Top Christian Rock singer abandons his faith

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I read his account on IG and quite frankly I admire his bravery. It has to be extraordinary daunting to come out as an atheist when you have built up a huge base of supporters who follow and support you strictly for your Christianity.

I've read this about his bravery and courage, too, but I don't see it. He explicitly says he felt it was a good time to drop this bomb on his fan base because they were no longer making any records or touring, i.e., no longer making money. Seems more like a coward to me. Now that his fans are no longer making any money, he probably has his eyes on a different crowd to make money from.

I was amused by his statement, "I hope this isn't the end of the conversation, but the beginning," but then later said, "I don't want a debate." He asks questions -- which are trite and superficial and have actual theological responses -- but doesn't want any answers.

This guy was never a Christian. Christians don't renounce their faith (1 John 2:19). He's been duping people for profit his entire professional career. By his own admission, he didn't like praying, didn't like going to church and didn't like reading the Bible. Christians like doing these things. He pretended because it brought him a certain amount of adulation and money and because he wanted to be a rock star.

As a Christian, this thing makes me angry. I hope he actually finds the LORD, but he has never been a believer, and now he wants to be held up as some kind of wise, enlightened post-Christian who can critique the faith. He has nothing to offer in this regard. He's a poser and a coward.

Thank you for that analysis. It was very Christ-like.

Your sarcasm is noted, but it's also misplaced. There's nothing un-Christlike about criticizing someone like Jon Steingard. The Bible doesn't have anything good to say about false preachers like this, either.

Steingard's Instagram post is self-centered and self-serving. He admits he's been exploiting actual Christians for personal gain for quite awhile now. And instead of just quitting it, he uses his platform as a means to deliver a sermon of apostasy to the very people who have supported him for years. It's nothing but a big eff you aimed directly at people he apparently holds in contempt. He's been pretending he's something he's not, and, oh, look at that, he made money and fame doing it.

And he thinks he's being honest? I'm sure he's enjoying all the new adulation for his supposed bravery and honesty. He's so refreshing.

This is nauseating. In addition to poser and coward, I'll add opportunist. What a joke.

Has it occurred to you that he didn't go from Christian to non-believer overnight? That he had doubts, as many Christians do, for a long time before finally realizing that the doubts had turned to disbelief? That he fought his doubts, as Christians are taught to do, until he lost the battle against them?

That's irrelevant. My problem with this isn't that he had his doubts; my problem is that while he was thinking he didn't believe, while he didn't like going to church and reading the Bible, he still maintained a false Christian persona because it brought him the things he wanted. And my huge problem with him is that once he decided in his heart there is no God, he then attacked those people who gave him everything he had with those doubts. That stupid "no sweater needed" at the end of his long, self-serving post was a big, smarmy middle finger to all the Christians who liked the music he was mendaciously singing to them for however many years. And I'm sure he's eating up all the "You're so brave. You're so honest" responses he's been getting from other non-believers, because it validates their own rejection of Christianity. He's the furthest thing from honest, and he's an opportunist, not brave.

For most people who go through faith conversions, it’s a process. Usually a complicated process. One doesn’t lose their qualification as a Christian if they have doubts or don’t enjoy going to church.

Who really thinks that an unexamined, unquestioned faith is a stronger one? Doubts don’t make a person a false Christian.

I'm not sure what you mean. He didn't lose his qualification as a Christian because he had doubts. He lost his qualification as a Christian because he doesn't believe in God. And the Bible itself says that once you put your faith in Christ, God Himself will root and establish you in your faith and keep you close to Him, even when you doubt. If you reject that faith, it means you never actually had it (again, read 1 John 2:19). Yes, pretty much all Christians have times when they question what's going on, but if you are an actual believer, there are mature ways to seek answers to those questions, and the LORD will keep you through them. But if you reject Him entirely, you're not willing to learn. Read Steingard's Instagram post: His questions weren't questions -- they were his own answers in themselves. He presented the questions themselves as their own evidence for his disbelief. Steingard wasn't going through a "faith conversion." He was going through a faith denial, and that he felt a need to use the platform that Christians gave him to sow seeds of doubt and distrust among them says all you need to know about where his heart is.

