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Can the Art Be Separated from the Artist? – joshbalogh

June 11, 2025

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Picture, this your song hits the radio. You know the one—it stops you in your tracks and gets you singing along at the top of your lungs. Maybe it’s a fun road trip jam or perhaps a worship classic that centers your heart rightfully on your Savior.

Then you hear the news. The writer/singer of your song has crashed and burned in a very public way. It’s a moral failure and it’s bad. You’re conflicted, thinking, “can I still worship to this song knowing of the singers fall from grace? Should I?” Sin is certainly not new, and so neither are scandals, but the internet age has changed more than a few things about music and the industry.

Alright, CCM fans, let’s tackle a question plaguing my waking thoughts lately: when a Christian artist or pastor falls hard—think scandal, hypocrisy, or moral failure—can we still hold onto their music or sermons? Can we separate the art from the artist? Or do we hit delete and move on? As someone who’s been spinning Christian tunes since the days of Michael W. Smith’s Go West Young Man and DC Talk’s Free at Last. I grew up a fan, remained a fan, and joined the ranks as music critic in 2017. I still listen to all of it, old and new. Additionally, I own several Christian classics on vinyl, and still have a massive CD collection, so this hits close to home. The recent allegations against Michael Tait, alongside other high-profile stumbles, have fans like me wrestling with whether we can separate the art from the artist. So, let’s dive in, lay out the case for and against, and see where faith, grace, and truth lead us. Buckle up—this one’s personal and more than a little painful.

The Case For: The Art Stands on Its Own

Here’s the argument for keeping the music, books, movies, or sermons, even when the artist falls:

God’s Truth Transcends Human Failure
Scripture’s clear: God uses broken people to carry His message. King David wrote half the Psalms we sing, yet he was an adulterer and murderer. His sin didn’t erase the truth in Psalm 51. Philippians 1:18 says Paul rejoiced when Christ was preached, even by folks with shaky motives. If a song like “Reckless Love” by Cory Asbury or “God’s Not Dead” by Newsboys points you to Jesus, can’t God still use it, regardless of the artist’s flaws? The art’s power comes from God, not the human behind it even if he used them to make it.

Art as a medium, Not the Source
Christian music and preaching are conduits for worship, not the worship itself. When I crank up “Oceans” by Hillsong United, I’m not worshipping Hillsong—I’m worshipping Jesus. The song’s truth doesn’t depend on the artist’s perfection. Even secular fans separate art from artists—nobody stops listening to Led Zeppelin because of Jimmy Page’s mess-ups. Why should Christian fans be different?

Personal Connection to the Art
Some songs are woven into our spiritual DNA. For me, DC Talk’s “What If I Stumble” was a lifeline in high school, helping me navigate doubt. Jars of Clay and Switchfoot helped me navigate burgeoning adulthood, while Relient K helped me maintain a sense of humor when life got hard. If an artist’s scandal taints their work, do I lose those moments of faith? Do I lose those memories soundtracked by their art? Keeping the art lets us preserve God’s work in our lives, even if the artist falters. It’s about what the song does for you, not what the artist did right or wrong.

Grace Reflects the Gospel
Romans 3:23 says we’ve all sinned. If we ditch every song or sermon by a flawed leader, we’re left with nothing—because nobody’s perfect. Holding onto the art while praying for the artist’s restoration (Galatians 6:1) mirrors the gospel’s balance of grace and accountability. It’s messy, but it’s Christlike. The lyrics of Switchfoot’s hit, “Dare You to Move” come to mind, where Foreman reminds us, “Maybe redemption is stories to tell/maybe forgiveness is right where you fell.”

The Case Against: The Art Carries the Artist’s Shadow

Now, let’s flip the coin. Here’s why separating art from the artist might not work:

The Hypocrisy Factor
Christian music and preaching carry a unique weight—they’re ministry, not just entertainment. When an artist like Michael Tait, whose recent allegations of grooming, sexual assault, and substance abuse rocked the scene (Newsboys press release), sings about faith while living a “double life,” it feels like a betrayal. How can you sing “Jesus Freak” knowing the singer’s actions contradict the message? The hypocrisy can make the art feel hollow, like a sermon from a pastor who doesn’t practice what they preach.

