Christian artist TobyMac (real name Toby McKeehan) has said that he’s open about the possibility of reuniting with his former bandmates for a new DC Talk album, despite one of the members now being a pro-LGBTQ, pro-choice pagan.
After releasing five albums between 1989 and 1998, including the 1995 banger Jesus Freak, the band announced in 2000 that they were taking a break to pursue individual projects. They’ve come together for a few shows since going on hiatus, notably some cruise line reunion shows in 2017 and 2019, but nothing since Max came out as an ex-vangelical in 2021.
Now, in a new interview, when pressed over whether or not DC Talk would ever get back together to launch a new full-length DC Talk studio album, McKeehan told Billboard that he was not opposed to the prospect and that it’s not a “closed door.”
“I don’t know. Sometimes I’ll write a song that sounds more like DC Talk than it sounds like me and I’ll just kind of hold it. So there are a few of those sitting there. Our friend Ryan Tedder sent us a song that he felt like sounded like DC Talk, which we still have sitting there — and it’s amazing, because he wrote it. I don’t know the answer to that [reunion] question. I know that I’m not opposed to it; obviously I asked Michael and Kevin to be on this song, so it’s not a closed door for me.”
Justin Bieber dropped a gospel album on Easter, surprising fans with the 6-song EP that is rife with prayers and, scriptural references, sermon clips, and themed around freedom because of the cross.
Bieber is active on social media making consistent professions of faith, inviting a variety of pastors on to give the gospel. He will frequently talk about Jesus and his relationship with him, what parts of the bible he and his wife Hailey are reading, what he learned from a sermon, and will pray with his tens of millions of followers. He is a member of Hillsong Choir and has led worship at pal Judah’s Smith Churchome, as well as has preached from the pulpit.
While he has been consistent in his earnestness for years, his understanding of biblical truth is unfortunately underdeveloped and is reminiscent of a newly converted 14-year-old trying to explain the Christian faith and gospel to his parents after just one weekend at bible camp, leaving one praying that the Master’s seminary gives him a scholarship, or that he starts listening to better preachers than his current squishy pastor.
He has one song that could easily pass for a worship song in most churches nowadays, in the “Where you go I follow“, albeit with a slightly different musical arrangement. In fact, it will likely be a bonafide worship hit, and will be played in churches all across America.
Verse 1: Where you go, I follow (Where you go, I follow) You’re with me every step of the way Here in the struggle (Here in the struggle) Your love’s enough to wash it all away
Pre-Chorus: On the third day, yeah, you rose up And you beat death once and for all (Once and for all) Once and for all (Once and for all)
Chorus: There’s nobody like you (Like you, like you) There’s nobody like you, Jesus (Jesus, Jesus) There’ll nеver be nobody like You (Likе you, like you) There’ll never be nobody like you, Jesus (Jesus, Jesus)
Here are a few more snippets from his album, including one song that has a few s-bombs thrown in.
From the song Freedom.
Big up to my brother Blessed sons and daughters We all lookin’ for the answers We in search of living water Too blind to see the Messiah Are you weary? Are you tired? Runnin’ on empty, feelin’ the fire Mm, the Devil is a liar The story’s already written Children, you are forgiven (Yeah) Ain’t nothin’ you could do for you to change that And everythin’ you did, He erased that Yeah, He took it all and threw it in the wasteland
The dead resurrected, the Devil tried test it, him lost Him lose again (Mm) Head bruise again (Mm, mm-mm) Sweat, blood, tears ‘pon the cross Did you know He paid the cost for you?
From All she wrote:
I got the keys to the kingdom, I’m ’bout my father business I came up straight from the bottom, I started from the finish You can’t undermine a mastermind I may be out of your mind, but I ain’t out of mine I’m co-crucified, bury, resurrected And perfected in the Son of God Just like water turn to wine, I’m a prophetic sign Ask your barber, I’ma headliner in New York Times My life verses, I am His, yeah, and He is mine The great “I Am’s”, the greatest Lamb of all time
We’re in this Together
I was livin’ in a mansion doin’ big things FBI raided my house and sh– was gettin’ dicey I was doin’ stupid sh– to get people to like me All that to say, I’m thankful that’s not who I am And I’m thankful God was with me when sh–hit the fan ‘Cause He’s the reason that I’m still standin’ And even in a pandemic, God is still plannin’ Plannin’ peace, plannin’ joy, plan another day Gave His life upon the cross to wash our sins away
As for pastor Judah Smith, he has an outro on two songs, both containing sermon samples where he talks about who Jesus is and the promises found in him.
Smith is the pastor Churchome, a hip-to-be-cool, celebrity-endorsed 10,000 member megachurch that recently brought on Trinity-denying Modalist TD Jakes to be a board member of their church, along with having some very heterodox beliefs.