Michael Spencer , known fondly as the Internet Monk, has died. I had been waiting and watching for the news, but somehow missed it during Easter week. My first thought selfishly was that this is a first for me: a life and death known to me solely by the internet. I'm glad of I knew him, even if only virtually! Michael wrote of his differences with the earthly church he served, and of his relationship with his wife amidst her change in faith practices, and it blessed me greatly! While he was never a martyr for the faith, he clung to faith in Christ in the face of more criticism than most of us face for our faith. I was also deeply touched by his honest comments when his wife turned to the Catholic church.

John posts on his life and death at Confessing Evangelical blog. Below is Michael's last public statement, written after he knew he would most likely be dying much sooner than he had ever imagined:

Real apologetics

The ultimate apologetic is to a dying man.

That is what all those “Where is God?” statements in the Psalms are all about. They are, at least partially, invitations to Christians to speak up for the dying.

All the affirmations to God as creator and designer are fine, but it is as the God of the dying that the Christian has a testimony to give that absolutely no one else can give.

We need to remember that each day dying people are waiting for the word of death and RESURRECTION.

The are a lot of different kinds of Good News, but there is little good news in “My argument scored more points than you argument.” But the news that “Christ is risen!” really is Good News for one kind of person: The person who is dying.

If Christianity is not a dying word to dying men, it is not the message of the Bible that gives hope now.

What is your apologetic? Make it the full and complete announcement of the Life Giving news about Jesus.

As John wrote, "Amen. See you at the resurrection, Michael."