Jim Croce, from South Philadelphia had only a few hits, although they have endured since he was killed in a plane crash in Louisiana on September 20, 1973. His songs were fairly simple and occasionally contained some thoughtful expressions, such as these words from “Time in A Bottle,” a song not intended for release as a single but which became number 1 after his death: “But there never seems to be enough time to do the things you want to do once you find them. I’ve looked around enough to know that you’re the one I want to go through time with.”

He wrote those words when his wife was pregnant with their son. He wrote another song for her after they had experienced a spat over finances. After brooding alone for a while, he wrote these words: “Yeah, I know it’s kinda strange. Every time I’m near you I just run out of things to say. I know you’d understand. Every time I tried to tell you the words just came out wrong. So I’ll have to say I love you in a song.”

However, his first song, “You Don’t Mess Around With Jim,” had an entirely different focus: It had to do with a pool hustler named Big Jim Walker that was so good that it was advised: “You don’t tug on superman’s cape. You don’t spit into the wind. You don’t pull the mask off that old Lone Ranger. And you don’t mess around with Jim.” In the song he gets his comeuppance and his replacement becomes the next guy nobody messes with.

Some of today’s recording “artists” might have taken a cue from the words of the song, if not the style of music. First of all, those who are at the summit of their success will eventually be toppled and replaced before too long (the message of the song). There is One, however, to Whom that will never happen. God never seeks re-election; no other king will ever take Jesus’ place. Some other Head of the church is not waiting in the wings. The reason is that God is all-powerful, and no one can mount a serious challenge to His authority. If there is Anyone you should not want to mess around with, it is the Lord. So, how is it that many of today’s entertainers have shown themselves to be crude, vulgar, and irreverent? Is that wise?

The fact that some “artists” use vulgar language is by itself enough to antagonize God Who opposes anything that could be classified as corrupt communication (Eph. 4:29). Rap artists especially are known for their use of vile language, which could be construed as a “tug.” But what Jay Z has written goes way beyond that.

He is married to Beyoncé, a former member of Destiny’s Child, who has grown up to become Destiny’s Witch. Beyoncé herself said, “I have someone else that takes over when it’s time for me to work and when I’m on stage, this alter ego that I’ve created that kind of protects me and who I really am.” Who is she, really? According to her November 15, 2008 album, she has another name; that title was: I Am… Sasha Fierce. The hugely successful album sold 8 million copies worldwide. “So?” some of her fans might want to know. “What’s wrong with having an alter ego?” Well, nothing in particular. I’m known to a few people as, “Phil.” Whereas I got that identity by accident, she selected specifically her other self. As the paragraph below reveals, her choice was intentional; she associates herself with the author of a book on witchcraft.

The Book of Shadows, written by Sasha Fierce, is a collection of wiccan spells, pagan spells, black and white magic spells. The author of this book is a well-known Indian spiritualist healer. He had a lot of practice to use different spells for treatment with the help of spirits. Sasha Fierce is a great specialist in the study of the spirit world. In his book he has collected the most efficient and easy spells. In his Book of Shadows there are detailed descriptions of love spells, candle magic, earth magic, different rituals….

So, she did not make up the name but borrowed it from an already-existing source. And it says something about what she has become. She and husband Jay Z are infamous for a song she does called “Partition,” the subject of which is the two of them having sex in the back of a limousine. The MetroLyrics are nothing like those of “Time in a Bottle.”

But to return to husband Jay Z, he has a song called, “Dirt Off Your Shoulder,” that he did at a certain candidate’s rally about two weeks ago. Most of the words could not be printed, and the Metro-Lyrics below are highly offensive.

I probably owe it to y’all, proud to be locked by the force
Tryin’ to hustle some things that go with the Porsche
Feelin’ no remorse, feelin’ like my hand was forced
Middle finger to the Lord… (all quotes from Internet).

Seriously? This masquerades for entertainment these days? It’s bad enough that they write and perform these scummy words, but people pay for it?

At least one writer ties Beyoncé to Jezebel. Noting how that, as Sasha Fierce, she puts paint on her eyes and adorns her head, the writer compared what she does to the description in 2 Kings 9:30. Hmm. Maybe, but what would be the point? Jezebel was cast down from the window, trampled underfoot by horses, and eaten by dogs. Is that worth being very powerful and famous while alive?

And those who blaspheme God? Some of them have managed to stay around awhile. Ahab, in his wickedness, managed to reign 22 years, and Jezebel lasted about ten years longer. But they still paid a price for their insolence and rebellion against God. Ahab was even told by a prophet of God that he would be put to death if he went into battle, but since Micaiah always spoke evil of him, he paid no attention. He even had a great plan. He would go in disguise, and Jehoshaphat would wear kingly robes. It was a great plan, but born of human wisdom, it failed. Jehoshaphat nearly was killed due to his foolishness, but an archer shot an arrow “at random,” which proved that Ahab was not as invincible as he thought. He died.

Apparently, some athletes and entertainers feel the same way as they ride the crest of their popularity and believe their own press clippings. But God can humble anyone—any time He chooses to do so. When Pashhur, the chief governor in the house of the Lord, heard some of Jeremiah’s prophecies, he put him in the stocks. He released him the next day, but Jeremiah told him he would henceforth be called Magor-Missabib, “terror on every side.” The man who dared imprison God’s prophet and restrict his preaching would, along with his family, be taken to Babylon to die (Jer. 20:1-4).

When Micaiah prophesied of Ahab’s death, he was impiously struck by Zedekiah, a false prophet. Micaiah told him that he would one day be going into an inner chamber to hide (1 Kings 22:22-25). God does not always pay people back for their sins immediately, as He did with Nadab and Abihu (Lev. 10:1-2) or Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11). He may grant 10 or 20 years before taking action. He may even wait until the Day of Judgment. But everyone will give an account for what they have never repented of (2 Cor. 5:10).

Jay Z and Beyoncé should not count on their popularity with their fans to shield them from the righteous judgment of God. They are vulgar and have no respect for either God or man. It would make most people extremely nervous to make an obscene gesture to God. Exactly who does he think he is? Can a mere mortal actually be so deluded as to think he has power over His Creator? Or that he will escape punishment? It would be hard to have a greater ego than that. In the final analysis, high exalted opinions of oneself will not avail; neither will flashing their illuminati symbols (such as the triangle) at awards’ ceremonies protect them. They should have learned from Jim Croce that it’s not wise to tug on Superman’s cape.