Agree to disagree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I read his account on IG and quite frankly I admire his bravery. It has to be extraordinary daunting to come out as an atheist when you have built up a huge base of supporters who follow and support you strictly for your Christianity.

I've read this about his bravery and courage, too, but I don't see it. He explicitly says he felt it was a good time to drop this bomb on his fan base because they were no longer making any records or touring, i.e., no longer making money. Seems more like a coward to me. Now that his fans are no longer making any money, he probably has his eyes on a different crowd to make money from.

I was amused by his statement, "I hope this isn't the end of the conversation, but the beginning," but then later said, "I don't want a debate." He asks questions -- which are trite and superficial and have actual theological responses -- but doesn't want any answers.

This guy was never a Christian. Christians don't renounce their faith (1 John 2:19). He's been duping people for profit his entire professional career. By his own admission, he didn't like praying, didn't like going to church and didn't like reading the Bible. Christians like doing these things. He pretended because it brought him a certain amount of adulation and money and because he wanted to be a rock star.

As a Christian, this thing makes me angry. I hope he actually finds the LORD, but he has never been a believer, and now he wants to be held up as some kind of wise, enlightened post-Christian who can critique the faith. He has nothing to offer in this regard. He's a poser and a coward.

Thank you for that analysis. It was very Christ-like.

Your sarcasm is noted, but it's also misplaced. There's nothing un-Christlike about criticizing someone like Jon Steingard. The Bible doesn't have anything good to say about false preachers like this, either.

Steingard's Instagram post is self-centered and self-serving. He admits he's been exploiting actual Christians for personal gain for quite awhile now. And instead of just quitting it, he uses his platform as a means to deliver a sermon of apostasy to the very people who have supported him for years. It's nothing but a big eff you aimed directly at people he apparently holds in contempt. He's been pretending he's something he's not, and, oh, look at that, he made money and fame doing it.

And he thinks he's being honest? I'm sure he's enjoying all the new adulation for his supposed bravery and honesty. He's so refreshing.

This is nauseating. In addition to poser and coward, I'll add opportunist. What a joke.

Has it occurred to you that he didn't go from Christian to non-believer overnight? That he had doubts, as many Christians do, for a long time before finally realizing that the doubts had turned to disbelief? That he fought his doubts, as Christians are taught to do, until he lost the battle against them?

That's irrelevant. My problem with this isn't that he had his doubts; my problem is that while he was thinking he didn't believe, while he didn't like going to church and reading the Bible, he still maintained a false Christian persona because it brought him the things he wanted. And my huge problem with him is that once he decided in his heart there is no God, he then attacked those people who gave him everything he had with those doubts. That stupid "no sweater needed" at the end of his long, self-serving post was a big, smarmy middle finger to all the Christians who liked the music he was mendaciously singing to them for however many years. And I'm sure he's eating up all the "You're so brave. You're so honest" responses he's been getting from other non-believers, because it validates their own rejection of Christianity. He's the furthest thing from honest, and he's an opportunist, not brave.

For most people who go through faith conversions, it’s a process. Usually a complicated process. One doesn’t lose their qualification as a Christian if they have doubts or don’t enjoy going to church.

Who really thinks that an unexamined, unquestioned faith is a stronger one? Doubts don’t make a person a false Christian.

I'm not sure what you mean. He didn't lose his qualification as a Christian because he had doubts. He lost his qualification as a Christian because he doesn't believe in God. And the Bible itself says that once you put your faith in Christ, God Himself will root and establish you in your faith and keep you close to Him, even when you doubt. If you reject that faith, it means you never actually had it (again, read 1 John 2:19). Yes, pretty much all Christians have times when they question what's going on, but if you are an actual believer, there are mature ways to seek answers to those questions, and the LORD will keep you through them. But if you reject Him entirely, you're not willing to learn. Read Steingard's Instagram post: His questions weren't questions -- they were his own answers in themselves. He presented the questions themselves as their own evidence for his disbelief. Steingard wasn't going through a "faith conversion." He was going through a faith denial, and that he felt a need to use the platform that Christians gave him to sow seeds of doubt and distrust among them says all you need to know about where his heart is.

