That's it, my friend. Vulnerability. In the process of finding good, safe friends for a band, we just might be hurt. So very true. But we will eventually find that amazing grace.
I'm really sorry to hear this! We are DC Talk fans in this house. And I remember that song very well. I loved it as I was growing up. It's always sad to see a public figure fall from grace, but it's a reminder to us all that we all have feet of clay. I lament the fact that some people may have lost their faith in Christ due to the actions of someone in authority. It's very sad, indeed.
Yep. So incredibly sad. I hope he has people who can compassionately journey with him. In some corners of the Church, we are so quick to shoot our wounded.
Great post, as always. I love how you can quote DC Talk, B. Maniing and Sun Tzu all in the same article, and casually mention Ravi Z. And Jimmy Swaggert as well.
I've been thinking about that song a lot lately, too. However, I don't think the Church's supposed inability to discuss sex is the biggest problem here. It's a contributing problem, sure. But just as problematic and relevant is the "good ol' boy" CCM industry structure that allowed Tait continued access to vulnerable younger men (and boys, and in one case a woman who was drugged and assaulted by one of his industry coworkers, while he watched) -- and then, instead of holding him accountable, continued to cover for him for decades. We're not looking at one man's "fall," we're looking at a pattern of premeditated predation on Tait's part, coupled with a system full of cowards and corrupt people unwilling to stick their necks out for the victims and cross the guy.
I hope his repentance is genuine, but I'm honestly not sure. He downplayed the severity and extent of his crimes -- which is what they were. True repentance must be accompanied by the willingness to be brutally honest about one's sins, to own them completely, and to accept the consequences -- even if those consequences include prison. Which, I'm afraid, is where this man belongs, repentant or not.
Thank you for this thoughtful reply, Rebecca. Sounds like you also went down the dark hole of the Roys Report which provides not only the details, but also the clips to video footage from the hotel where the rape took place. To be sure, there are systemic issues. Corey Asbury's comments on social media assert that everyone in the industry knew and that other artists also lead double lives.
The key issue is accountability. I do not know what structures for such accountability are within CCM itself. From what I've read, fellow Newsboys band members simply had to have known and simply looked the other way. The owner and manager of the band seemed to be willfully blinded by their own greed. Everyone looking out for themselves and not advocating for the victims.
As you may know, my main thrust for this blog is to spur us on to minister to the victims of the Sexual Tsunami. Such work necessitates that we all have accountability over us. We can all be snared. And until the Church becomes more open about discussing sexual matters, we will continue to hide our struggles and sweep this crud under the rug. Church is simply not a safe place to own our brokenness and seek help.
As for your point about repentance, only God knows, of course. The Christian Post reported he went to six weeks of rehab after resigning from the band back in January. But I wholeheartedly agree, legal consequences should absolutely be applied.
In my first book Into the Light, I look carefully at how it could ever be possible for God to consider King David a man after his own heart, given his deliberate act of adultery and the murder to cover it up. I believe it was because of his depth of repentance and his willingness to take on all consequences. As evidence of his sorrow, his prayer of confession and contrition were given to the choirmaster in order to be sung in the Temple. That is an incredible act of vulnerability and sorrow. Because of his response to being caught, God's amazing grace enfolded him.
We can hope Tait takes a similar path, completely owning his choices, humbly facing any legal consequences, and making right his wrongs by sincerely and privately addressing the violations to his many victims. Can we perhaps hope he will even write his own Psalm 51 and offer it to some corner of the Church? Then many others might also own and repent from their dreaded trespasses which have left deadly scars.
You are a new subscriber. Thank you for this kind of reply!
God’s mercy and amazing grace meet me in places where I am learning to risk looking bad in the presence of love.
That's it, my friend. Vulnerability. In the process of finding good, safe friends for a band, we just might be hurt. So very true. But we will eventually find that amazing grace.
Excellent article Mark.
