The Newsboys’ Going Public was one of the first CDs I bought as a teenager. Then I discovered DCTalk and the Christian music scene of the 1990s. I was all in — subscribed to the magazine and read all the CD liner notes.
The music felt like a fun, safe way to be a teenager while growing in faith. It gave me a sense of identity and even mission.
Matt McGee
Back then, success in Christian music felt like a win for the kingdom of God. If these artists were drawing crowds, then maybe God was gaining ground. Or maybe their songs would help me reach my friends. Looking back, I now see clearly: The goal of that industry wasn’t to save souls. It was to sell tickets, CDs and radio ads to families like mine.
The recent revelations about Michael Tait didn’t shock me. The rumors about him circulated for decades. What struck me harder was the grief I didn’t expect — grief not only over his actions, but over the realization that the Christian media industry is more interested in image and sales than integrity.
I’ve been shaped by that industry. I kept listening, even after I’d heard the rumors about Tait and so many others. So now I’m asking: How much of my faith has been built on expertly marketed media? And more urgently: Can my faith exist without it?
Suppose your friend falls in love with a social media influencer. But it turns out he’s never spent time with the object of his affection — only admired her photos, read her posts, watched her videos, which were designed for likes and follows. There’s no real connection. Just a relationship with carefully curated images.
I fear I’ve done the same. So I’m taking a break.
I’m stepping away from all Christian media — no music, books, podcasts, devotionals or videos. Just the Bible and ancient, public-domain writings. No branding. No algorithms.
I don’t think Christian media is inherently bad. I know it can be a lifeline for many. But I’m wondering if it’s also dulled my longing for the real Jesus.
Maybe I’ve been staring at pictures of the ocean, content not to swim.
So I’m setting down the pictures. And I’m walking into the water.
Matt McGee is an experienced nonprofit leader with a background in donor-centered fundraising, strategic planning and faith-based service. An ordained Baptist music minister, he began his career in education and worship leadership before transitioning to nonprofit development and administration. He currently champions the mission of House of Cherith, a faith-based nonprofit serving survivors of sex trafficking in Atlanta and West Georgia. Matt holds a master’s degree in independent and charter school leadership from Mercer University, hosts “The Last Service” podcast and serves with his family at North Metro Church in Marietta, Ga.
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