CCM Artist Rhett Walker Rebukes Those Condemning ALL Christian Music amid Michael Tait Allegations

Tré Goins-Phillips : Jun 26, 2025
Faithwire

"...Let's not throw the baby out with the bath water. Let's remember there [are] a lot of prayed up, Bible believing, Jesus seeking artists that are out here in the CCM industry. Let's support them while our industry is hurting while being man and woman enough to call out hypocrisy without pointing fingers at everybody. When I was growing up, the bully at school got hit in the mouth... The whole class wasn't punished for the bad one..." -Rhett Walker, via Instagram

[Faithwire.com] The horrific allegations against Michael Tait have caused some to question the industry that built him. (Screengrab image: via YouTube-Glorious Mandate)

Hayley Williams, the frontwoman for Paramore, spoke out boldly against the disgraced ex-lead singer of the Newsboys, even condemning the entire contemporary Christian music (CCM) industry. She wrote in an Instagram post she hopes it "crumbles," in part because it's not LGBTQ "affirming."

While some have certainly piled on in their damnations of the CCM industry, there are others—like Rhett Walker—urging a softer approach, one that rebukes sin without vilifying everyone in the industry's orbit.

Making money as a Christian artist, he asserted in a recent Instagram post, isn't wrong.

At the onset of his post, Walker condemned Tait's alleged actions —which include predatory behavior, watching a rape, and assaulting young men, two of whom were minors—and wrote he should be jailed.

While Tait posted an initial apology, it does not cover the breadth of the numerous accusations that have been leveled against the 59-year-old singer.

Another man's heinous sins should not, Walker argued, invalidate the worth of the CCM industry.

"My calling is my job," he wrote. "So I do have to pay bills and this is what pays my bills. I hope your calling is also your job. If a plumber has the same allegations and they are true, once again ... jail. But I don't cancel the plumbing industry. The sin has consequences. It feels weak to hate an industry because of bad people inside it. Stand up and call out the bad people!" (Screengrab image: via Instagram)

He went on to write there remains within CCM people—"like me" —who "care about sharing the Gospel through music," noting, "I know a lot of artists, radio peeps, promoters and so forth that are about sharing the Gospel."

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It is worth noting comments about Tait's purported actions being an "open secret" in the CCM world have poured fuel on the fire of cynicism aimed at the faith-based industry.

Christian singer-songwriter Cory Asbury, for example, wrote in an Instagram Story "everyone knew" about the allegations against Tait...

Another follower asked, "How many 'Christian' bands/artists are living a double life like Michael Tait[?]" In response, Asbury simply wrote, "A lot."... Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here

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