Reminds me of 2 quotes, that I’m personally needing even now to strongly reflect upon
No love of the natural heart is safe unless the human heart has been satisfied by God first. Oswald Chambers
Healing begins when we recognize how vulnerable our empty places make us and seek wholeness in Christ alone. Beth Moore
Those are great, Tim.
Hope you are well!
Thanks Mark,
Doing ok.
Pondering the recognized “empty places of vulnerability,” that I’ve shared and looking to union with the only One who can fill them.
Hope you and your family are well. 🙂
Blessings.
I'm really sorry to hear this! We are DC Talk fans in this house. And I remember that song very well. I loved it as I was growing up. It's always sad to see a public figure fall from grace, but it's a reminder to us all that we all have feet of clay. I lament the fact that some people may have lost their faith in Christ due to the actions of someone in authority. It's very sad, indeed.
Yep. So incredibly sad. I hope he has people who can compassionately journey with him. In some corners of the Church, we are so quick to shoot our wounded.
Great post, as always. I love how you can quote DC Talk, B. Maniing and Sun Tzu all in the same article, and casually mention Ravi Z. And Jimmy Swaggert as well.
I've been thinking about that song a lot lately, too. However, I don't think the Church's supposed inability to discuss sex is the biggest problem here. It's a contributing problem, sure. But just as problematic and relevant is the "good ol' boy" CCM industry structure that allowed Tait continued access to vulnerable younger men (and boys, and in one case a woman who was drugged and assaulted by one of his industry coworkers, while he watched) -- and then, instead of holding him accountable, continued to cover for him for decades. We're not looking at one man's "fall," we're looking at a pattern of premeditated predation on Tait's part, coupled with a system full of cowards and corrupt people unwilling to stick their necks out for the victims and cross the guy.
I hope his repentance is genuine, but I'm honestly not sure. He downplayed the severity and extent of his crimes -- which is what they were. True repentance must be accompanied by the willingness to be brutally honest about one's sins, to own them completely, and to accept the consequences -- even if those consequences include prison. Which, I'm afraid, is where this man belongs, repentant or not.
Thank you for this thoughtful reply, Rebecca. Sounds like you also went down the dark hole of the Roys Report which provides not only the details, but also the clips to video footage from the hotel where the rape took place. To be sure, there are systemic issues. Corey Asbury's comments on social media assert that everyone in the industry knew and that other artists also lead double lives.
The key issue is accountability. I do not know what structures for such accountability are within CCM itself. From what I've read, fellow Newsboys band members simply had to have known and simply looked the other way. The owner and manager of the band seemed to be willfully blinded by their own greed. Everyone looking out for themselves and not advocating for the victims.
As you may know, my main thrust for this blog is to spur us on to minister to the victims of the Sexual Tsunami. Such work necessitates that we all have accountability over us. We can all be snared. And until the Church becomes more open about discussing sexual matters, we will continue to hide our struggles and sweep this crud under the rug. Church is simply not a safe place to own our brokenness and seek help.
As for your point about repentance, only God knows, of course. The Christian Post reported he went to six weeks of rehab after resigning from the band back in January. But I wholeheartedly agree, legal consequences should absolutely be applied.
In my first book Into the Light, I look carefully at how it could ever be possible for God to consider King David a man after his own heart, given his deliberate act of adultery and the murder to cover it up. I believe it was because of his depth of repentance and his willingness to take on all consequences. As evidence of his sorrow, his prayer of confession and contrition were given to the choirmaster in order to be sung in the Temple. That is an incredible act of vulnerability and sorrow. Because of his response to being caught, God's amazing grace enfolded him.
We can hope Tait takes a similar path, completely owning his choices, humbly facing any legal consequences, and making right his wrongs by sincerely and privately addressing the violations to his many victims. Can we perhaps hope he will even write his own Psalm 51 and offer it to some corner of the Church? Then many others might also own and repent from their dreaded trespasses which have left deadly scars.
You are a new subscriber. Thank you for this kind of reply!