He started out as an "actual believer" then had doubts, which eventually became disbelief. To you this means "not willing to learn" implying that there is only one thing about Christianity to learn and that is that it's real. Any other conclusion is not only incorrect, it's also heartless.

There are many fine people in this world who are not Christian and not religious at all.

[Anonymous]

For some people, doubts make their faith grow stronger. For others, doubts lead to lack of faith.

In a way, it's like many other things in life. e.g. - doubting your profession or your spouse.

Sometimes it's possible to work through the doubts and maintain the status quo. Other times, it's better to make a change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many rock singers start in Christian bands as it is easier to move up in the biz that way and then they switch over to rock or country.

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m with the poster who believes there was a fundamental element of dishonesty here. He did not just sing Christian songs to make a living. You don’t have to be a believer to sing catchy songs with words you don’t believe. But these types of artists go on Christian radio and go to churches and talk about faith and spirituality and what they do is considered a form of ministry. But he never had a spiritual practice- he didn’t want to go to church or read the Bible or pray. That’s absolutely fine. Then why did he choose this career and all that it entails? Was he active in promoting himself in churches... and lying about his relationship with God? He grew up in the church, he knew what he was signing up for. Why didn’t he get any mentorship or guidance about his spiritual life? I don’t understand any of this and I don’t know why he didn’t back out of his career FIRST when he realized he was having these issues. But I can’t judge his doubting his faith, that is something everyone goes through at one point, and we are all allowed to come to our own conclusions. I just wonder what he was going out and tell people during this entire period as someone who actually had a ministry.

How do you know that he "never had a spiritual practice"? Let's say that he got into this work because he had both musical talent and faith. Do you think he should have quit his job with his first doubts? If so, then perhaps people should cut off their church membership if they have doubts and not start back up until the doubts fade.

There would be a lot of bouncing in and out of church if that were the case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m with the poster who believes there was a fundamental element of dishonesty here. He did not just sing Christian songs to make a living. You don’t have to be a believer to sing catchy songs with words you don’t believe. But these types of artists go on Christian radio and go to churches and talk about faith and spirituality and what they do is considered a form of ministry. But he never had a spiritual practice- he didn’t want to go to church or read the Bible or pray. That’s absolutely fine. Then why did he choose this career and all that it entails? Was he active in promoting himself in churches... and lying about his relationship with God? He grew up in the church, he knew what he was signing up for. Why didn’t he get any mentorship or guidance about his spiritual life? I don’t understand any of this and I don’t know why he didn’t back out of his career FIRST when he realized he was having these issues. But I can’t judge his doubting his faith, that is something everyone goes through at one point, and we are all allowed to come to our own conclusions. I just wonder what he was going out and tell people during this entire period as someone who actually had a ministry.

How do you know that he "never had a spiritual practice"? Let's say that he got into this work because he had both musical talent and faith. Do you think he should have quit his job with his first doubts? If so, then perhaps people should cut off their church membership if they have doubts and not start back up until the doubts fade.

There would be a lot of bouncing in and out of church if that were the case.

Please read his post and come back when you know what’s going on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m with the poster who believes there was a fundamental element of dishonesty here. He did not just sing Christian songs to make a living. You don’t have to be a believer to sing catchy songs with words you don’t believe. But these types of artists go on Christian radio and go to churches and talk about faith and spirituality and what they do is considered a form of ministry. But he never had a spiritual practice- he didn’t want to go to church or read the Bible or pray. That’s absolutely fine. Then why did he choose this career and all that it entails? Was he active in promoting himself in churches... and lying about his relationship with God? He grew up in the church, he knew what he was signing up for. Why didn’t he get any mentorship or guidance about his spiritual life? I don’t understand any of this and I don’t know why he didn’t back out of his career FIRST when he realized he was having these issues. But I can’t judge his doubting his faith, that is something everyone goes through at one point, and we are all allowed to come to our own conclusions. I just wonder what he was going out and tell people during this entire period as someone who actually had a ministry.

How do you know that he "never had a spiritual practice"? Let's say that he got into this work because he had both musical talent and faith. Do you think he should have quit his job with his first doubts? If so, then perhaps people should cut off their church membership if they have doubts and not start back up until the doubts fade.

