The frontman of the band Tenth Avenue North, Mike Donehey, is sharing his thoughts on the Christian music scene since the controversy engulfing Michael Tait, former lead singer of the Newsboys, came out.
"I want to say this about the state of the CCM industry," says Donehey on Instagram. "I've been in the CCM industry since 2007, when my band got signed, and I've seen a lot of good and some not-so-good."
Donahey has more recently released music as a solo artist; however, he is still in Tenth Avenue North.
"When blowups happen, there seems to be two radical responses. One, 'See? They're all a bunch of lying snakes in it for the money. Let's burn this thing to the ground.' And two. This defiant defensiveness. 'Hey, who are we to judge?'"
Donehey is referring to the former frontman of Newsboys for 15 years, Michael Tait, and the recent allegations of sexual misconduct. After the first round of allegations, Tait himself confessed that they were "largely true." However, more allegations have come out since that time and Tait has remained silent.
"I want us to hold some tension in the middle. Consequence and condemnation are two different things. We can hold people liable for their actions, that they would experience the consequence of those, while not condemning them. That's why we have to forgive everyone. Not so we look over what they've done, but so that we can see it rightly."
On June 4, the Julie Roys Report released an article outlining two and a half years of researching claims people made against Tait, including three 22-year-old men who confessed to Tait being sexually inappropriate with them after getting them drunk.
"When we forgive, we're no logner looking for vengence," says Donehey. "We're looking for proper justice."
On June 10, Tait released a written statement that admitted what was being said about him was 'largly true.'
"It's all about integrity, right? I've had so many people ask me, 'Is so and so legit?' A better question is to say, do they walk in integrity? Are they the same offstage, on stage, back stage, and around the stage?"
Donehey says the news of Tait took him by surprise.
"Secrecy always destroys. We are not made to live in secret. I was astonished by some of the things that came to light. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. It reminds me of the importance to live openly and honestly."
The singer/songwriter uses Hebrews 12:1 as a reference of doing life together, in which it says, "Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."
"I am heartbroken, saddened, and weirdly encouraged, because we love to label whole groups of people by a few people's actions, and we need to be careful. There have been so many incredible artists doing such incredible work for so long. Please, don't throw the baby out with the bath water."
The Roys Report had characterized Tait’s conduct as “Nashville’s worst-kept secret,” noting that many in the industry were reluctant to speak publicly.
In Tait's confession, he also said, "To the extent my sinful behaviour has caused anyone to lose respect or faith or trust in me, I understand, deserve, and accept that. But it crushes me to think that someone would lose or choose not to pursue faith and trust in Jesus because I have been a horrible representative of Him."
As of June 26, no legal charges have been made against Tait.