ancient dance was celebration and within family, for the 12 tribes of Israel were family.
Let’s face the facts, weddings and war victories are not everyday. Those who are dancing beyond these norms are making dance their idol.
“Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”(1 Corinthians 5:8)
Is your dance worldly or holy??? Is your dance a praise to the Lord??? Or is your dance a praise to self and to the world??? What is the motive and gain of your dance???
Indeed, the Bible says that king David danced. The question is: how and why did king David dance??? It is undeniable and irrefutable that king David danced for joy and celebration for defeating the Philistines and for finally succeeding King Saul: for finally being set up as the king of Israel by God. This is why king David danced. King David’s dance was more like a superbowl football touchdown dance of victory and not like an “America’s Got Talent” vain competition dance, or even worse, dirty dancing with women. See the entire chapters of 2 Samuel 5 and 2 Samuel 6 in its entire context. The verse of 2 Samuel 6:14 has been taken out of context by so many and for too long. The Bible clearly depicts king David to have danced for joy, celebration, and thanksgiving, kind of like one would do after earning all A’s on a report card.
The only kind of dancing that The Bible condones is one of celebration and of thanksgiving to The Lord God: modest descent dancing, the kind of dance where all family members can participate, the kind of dance that does not provoke sexual or sensual appeal, or romance. Celebration, joy, and thanksgiving is the kind of dance God allows and this is the kind of dance king David exemplified. Moreover, the dancing need not be in the temple. Notice that king David danced as the ark of the covenant entered the city (2 Samuel 6:14-16) and not into the temple. King David did not dance in the temple or in the holy convocation, but rather, as he was marching into the city (2 Samuel 6:14-16). The Bible does not teach any kind of dancing in the temple or in a holy convocation. King David danced as he marched into the city (2 Samuel 6:15-16) outside of the temple or outside of a holy convocation. Since king David finally became Israel’s representative, particularly the representative of the humble, the meek, the small, and the poor shepherd working class of Israel, king David danced as a message to the small poor meek people of Israel, proclaiming victory to be theirs and that they can truly triumph when they are faithful to the Lord. It is not only the outwardly rich and big powerful people that can only triumph, the poor small shepherds can also triumph if they are faithful to The Lord God. That is what king David’s dance meant.
“The Lord is the keeper of little ones: I was little and he delivered me.”(Psalms 114:6)
“A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.”(Psalms 37:16)
No where in the New Testament or even in the Old Testament is it taught that dancing is permissible in the temple or in a holy convocation. Modest, practical, and descent dance is only permissible in celebrations of joy and thanksgiving outside of the temple. The Lord Jesus, for me, did not dance in the temple. For some of you, the prophet Jesus did not dance in the temple.
The Bible clearly teaches that there is no middle ground. One must live up to the name or not profess the name. One is either Godly or worldly or in apostasy.
I don’t know if Selena professed to be religious; I don’t think she did, not that I know of. I don’t know if her father professed or still professes to be religious. I know that they were JW’s, but I don’t know if they still felt comfortable and honest about professing JW when they were worldly artists.
I know Selena’s music was not profane, but her music was still worldly. One’s music either worships God or worships the world: one’s music either gains God or gains the world. I know some of you are probably hating me for all these Biblical arguments, but this is what the Bible teaches. These are not my ideas. The Bible says what It says and God means what He says.
The fame and riches of this world are tempting to everyone, but only few will be willing to reject them and/or give them up.
““For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”(Matthew 16:26)
Ok.. So, its safe to say that if Abraham Quintanilla was active as a Jehovah’s Witness, he would have never persued to push his kids into the music business. Or maybe he was active and then became inactive when he started to follow his dream of becoming a musician / singer when he lived his life vicariously through his kids especially Selena. If he was an inactive member of the organization, then i can safely say that if the issue of blood came up before Selena died , i am certain that he would have chosen to give her blood to save his daughter. But i am not sure if it was because it was too late when the choise was to be made. I think i read tbat somewhere. They may have their beliefs but to persue their dreams and a career in singing according to JWs is against the organizations rules. But so many JWs have become so lukewarm and/or inactive that that is what most likly can happen. Becoming more interested in the what if’s and what could be’s that it sounds exciting. I mean with being discouraged to persue higher education and only settling to go door to door for more hours than you put on your paying job, I can totally understand why JWs end up discouraged and wanting to look for fulfillment elsewhere. And then only when Selena died its when Abraham became active again in the organization in my opinion.