Does Christian music have an accountability problem?

One of the biggest names in Christian music has confessed that allegations of drug use and serious sexual misconduct are “largely true”.

Former DC Talk and Newsboys singer Michael Tait said in his “my confession” statement, “For some two decades I used and abused cocaine, consumed far too much alcohol, and, at times, touched men in an unwanted sensual way. I am ashamed of my life choices and actions, and make no excuses for them. I will simply call it what God calls it - sin.”

Tait’s statement was posted online following an expose by the Christian investigative journalism outlet, The Roys Report (TRR).

Three men spoke to TRR and detailed instances of alcohol abuse and sexual assault. One alleged that Tait offered him cocaine while on the Newsboys tour bus before engaging in non-consensual sexual contact. TRR said it has spoken to more than 50 sources about Tait’s alleged behaviour and claims to have “documented [his] alleged predatory pattern with stories dating back more than two decades”.

Tait had unexpectedly quit the Newsboys in January – with no explanation given by him or the band. But following the TRR investigation the remaining members of the Newsboys clarified, “When he left the band in January, Michael confessed to us and our management that he ‘had been living a double-life’ but we never imagined that it could be this bad.”

The news has rocked the Christian music scene, but prominent worship leader Cory Asbury is among those claiming Tait’s sexuality was an open secret. “Everyone knew,” said the writer of ‘Reckless Love’. “Maybe not the specific details, but everyone knew.” When asked how many other Christian bands were living “a double life”, Asbury responded, “a lot”.

That characterisation was denied by veteran Christian journalist Tony Cummings. Speaking to Premier Christianity, Cummings said stories of Christian musicians “falling into sin” were extremely rare when compared to “the number of awful stories we hear in the mainstream music industry.”

Cummings, who previously worked in mainstream music journalism has first-hand experience of being offered hard drugs during interviews with well known artists. “I do believe that at its heart the music industry is corrupt, is enveloped with all kinds of things which are wrong for everybody involved in it.”

But Cummings contrasted this with the Christian music scene, which he suggested was full of godly people whose hearts are in the right place. “There’s always going to be a few bad apples,” he said.

Nevertheless, negative stories have continued to emerge. Days after the Tait revelations, the former NEEDTOBREATHE guitarist Bo Reinhart accused his brother, and the band’s lead singer, Bear Reinhart, of sexual assault. “I’ve been sexually, physically and emotionally abused by my brother,” wrote Bo in statement posted online.

Bear denied the allegations, calling them “hurtful and misleading.”

Shortly before the Tait revelations, another prominent American worship leader was accused of “moral, ethical, financial, organizational and governance failures” by former colleagues in ministry.

Sean Feucht who previously led worship at Bethel Church in California, was accused by leaders of the Burn 24/7 ministry he founded of diverting substantial donations to his own properties and exaggerating attendance numbers at his worship events.

They also claimed Feucht engaged in longstanding patterns of manipulation, control, lying and spiritual and emotional abuse.

In a statement to Premier Christianity, Feucht called the accusations a “complete sham”, arguing they had been put forward by “embittered former volunteers” who had “been attacking the ministry for over a decade.”

“They have not uncovered a single shred of any impropriety of any kind. Every penny is accounted for and used for kingdom purposes,” he said. “There [sic] efforts to tear down Gods work will not succeed.”

What’s going wrong?

Tait’s confession was welcomed by many. The journalist and DJ George Luke noted the singer had “fully owned” his guilt. “There’s no blame-shifting; he takes it all on.” Luke contrasted this with other high profile Christian leaders who had “doubled down or continued as if it’s business as usual, or vanished with no apologies given.”

The spate of allegations against three of Christian music’s biggest names has raised questions around a perceived lack of accountability.

Newsboys’ lead singer Adam Agee admitted in a statement the band had “obviously heard rumours over the years”, but had taken the allegations directly to Tait, who would “deny it emphatically”.

The ministry leaders accusing Sean Feucht of wrongdoing also say they followed principles in Matthew 18, where Jesus instructs his followers to confront an individual about their sin before telling others. The ministry leaders reported, “very little meaningful change or repentance has occurred”, which led them to make their allegations public on the truthandfreedomstories.com website.

Cummings worries accountability is not well practised across the Church in general. “The vast majority of churches, even today, do not have properly organised structures so that the church leader or vicar is properly accountable,” he said.

