Michael Spencer the Internet Monk aka @imonk (1956-2010) is with his Lord face to face. Pray for his family. Some thoughts on a man I hardly knew but deeply respected.

I first spoke with Michael on twitter about a year ago. I interacted with him a few times on his blog. We shared some similarities. We both moved from committed Baptist way advocates to more open dialog and respect for other Christian traditions. He spoke his opinion, defended it, and didn’t mind stepping on toes if necessary but from what I saw in his writing he never purposefully tried to offend.

Michael last year let it out publicly that he was sick. He had a aggressive cancer. He ended up loosing his ministry job due to his sickness. His healthcare ended shortly after his job. Remarkably, he did not appear in the least bit bitter of those terrible circumstances. At the age fifty four his fight was over and he went home to be with his God. He lost the battle with his sickness but his faith was in a Lord and Savior that had won the war wining him even in death.

The thing I always loved about Michael was he was real and at times raw without ever publicly being crude. He was very honest in his identity as the Internet Monk. Monks by nature are part of a larger group but purposefully choose to separate themselves even from their own subculture to pursue their faith. He and his wife did not see eye to eye on the nature of the Church. He didn’t see eye to eye on several theological issues within his denomination. From what I have read he loved his wife very much. He loved his denomination. He also loved the Church. Michael was the Internet monk in part because he chose to confront the Church he loved on the things that he saw as blatant hypocrisy. I may not have always agreed with his conclusions but his criticism was always based in a desire to bring both truth and love in hope that reform may occur.

The moment Michael died he was a monk no more. He won his race. He now walks with all the other Saints that have gone on to the other side of life. He sees his Lord and Savior face to face. He is with the Church that sins no more. I am glad to know he is suffering no more but sad to know that it will be a long time before I get to see what the Lord is doing with him.

Farewell for now Michael.