His two stepbrothers, one of which was a Baptist pastor, insisted that Elvis was a Christian. But what is the overall trajectory of his life and career? Does a man's life affect his music? Do we merely judge by lyrics, or is there a lifestyle that plays into the popular cultural emanations? We can't answer the question as to the eternal destination of Elvis's soul, but we can identify certain external signs—church membership, lifestyle, life trajectory, last testimonies, and so forth. We are also called to discern "the teachers" for as Jesus said, "By their fruits ye shall know them." Perhaps more importantly, Elvis represents the trajectory of American culture and church life.
