Hip hop artist Da' T.R.U.T.H. announced on his website that he is taking a sabbatical from ministry after a "moral indescrtion" in his personal life.
In the statement, Emanuel L. Lambert, Jr, - aka Da' T.R.U.T.H. - said that he has apologized to his wife and family and is working towards reconciliation with the help of his church, pastor and restoration team.
In May, hip hop artist The Ambassador was released from his label after a "moral failure in his marriage."
And currently in the news, BeBe Winans arrest in February on domestic assault charges against his ex-wife Debbie.
The first thought that came to my mind: perhaps these are the issues that the Gospel Music Association might consider helping artists address - how to be in the spotlight and hold a marriage together, maybe offer a place for artists to go for confidential counseling and support, facilitate support groups, offer marriage retreats?
Christian music artists - regarldess of genre - aren't immune to sin. They struggle with pressure and failure and falling, just like everyone else. The pressure of being held up by music fans as somehow holier than the rest of the Christian community simply because they're in the public eye can often lead artists to struggle silently with problems. There is a bit of a "stick your head in the sand and ignore the problem" mentality in Christian music.
I don't share these stories to be exploitive; I hope that you'll pray for Christians who have been called to share the gospel or encourage believers through music, as well as hold them as accountable as you would the folks sitting in church with you. Not to condemn, but to uphold in brotherly love and accountablity.
Got a gospel or Christian music news tip? Send me an email!
Click here to subscribe to Gospel Soundcheck by email and have the Gospel Soundcheck headlines delivered daily to your email inbox. And don't forget to follow me on Twitter!
Add to Del.icio.us
Add to Technorati
Add to Digg
Add to Newsvine
Add to Facebook
Add to StumbleUpon
Subscribe
