Jessica Lea with CHURCH LEADERS published a hard-hitting article about several high-profile worship leaders who have announced within the last few years that they no longer believe in Christianity, rattling many evangelical Christians.
The article covers ministry leader Allen Parr’s belief that there are four common reasons why people leave the Christian faith. He offers his views on the validity of those reasons, as well as advice for people who are doubting.
“I remember vividly just sitting and crying and asking myself, ‘God, how is it possible that these people can write such beautiful lyrics and express their worship unto you and then just give it all away and say that they just don’t believe any more?'” Parr said, describing his response to certain worship leaders who are no longer Christians.
The CHURCH LEADERS article may be read in full HERE.
My brothers and sisters, this CHURCH LEADERS article discusses views held by Allen Parr, an engineer turned Dallas Theological Seminary graduate, turned ministry leader, who notes that many incredible worship leaders (who are also fabulous musicians) have chosen to not only back out of a calling to lead musical worship, but to even deny their faith in Jesus!
He mentioned Audrey Assad, who announced in 2021 that she was no longer a Christian; Marty Sampson, a former Hillsong worship leader who wrote O Praise The Name (Anástasis), who announced in 2019 that he was losing his faith; and Michael Gungor, who announced in an Instagram video on September 23, 2023 that he was looking for a church after walking away from his Christian faith and reportedly stating that the only place where folks can find absolute truth is within themselves.
This writer is in no way claiming to have the all answers as to why persons, even on-fire ministers of the gospel, walk away from their faith in Christ (see 1 Timothy 4:1)! I can say with certainty, however, that the evil one hates men and women of faith, and all the more so when such men and women are drawing thousands (or millions) of persons closer to Christ as part of their Christian ministries – including highly successful musical worship leaders and musicians. Musical worship is powerful (see Psalm 98:4-9)!
I can also say with certainty, that ALL fall short of the glory of God and have sinned (see Romans 3:23)! Famous worship artists are no less human or subject to spiritual, emotional and physical failings than any other persons. Just like when a noted and influential pastor or evangelist falls due to temptation resulting in sin, worship leaders and their accompanying musicians are no less susceptible to a fall or the seeds of deceit planted by Satan.
This is why all believers, and all the more so when one is a part of the five-fold ministry or otherwise involved in a high-profile ministry (e.g., Christian recording artist or worship leader), need to have a godly support team, including prayer warriors who are not afraid to speak truth at all times, and who seek God’s wisdom and protection continually. The evil one is a prowler (see 1 Peter 5:8) who seeks to deceive and destroy the faith of those who name Jesus as Lord (see John 10:10)!
There is another perspective we should, perhaps, not forget. There are thousands of God-fearing ministers and worship leaders who have NOT succumbed to the trickery of the evil one and who day-in-and-day-out care deeply for our eternal status and growth in Christ Jesus!
Because of the their incredible prominence, and even more so in the age of electronics and websites such as YouTube, even one Christian artist’s fall from grace can now result in a hugely negative and/or disproportionate effect on those who may be on the fence regarding salvation or who may be wavering in their faith because of hurt suffered within the church. But, make no mistake about it, “throwing out the baby with the bathwater” is never the answer! Keeping things in proper perspective is key, as it is in most areas of our lives. Our faith in Christ should not be dependent upon another person’s faith walk!
My brothers and sisters, there was only one Person who ever walked the face of earth without sin, and that Person was our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ (the ‘Anointed One’)! I can assure you that neither you nor I have all the answers for life and walking out the Christian faith(!), so even in the face of terrible circumstances or times of doubt, never let another person’s moral failure or loss of faith in Christ negatively impact our love for Jesus or each other. Stand fast in the faith, knowing that the Father loves you and me just like He loves Jesus (see John 17:20-23)! There is no other way to salvation and a victorious life except believing upon the name of Jesus.
If perfection found in our own goodness and strength is necessary for eternal life, then it’s over and the suffering of Christ upon the cross was for nothing; however, the standard for eternal life is perfection, but it is obtained through the shed blood of Christ as the propitiation for our sin (see 1 John 2:1-2), so that by believing upon the name of Jesus and confessing Him as Lord and Savior we can stand before the Father to receive our heavenly reward (see Acts 4:12). Praise God that we overcome the evil one by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony (see Revelation 12:10-11)!
Here are the above-referenced scriptures:
1 Timothy 4:1 (NKJV)
The Great Apostasy
“Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons…”.
Psalm 98:4-9 (NKJV)
“Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth; [b]reak forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises. Sing to the Lord with the harp, [w]ith the harp and the sound of a psalm, [w]ith trumpets and the sound of a horn; [s]hout joyfully before the Lord, the King. Let the sea roar, and all its fullness, [t]he world and those who dwell in it; [l]et the rivers clap their hands; [l]et the hills be joyful together before the Lord…”.
Romans 3:23 (NKJV)
“…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…”.
1 Peter 5:8 (Amplified Bible)
“Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour.”
John 10:10 (NKJV)
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I [Jesus] have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”
John 17:20-23 (NKJV)
Jesus Prays to the Father – The Father Loves Us Just Like He Loves Jesus
“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me [emphasis mine].”
1 John 2:1-2 (NKJV)
“My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.”
Acts 4:12 (Amplified Bible)
“And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among people by which we must be saved [for God has provided the world no alternative for salvation].”
Revelation 12:10-11 (NKJV)
We Overcome the Evil One by the Blood of the Lamb and the Word of Our Testimony
“Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, ‘[n]ow salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him [Satan] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.’”
Praise Jesus forevermore!