So I went down a rabbit hole last night about an alleged USB Drive that Malcolm Jamal Warner’s Mother has been said to have found after his mysterious downing. I’m pretty sure it is fake news to get clicks. But, this took me down another rabbit hole about Michael Tait, formerly of DC Talk and Newsboys! He was allegedly Bill Cosby-ing young men and older boys for decades!
I grew up listening to DC Talk and I’ve been to several of their concerts (including the Billy Graham Youth Crusade in 1994).
He was charged last Monday and it doesn’t look good. Pray, first, for his victims. Secondly, Pray for those who will be scandalized by this. Thirdly, Pray for MT.
I listened to DCTalk back then too. But when I saw Tait praying over Trump I knew things were bad.
Right around when Hayley Williams called out CCM and anyone who knew what was going on and said nothing, I did a deep dive on the Christian music industry. It is surprisingly?unsurprisingly? corrupt. Most artists aren’t really that Christian and I’m not talking about the ones who got caught having affairs, or are messy, or the ones who have deconstructed since they left CCM, just in general. People who have worked with them know what they are really like, which ones are jerks, etc.
CCM should be considered entertainment, not ministry no matter what artists say in interviews or do on stage.
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My Parents had a Christian Rock band for years. They recorded three independent albums. My Step-Dad was unfaithful and cheated on my Mom. They switched to a non-Dominational Church where he now plays in the Praise band. On the weekends he plays in a bar band. As far as I know, he is behaving. For my Mom’s sake, I Pray that he is behaving.
He’s always been there for us kids. If you saw him when my Mom first met him (which feels like a lifetime ago) and where they are now, he has come a long way.
I think the sin of pride leads to the sin of lust for many rock stars and celebrities in general. People treat you like gods. And you begin to feel like you can get away with anything.
One story that someone told was that Michael Tait was pulled over or something. Not sure if they were intoxicated or what, but when the Police recognized who he was, they wanted pictures with him and wished him a good night. Rather than being grateful for the mercy he had just received, he (allegedly) said, “I can get away with anything.” This is pride. Like when Donald Trump said that he could "stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn’t lose any voters.” And there is a bit of truth to what they are saying. But, with every idol, eventually they fall and when there is a crack, it isn’t long before the loyalty and honor they once had, begins to crumble.
As far as why doesn’t anyone say anything? I think it comes down to the fact that no one wants to be the person who destroys someone else’s career (especially if they are well-loved by the masses. But the reality is that these artists have chosen to destroy their own careers. It isn’t the victims fault (in most cases). And it certainly isn’t the whistleblower’s fault. That is just the first crack in the façade.
I think you’re right, Cade. Another aspect: as Arlo Guthrie sang (I think it was in the song “Prologue” on his “Outlasting the Blues” album): “Drunk in a world of material wealth, no one can notice you falling.”
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