Triggering Pain for Victims
Scandals often involve real harm. Several recent mega Pastor scandals, who admitted to “inappropriate sexual behavior. For victims and those close to the scandals, hearing an old sermon or reading one of their books could reopen wounds. Keeping the art might prioritize personal comfort over compassion for those hurt, which isn’t Christlike.

Tarnished Witness
Christian artists and pastors represent the faith to the world. When a pastor is fired for an “inappropriate relationship,” it damages the church’s credibility. Continuing to play their music or quote their sermons risks signaling that we’re okay with sin, especially in a social media age that amplifies every scandal. It’s hard to share a song with a nonbeliever when the artist’s actions undermine the gospel.

Idolization and Distraction
We’re already prone to putting artists on pedestals (guilty—I had DC Talk, Newsboys, and Jars of Clay posters everywhere as a teen). Keeping their art can blur the line between appreciating the message and clinging to the artist’s image. If I’m singing a song tied to a fallen leader, am I focusing on Jesus or wrestling with their baggage? Sometimes, stepping away from the art helps us fix our eyes on Christ alone (Hebrews 12:2).

Where I Land: Discernment Is Key

So, can we separate the art from the artist? I think it’s a both/and situation, and it starts with discernment. Maybe that frustrates you, feeling I should pick a side, but there’s much more nuance here than our current outrage culture allows. But we don’t have to cave to our culture, we can and should choose a better way; the way of Christ. I think balance is a better way to go. Here’s my practical take, forged from years of loving Christian music and navigating its messes along with my own tangled heart:

Test the Art: Does the song or sermon align with Scripture? If it’s true and points to Jesus, it might still have value (Philippians 4:8). But if it feels tainted by hypocrisy, permit yourself to pause.

Honor Victims: If the artist’s actions caused harm, like in Tait’s or Morris’s cases, consider how playing their music or quoting them affects others. Compassion comes first. Be willing to set aside freedom for the sake of your brother or sister in Christ.

Balance Grace and Truth: Pray for fallen artists (Galatians 6:1), but don’t ignore accountability. Their sin doesn’t negate God’s truth, but it might mean setting their work aside for a season, just as the consequences for some sins are higher than others.

Seek Authentic Voices: Support artists like Andrew Peterson, John Van Deusen, Sara Groves, or Jon Guerra, and Jon Foreman, who sing about real faith—doubt, pain, and all. And keep in mind, they aren’t perfect either. Check out Jesusfreakhideout.com or Bandcamp for indie artists keeping it honest and authentic, warts and all.
Ultimately though, we have to anchor our hope in Scripture, no man or woman. Only Jesus is deserving of our praise, only Jesus is worthy of our worship. And it is Scripture, the voice of our Shepherd, and Christian community that helps remind us when our eyes wander and need to be refocused on Jesus. But for His grace, so go I…

Keep Singing, but Keep Wrestling

Here’s my heart: I’m not tossing my Newsboys albums yet, but I’m not ignoring the allegations either. I’ll keep spinning songs that stir my faith, but I’ll do it with eyes and ears wide open, knowing God’s truth doesn’t depend on human perfection. If a song feels heavy—like it’s carrying the artist’s shadow—I’ll set it aside and trust God to speak through other voices. As C.S. Lewis said, Aslan’s not safe, but he’s good. That’s the God we serve, and He’s still moving through broken vessels, one of which is yours truly.

What about you? Can you separate the art from the artist, or does a scandal change everything? Which songs still hit you, despite the mess? Or which ones have you had to place a pause on, hopefully just for a season?

Drop a comment below or hit up Jesusfreakhideout.com to find new music that keeps it real. And if you discover a gem, buy it—don’t just stream it. Support the artists pointing us to Jesus with authenticity.