Recently, news broke that Michael Tait — lead singer of the Newsboys and former member of DC Talk — publicly confessed to a season of deep personal struggle. He admitted to alcohol abuse, sexual sin, and cocaine use. In his statement, he did not try to justify his behavior. Instead, he turned to God with a broken heart and quoted the words of King David from Psalm 51: “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love.”
It was raw. It was honest. And it was biblical.
In response, several Christian radio stations, including K-LOVE, have temporarily paused playing music from the Newsboys and DC Talk. That decision is theirs to make. But for the rest of us — the Church, the Body of Christ — we are faced with a choice too: How will we respond when one of our own falls?
A Time to Reflect on Our Own Need for Grace
It’s easy to point fingers. It’s harder to hold a mirror. The truth is, none of us is without sin. Romans 3:23 says plainly, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” We may not struggle with the same sins, but all of us walk with a limp in some way.
King David and Moses were both killers and when the women caught in sin was brought to Jesus and asked should she be stoned to death, Jesus said the one without sin should through the first stone. After they all left Jesus asked where are your accusers. They had all left for they were all guilty. Jesus said I forgive you, go and sin no more.
What separates a believer from the world isn’t perfection — it’s repentance. Michael Tait confessed. He turned to the Lord. He’s getting help. That matters. In fact, that’s what we hope for when someone stumbles: not secrecy, not self-destruction, but surrender to Christ.
Remembering the Heart of the Gospel
The heart of the Gospel is not “be good and God will love you.” It’s this: “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Jesus came for the broken, the sick, the lost — not the perfect. If we only celebrate our artists, pastors, and leaders when they’re on the mountaintop, we’ve missed the message of the cross entirely.
The same grace that lifted King David after adultery and murder, that restored Peter after denying Jesus three times, is the grace offered to Michael Tait — and to every one of us.
What Should Our Response Be?
Let’s be clear: sin has consequences. Accountability matters. But so does compassion. As believers, we’re called to speak truth, but always in love (Ephesians 4:15). When a brother in Christ confesses and seeks restoration, our arms shouldn’t cross in judgment — they should open in embrace.
Let’s pray for Michael Tait. Let’s pray for his healing, for the people who were hurt, and for the ministries impacted. Let’s also pray for our churches, our artists, our families — that we would be people of both holiness and humility.
In Closing
This situation isn’t just about Michael Tait. It’s about us. It’s about remembering what kind of Savior we serve: one who meets us in the mess and still calls us “beloved.” May we never be so quick to cancel that we forget how often God has carried us through our own failures.
And Michael, if you read this know that we love you. We love all the good you have done and accept just like us you have made mistakes, but just like David, God is not done with you.
Let me know what you think in the comments below.
