Jump directly to the content

music

MusicReviews, Interviews, News, Commentaries, Glimpses of God, Best-Of Lists

No Stones for Stapp

When a few of our readers bashed Scott Stapp for his recent alleged bad behavior, many other readers came to his defense. And no one seems to want to cast the first stone.

A few weeks ago, we blogged the news that Scott Stapp was reportedly involved in a brawl with the band 311 and later showed up drunk for a TV interview. We received some e-mails condemning Stapp, and we followed up in our weekly newsletter by asking readers to pray for Stapp instead. That yielded nearly 200 responses, all of them agreeing that the appropriate response would be to lift Stapp up in prayer rather than judge him. Here's a sampling of those responses.

Who among us can cast the first stone? Are any of us perfect? Haven't we all made mistakes? Where is the love and forgiveness of Christ? You're right, this is an opportunity to show Scott Stapp and the world what God's love is all about. Let's pray we don't blow it.

Sarah Redmill

After reading a few messages you received about Scott Stapp, I am more upset about the reactions people have had than what Stapp himself may have done. Why are so many forgetting to be merciful and forgiving—forgetting to be Christian?

Jimmie R. Brodersen

If a person decides they are not going to listen to music performed, written, or played by a sinner, then they are going to have a quiet life.

Liz Scott

I've read a couple of the responses condemning Stapp, and I am somewhat shocked. What makes us feel so free to condemn a person so harshly? How would these people have responded to Jesus, since he did so many things that either broke religious laws or were forbidden by the religious leaders? I am not condoning behavior like this, but [we need] to proceed with caution when speaking so strongly. Instead of reacting so harshly to what Stapp did, why don't we start a huge prayer chain for him?

Faith Illenberg

Isn't it staggering how many Christians are so out of touch with their own iniquity that they're shocked when a "public Christian" sins? Faith in Christ doesn't erase the pathologies associated with original sin, [nor] does it erase our individual demons. Faith in Christ, however, gives us the grace to fight those demons—and to pick ourselves up after all our defeats, big and small. What Christians need to realize is that justice without mercy is no justice at all, and mercy without justice is cheap grace. That so many American Christians have such a Pharisee complex points to something of a cultural and catechetical meltdown in our churches.

James Freeman

Mr. Stapp is a Christian, not Christ.

Wendell Dixon

Isn't it interesting that in many cases, the very reaction coming from areas within contemporary Christianity is the very thing that they are themselves accusing of Stapp.


As Christians, we find ourselves angered over Stapp's [struggles with alcohol]. We shout out, "What kind of message is he sending?" and vow to boycott. We allow his name to [enter] our coffee table conversations, pulling out our own pieties for display. All for the sake of "the message we send." Personally, let me always err on the side of "What message am I sending?" Are my reactions of disgust, anger and rebuke reflecting and distributing the love and grace of Christ, or am I literally trying to "beat the hell" out of others with my soapbox?

Pastor Jim Lane

I learned a long time ago that being a Christian in the public eye does not give me a special ability to rise above the perils of everyday sins. If my Christian brother or sister is down, I'd much rather help them get back on track than say, "How disappointing—this really hurts our image," and turn my back to them because they didn't keep up "the requirements of a quality Christian."


Related Topics:
None
More from Christianity Today
A Fractured and Beautiful Faith

A Fractured and Beautiful Faith

How songwriter Audrey Assad transcended "positive and encouraging" to create music for the church.
A Terrifying Grace

A Terrifying Grace

Why God’s omniscience is good news for us.

Streaming This Weekend, May 24, 2013

What to watch this weekend (hint: don't make a huge mistake).
Can a Christian Family Ever Be Too Big?

Can a Christian Family Ever Be Too Big?

Experts weigh in.
Get Instant Access
Christianity Today Magazine
Subscribe now for a year (10 issues) at $24.95 for print, iPad, and instant web access.

International Orders

Comments

This article has no comments
You must be a Christianity Today subscriber to post comments
(on articles open to the public, you must at least register for a free account).
Login
or
Subscribe
or
Register

Don't Miss

Rob Bell's 'Ginormous' Mirror

Rob Bell's 'Ginormous' Mirror

To read his book is to read about our fascination with ourselves.
Fathers and Daughters

Fathers and Daughters

What is a "graphic novel"?

Taste and See

Taste and See

The unpredictable impact of Jesus.

more | current issue

Today's Christian Woman

Ministering to Military Families

Ministering to Military Families

Five tangible ways to...

Books & Culture

A Measure of Forgiveness

A Measure of Forgiveness

Memories of a British...

Small Groups

Conflict in Small Groups

Conflict in Small Groups

Work through conflict...

Out of Ur

Review: Missio Alliance Gathering 2013

Review: Missio Alliance Gathering 2013

Reflections on mission...

Facebook

CT eBooks & Bible Studies


Shopping