Wired to Worship: A 7-Day Devotional Inspired by the Jesus Music Film and BookSampl

Flawed Messengers

One of the themes of Jesus Music is the human frailty and brokenness of artists and singers. From Russ Taft to Amy Grant to Sandi Patti to Michael English, the real-world mistakes and sins of CCM stars were splashed all over the pages. Churches struggled to know how to relate to flawed messengers of a good gospel. Amy Grant, "You lose yourself, you lose your way, you lose your integrity. You find you have lied. You let people down." 

It's one thing for a Christian to sin and repent and find forgiveness in his or her community. It's another for a celebrity to live this out on the pages of the nation's newspapers, on radio stations, and in studios and board rooms. We forget that our favorite singers are not just music-producing machines but real humans with frailties and flaws. Fame can be intoxicating and suffocating. 

It is true that Christian leaders–whether worship leaders, Christian artists, pastors, leaders—all bear the weight of public leadership and are called to model what it looks like to follow Christ in faithfulness. And yet, we should also recognize that even the best Christians are redeemed but flawed sinners. The Scripture is full of heroes whose sins are not hidden, from David to Abraham to Noah to Peter. We are not spared the real stories of men and women of faith. 

The truth is, Christian music is an art expressed through cracked and fragile messengers. They use their gifts to tell the story of an extraordinary Savior, who never let anyone down, who is spotless and sinless, and whose life, death, and resurrection covers the sins of his people, both the famous and the forgotten. 

Sin has consequences, but God's grace is bigger than our sin. Today you can find forgiveness and hope in the precious blood of Jesus, shed for you.