Michael Brown on Why Is It Big News When a Christian Rocker Loses His Faith?

It would be one thing if a famous pastor renounced his faith or if a greatly loved worship leader said she no longer believed. I could understand why this would be big news, and I could understand why the secular media would pick up on it. But why is it big news when the son of a pastor and the frontman for a not-super-famous Christian rock group renounces his faith? Could it be that the world would rather celebrate unbelief than faith?

As I tweeted on May 27, “I was saddened to hear the news about the frontman of a Christian rock band saying he no longer believes in God. But if the media reported stories of unbelieving rockers being radically converted to the Lord, there would be an endless line of God-glorifying stories in the news.”

To be sure, it really is sad to hear about a brother or sister losing faith.

And to the extent that person had a public platform, it is even sadder because of the potential negative impact on others.

At the same time, my first question upon hearing this report was, “Who is Jon Steingard, and why is this the headline story on some major news outlets?”

This doesn’t mean that Jon’s story is not important. To the contrary, it is hard not to feel for him as you read his Instagram announcement. Can you imagine how difficult it is to get up in front of a crowd and sing and perform when you are doubting the very words you are singing? Can you relate to the conflict he must have felt?

And it is good to see that the members of his band, Hawk Nelson, men who worked with Jon for two decades, are expressing kindness and compassion rather than rejection. As they said, “One of our best friends, one with whom we have walked, worked and lived alongside for 20-plus years revealed some of his innermost feelings on his faith journey this past week.” They expressed nothing but unconditional love.

As for Jon, if his foundations were weak, I hope he builds strong ones in the future. Or if he truly was a strong believer who lost his faith, I pray that God will bring him back, but this time, with an even deeper encounter with the Spirit and the Word.

Either way, I do not sit here as his judge and critic. Instead, I pray for his full restoration.

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SOURCE: Charisma News