He noted that even where such a structure exists, it can be difficult to maintain if an artist or preacher is often travelling.

“When artists start moving outside of their church, visiting other cities - a new temptation is put upon them, and some will fall.”

This leads to the question of whose job it is to hold a Christian artist to account. “The record companies would turn around and say, ‘it’s not our responsibility. It’s the responsibility of the church.’ But the church would turn round and say, ‘it’s not our responsibility, because most of the time this singer or band are not at our church, they’re out touring.’”

It was an observation also made by Brant Hansen, who broadcasts on many Christian Contemporary Music (CCM) networks across the USA. Hansen said he “feels sorry” for artists who tour. “It’s actually a brutal life, and it’s understandable how many touring artists, CCM or not, develop addictions.”

“Fans who want to pray for touring artists might reasonably pray for their families, and that the artists will be given wisdom and clarity of vision to consider getting off the road,” he added.

Fame and fortune

Cummings posited the “main reason” for moral failure in Christian music could be found in 1 Timothy, where Paul issues a warning about the allures of fame and fortune. “Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.” (6:9-10)

Commenting on this, Cummings continued, “Many worship leaders enter into Christian music, initially because of their love of God. But when a record company starts to get involved, they’re looking at who they can make famous and therefore produce lots of money for them. A lot of artists change. They love the fame and fortune. They love stepping on the stage. Even though they’re praising God, they love the prestige, staying in very nice hotels and living in a very pleasant environment compared to most of us. This will have an effect on their Christian walk, unless they guard themselves.”

Hansen was more critical and questioned the motives of those who seek prominence in Christian music. “The industry offers money, attention, seeming significance, and a stage. It shouldn’t be shocking in the least that many people who are attracted to this aren’t necessarily mature disciples of Jesus. It’s like putting a pot of honey on a stage under a spotlight, and then wondering, Huh. Why are all these bears showing up…?”

“In some ways, the artist/fan relationship is codependent. They need this church market to make their living for now, and religious folks need artists to keep up the veneer so we can believe in good, clean, Christian heroes. Neither perspective, obviously, has much to do with Jesus.”

“In the end, this is an industry; it serves a consumer market, and my understanding is it’s tough to serve two masters,” Hansen told Premier Christianity.

Cummings says there “a strange paradox” when it comes to the growth of Christian music. On the one hand, Christians want the Gospel to be heard by the masses, and rightly celebrate the occasions when Christian music is heard in the mainstream. On the other hand, such cross over success is only possible if you work with, “companies who are in the fame business to make money.”

What if I stumble?

When part of the Christian music supergroup DC Talk over 30 years ago, Michael Tait sang the words, “What if I stumble / What if I fall? / What if I lose my step / And I make fools of us all?” Writing on this website, George Luke noted, “Tait has answered his own question: Confess. Admit to everything. Make a fulsome apology.”

That apology has been widely welcomed, but one of the biggest Christian radio stations in the US, K-Love, answered the ‘What if I stumble?’ question differently - swiftly pulling all Newsboys and DC Talk songs from their output following the allegations. It’s a decision Cummings strongly disagrees with. “They’re playing into the hands of the Pharisees within the Church, who are always looking for an excuse to point a finger,” he warned.

“Even if one of your favourite worship leaders or bands has been caught in grievous sin, we can still feed off their art. We are all flawed human beings and on one level, we are all sinners.

“I would say to anybody who’s had their lives enriched by the music of Michael Tait or any other artist who’s fallen into sin, be encouraged by their art. Don’t reject what was good in that person’s life.”

For Hansen, the view that “we’re all sinners”, while true, is incomplete.

“It’s not enough, in my view, to just say, ‘Hey, we’re all the same.’ We’re supposed to be different. People should expect us to be different. We’re supposed to be known by the fruit of the Spirit.”

Nevertheless, these stories are an opportunity for Christians to perhaps be more sober-minded when it comes to our attitude toward prominent Christians. As Hansen puts it, “Going to a concert or listening to a song can be wonderful. Do not, however, for one minute think that because a person is impressive on stage, that person is somehow spiritually mature.

“God uses broken sinners to make beautiful art. We can be happy about that. But let’s be done with elevating these people. It’s not healthy for us, and it’s toxic for them.”