Newsboys’ Michael Tait Praised for ‘Masterclass’ and ‘Heartful’ Confession of Sin
The former lead singer of the Christian rock band ‘The Newsboys,’ Michael Tait, is receiving an outpouring of support following the release of his confession of sin on Instagram after being accused of drug use and sexual misconduct towards several young men, with many pointing to it as a model of repentance that other Christian leaders who have imploded their world can learn from.
In his post, Tait wrote:
“Recent reports of my reckless and destructive behavior, including drug and alcohol abuse and sexual activity are sadly, largely true. For some two decades I used and abused cocaine, consumed far too much alcohol, and, at times,. I am ashamed of my life choices and actions, and make no excuses for them. I will simply call it what God calls it-sin. I don’t blame anyone or anything but myself. While I might dispute certain details in the accusations against me, I do not dispute the substance of them.”
Rather than minimize the wrongfulness of his actions, Tait instead lays out a general confession of wrongdoing without justification.
I’m ashamed to admit that for years I have lied and deceived my family, friends, fans, and even misled my bandmates about aspects of my life. I was, for the most part, living two distinctly different lives. I was not the same person on stage Sunday night that I was at home on Monday.
I was violating everything I was raised to believe by my God-fearing Dad and Mom, about walking with Jesus and was grieving the very God I loved and sang about for most of my life. By His grace, I can say that for the past six months, I have lived a singular life-one of utter brokenness and total dependence on a loving and merciful God.
and
I have hurt so many people in so many ways, and I will live with that shameful reality the rest of my life. I can only dream and pray for human forgiveness, because I certainly don’t deserve it. I have even accepted the thought that God may be the only One who ultimately and completely forgives me. Still, I want to say I’m sorry to everyone I have hurt. I am truly sorry. It is my hope and prayer that all those I have hurt will receive healing, mercy, and hope from the Merciful Healer and Hope-Giver.
He concludes:
Sin is a terrible thing, taking us where we don’t want to go; keeping us longer than we want to stay; and costing us more than we want to pay. I accept the consequences of my sin and am committed to continuing the hard work of repentance and healing-work I will do quietly and privately, away from the stage and the spotlight.
To the extent my sinful behavior has caused anyone to lose respect or faith or trust in me, I understand, deserve, and accept that. But it crushes me to think that someone would lose or choose not to pursue faith and trust in Jesus because I have been a horrible representative of Him-for He alone is ultimately the only hope for any of us.
King David’s prayer of repentance in Psalm 51 has been my prayer this year: “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness… Blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me… Create in me a new heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
We posted his confession to our X account and received hundreds of comments about it at the time of writing, with 95% of them positive, with a small sample posted below:
Amidst the prayers and pleas, many online commentators have noted that Tait’s admission of wrongdoing is in sharp contrast to that of another high-profile leader who recently underwent public scrutiny.
Many people compared this statement to author and radio host Dr. Michael Brown’s statements and actions following accusations that he’d been involved in “sexually abusive misconduct.” User have been pointing out that while Tait seems to have completely and unreservedly owned his sin, Brown and his elder team sought to minimize his actions, insisting that he’d only engaged in “moral indiscretions” when he had a sexually charged and inappropriate relationship with another man’s wife and engaged in “leadership misconduct’ when he was smacking a student on her backside.
However, despite his seeming openness, questions remain about how much his bandmates knew, given that they toured with him for 15 years and to what degree they were kept in the dark, as Tait claims.
Music journalist Jessica Morris, who originally broke the story in a feature for The Roys Report, has follow-up articles dropping soon centering around Newsboys’ manager, the extent to which he knew of Tait’s actions, the actions he took to cover it up.
Lastly, Tait was a master manipulator who led a double life for decades, using and abusing hard drugs while committing sexual assault against those he helped render physically and mentally compromised. With more yet to come out about Tait, we would caution those celebrating his confession that this may be a bit premature.
Hope for the best, but with what we know is coming, there is certainly reason to pause.
About Author
It’s hard to argue with someone who says, “Yes. I have sinned in these specific ways, and I need help.”
Forgiveness? Yes.
Trust? No time soon.
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Explore remote jobs across the United States, all in one place. Companies are hiring for freelance, part-time, and full-time remote jobs in the U.S.—many with options for flexible schedules and hybrid work. From entry-level positions to executive roles, start your search here and find the best opportunities..
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Explore remote jobs across the United States, all in one place. Companies are hiring for freelance, part-time, and full-time remote jobs in the U.S.—many with options for flexible schedules and hybrid work. From entry-level positions to executive roles, start your search here and find the best opportunities
for you…… https://beat4life15.blogspot.com/
He needs to be held lovingly and Scripturally accountable by fellow Christians. No Christian is sinless, yet – but we are to walk righteously before God in the Spirit and not succumb to being part of the world.
If handled Biblically correctly, this may be the best thing that’s ever happened to Michael.
He needs to be excommunicated from all churches. Gay rapists are incapable of change. Its past the point of no return.
And I would define gay rape even as touching another man’s genitals (which he is accused of), rubbing his leg, or grabbing his butt. These are rape when a man does any of them to another man because of how grotesquely unnatural they are that moves them beyond harassment all the way to rape, and any man who has done them deserves to be executed by the state no matter how much he claims to have repented because he is perverse and cannot be fixed. And this would solve the gay epidemic immediately. Vote for me as King in 2032.
you obviously haven’t experienced true authentic saving grace.
sooooooooo glad you’re not God.
All who read your comments know you are a darwinist. And so it’s no surprise you wouldn’t believe anyone could change.
Just remember, you’ll be judged in the same manner you’ve judged others.
If nobody can change, then there is no gospel at all, and Jesus died for nothing. Begging the question, why are you wasting your time posting here?
Probably had ChatGPT write it. Nobody should ever be praised for how well written a confession is, especially now.
In this era of personal non-accountability, especially in Christian leadership circles, I appreciate Tait’s candid confession made with zero caveats. I pray he repents and straightens out his life.
I have experienced true saving grace, and with that the Holy Spirit living inside me and as a former druggie party animal ,I have absolutely no idea how a man who’s been born again and Spirit filled becomes a gay coke head rapist for decades. Seems like this is damage control couched in Christianese. I’m sorry but having an affair with a women is not even in the same ballpark as being a gay rapist. Disgusting. Seems like there’s lots of newsboys lovers commenting here, so quick to forgive a celebrity…
“4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.” – 1 John 3
His confession needs to recognize that he was never truly born again. Until it does, it’s not complete repentance, but more a matter of selling a false gospel. A false gospel which he might’ve believed his entire life.