By Jessica Greer
There has been somewhat of a cultural phenomenon in the reaction to the recent death of singer Whitney Houston.

There was a natural affection from fans, who were devastated to learn about the tragedy of a once beautiful singer whose body was found in a bathtub at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California.

The cause of death was "pending under investigation," although it has been quite obvious that Houston's ongoing battle with drug abuse for the last couple of decades can probably be factored into her abrupt death at only 48 years old.

However, the immediate response to this beloved celebrity's death was a scramble to protect her reputation. Many celebrities spoke out against her ex-husband Bobby Brown for his destructive influence, naming him responsible for her drug addiction.

Several articles claimed Houston was a lesbian hiding behind a "princess pop star" persona – that she could not come out for fear of career suicide – and that this ultimately pushed her into a tailspin of substance abuse.

The continuous barrage of excuses maintained that although Houston declared in her own words, "I am my worst devil," someone else must take the blame for her troublesome life and death.
Carol Sarler, in her Dailymail article titled "Why do we always blame 'toxic' men for the downfall of female stars?" challenges this instant rebound after such a tragedy, which defends the starlet by blaming the “toxic” man whom she herself chose.

The article recalls many instances of famous women such as Marylin Monroe and Amy Whinehouse.

"So now we know,” Sarler boldly stated. “Blame anyone, blame everyone – but don't, whatever you do, suggest that any part of this sorry story was Whitney Houston's fault." This is in no way an attack on Houston, but rather an honest reflection regarding sinners who are not merely victims, but slaves to their sin.
The ruinous and shocking death of Whitney Houston brought to the surface a victimized culture whose transgressions are no longer called sin, but has replaced this term with the politically correct word "disease."

People today are sick and helpless victims that find themselves in a spiral of utter self-destruction not by choice, but because of bacteria and germs such as sex, violence, alcohol, and drugs.

These diseases merely spread, all in good fun, only to end up responsible for so many deaths.

The reality of sin and its effects in our current culture is that people will bask in the idea that they are helpless victims of their addictions while refusing to admit they are slaves to a sin that they themselves embraced.

Slavery is bondage, which makes people feel inferior and out of control; whereas victimization is dumb innocence which makes people feel soft and fuzzy inside at the thought that their deviant appetites are only life obstacles that evolved from a disappointing childhood Christmas.

It is always easier to hide behind the blame game than to respond with repentance. Prescription drugs, psychoanalysis, and Dr. Phil are sucking this country economically dry based on the notion that one can numb their sin with just the right dose.
John 8:34, one of Jesus' more famous quotes, says: "Very truly I tell you, that he who sins is a slave to sin."

Along with that statement you might add, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Using deductive reasoning, one can conclude that all human beings are slaves, if not for the grace of God.
The relationship between a slave master and a slave is that of oppression and control. In a sense, as humans born into a sinful nature we are predisposed to become slaves to a sin we did not directly choose.

However, the simplistic idea of free will challenges us to seek an eternal glory in having freedom from a shackled life bound by sin, by choosing a relationship with our Creator and Savior Jesus Christ.

The paradox of nature vs. nurture and freewill vs. predestination is a complex, layered theological argument that may sound intelligent and fun when preaching to the choir, but which ultimately comes down to choosing slavery to sin or obedience to Christ.

Choose to serve Him because He saved you. Romans 6:17 says, "But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance."
Whitney Houston was not a victim of a drug disease that jumped on her from Bobby Brown. She was a sinner enslaved by a deadly sin.

I was as saddened as everyone else to learn of Houston's death, and more so perplexed that such a beautiful, talented, once-upon-a-time Gospel singer could end so sorrowfully, while a 53-year-old fame-cleaving masculine-muscled Madonna recently performed the half-time show for the Super Bowl.

The bottom line is: there is not a medical or psychological cure for your "disease" called sin. Sinners are slaves that must be set free by the blood of Jesus, and without that remedy, I am afraid your soul will not find rest.