There would be a lot of bouncing in and out of church if that were the case.

Please read his post and come back when you know what’s going on.

I’m a dp who did read his entire relevant post, and I agree with the pp before you. He didn’t say that he never had a spiritual practice; quite the opposite.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m with the poster who believes there was a fundamental element of dishonesty here. He did not just sing Christian songs to make a living. You don’t have to be a believer to sing catchy songs with words you don’t believe. But these types of artists go on Christian radio and go to churches and talk about faith and spirituality and what they do is considered a form of ministry. But he never had a spiritual practice- he didn’t want to go to church or read the Bible or pray. That’s absolutely fine. Then why did he choose this career and all that it entails? Was he active in promoting himself in churches... and lying about his relationship with God? He grew up in the church, he knew what he was signing up for. Why didn’t he get any mentorship or guidance about his spiritual life? I don’t understand any of this and I don’t know why he didn’t back out of his career FIRST when he realized he was having these issues. But I can’t judge his doubting his faith, that is something everyone goes through at one point, and we are all allowed to come to our own conclusions. I just wonder what he was going out and tell people during this entire period as someone who actually had a ministry.

How do you know that he "never had a spiritual practice"? Let's say that he got into this work because he had both musical talent and faith. Do you think he should have quit his job with his first doubts? If so, then perhaps people should cut off their church membership if they have doubts and not start back up until the doubts fade.

There would be a lot of bouncing in and out of church if that were the case.

Please read his post and come back when you know what’s going on.

iow, you have no logical response, so are deflecting in the form of insulting pp

[Anonymous]

If he had quit the band the minute he had a singular doubt, so you not think of how that would also harm his band members and fan base? And the many other people under their employment?

He was very brave to continue on singing about something that he had doubts about and then disbelieved. That’s not easy. His music helped many people, especially young people, of faith even though he knew it was not true for him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If he had quit the band the minute he had a singular doubt, so you not think of how that would also harm his band members and fan base? And the many other people under their employment?

He was very brave to continue on singing about something that he had doubts about and then disbelieved. That’s not easy. His music helped many people, especially young people, of faith even though he knew it was not true for him.

+1, besides, Christians are discouraged from being unduly influenced by their doubts about their faith -- taught instead that doubt is "normal" and should be worked through, with the assumption that faith will come back stronger than ever.

Sometimes it doesn't work that way.

[Anonymous]

Some people get tired of the social circles in church. If you are an idealist, it gets too much. Churches do not live up to what they preach. Skipping church gives you a lot of free time

[Anonymous]

Why are people so triggered by this? I was raised evangelical and so was my husband. We got married young and waited until marriage. We were both having doubts but we were too afraid to tell each other. One day he just looked at me and said I don’t believe it because of this, this and this and I was so relieved because I felt the same way. We stopped going to church and we don’t miss it. I could care less if people debate whether we ever were Christians. Once you stop believing, you don’t really care about the Christian mindset. Also, it is very easy to “perform” Christianity when you are raised with it and to say all the right things and pray the right prayers. Our parents would have a literal heart attack if we did what this man did so we go through the motions and never mention church. We are having a baby and would 100% raise her atheist but we would get such blow back from our parents so we haven’t decided yet what to do. I commend his bravery.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many rock singers start in Christian bands as it is easier to move up in the biz that way and then they switch over to rock or country.

This.

Starting out in Christian rock bands is the easiest way by far to get into the music biz and then transition over to country or rock or rap.

[Anonymous]

People don't seem to realize that as recently as the year 2000, 86% of Americans self-identified as belonging to a judeo-christian faith (most recently it is 72%). MOST non-believers were born and raised in a religious household and spent a significant portion of their life indoctrinated into their parents' religion. It shouldn't be surprising that many non-believers result from a conversion as an adult. That's how it basically has to work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People don't seem to realize that as recently as the year 2000, 86% of Americans self-identified as belonging to a judeo-christian faith (most recently it is 72%). MOST non-believers were born and raised in a religious household and spent a significant portion of their life indoctrinated into their parents' religion. It shouldn't be surprising that many non-believers result from a conversion as an adult. That's how it basically has to work.

Exactly