When Respected Leaders Fail - Selective Blindness

This article continues my series entitled "When Respected Leaders Fail" with a focus on "Selective Blindness" within Mega Church and Christian Parachurch organizations.

A Lifelong Faith

I’ve been a Christian as long as I can remember. I was so young when I first accepted Christ that it never occurred to me to write a year in the Gideons Bible I got in grade five. I think I accepted Christ in grade five—maybe March 16th—but honestly, I don’t remember. I’m 57 now.

The Church’s Double Standards

I’ve met some amazing, godly Christians in my life, but I’ve also encountered some of the most manipulative, judgmental, and dishonest people in the Church. I’ll never forget a classmate with a rough home life who showed up at our ultra-conservative church. He was told his jeans “dishonored God.” From what I know, he never stepped foot in a church again.

In the Church, it was quietly accepted that teens and young adults might “fool around” a bit. But if a girl got pregnant? She was a pariah—shunned and avoided.

Decades ago, A friend of ours, just 16 at the time, started a nanny job at a local farm. The father, a respected church and community leader, soon began exposing himself and trying to take advantage of her every chance he got. She told some Christian leaders and people she respected about it but they brushed it off, saying she must have invited it. He even made attempts while driving her home from Bible study. Years later, court documents revealed a pattern of abuse with every single nanny they hired—and more.

Sadly, it seems every month another pastor or leader is exposed as a predator. I’m so done with it. The story is always the same: people saw warning signs, but their first instinct was to protect the leader’s reputation, not the victims. The victims? They must be lying.

Another Fallen Leader

Michael Tait, until recently the lead singer of the popular Christian band the Newsboys, is the latest fallen leader. In a recent Instagram post, he confessed and took responsibility:

“Recent reports of my reckless and destructive behavior, including drug and alcohol abuse and sexual activity, are, sadly, largely true. For two decades, I used and abused cocaine, drank far too much, and, at times, touched men in an unwanted, sensual way. I’m ashamed of my choices and actions and make no excuses. I’ll call it what God calls it—sin.”

The Newsboys released their own statement:

“Last night, our hearts shattered when we read the news alleging drug abuse and inappropriate sexual actions by our former lead singer, Michael Tait. While Michael has not fully addressed these allegations, we’re devastated by the implications. Our hearts are with the victims who’ve bravely shared their stories. If you’re a victim, we urge you to come forward. We absolutely do not condone any form of sexual assault.”

An Open Secret

The Roys Report, a Christian investigative journalism outlet, broke the story on June 3, detailing three victims, all around 22 years old. Since then, reports, including a June 13 article by The Guardian, suggest up to six victims, with allegations that the youngest may have been only 13. I hope the truth comes out and justice is served if this is true. But my point isn’t the victims’ ages—that’s for law enforcement to handle. I want to focus on another part of this story.

The Roys Report noted, “Multiple sources told The Roys Report that rumors of Tait’s behavior circulated in the Christian music industry for years. Some expressed concern about his interactions with young men at concerts and events. A former tour manager, who worked with the Newsboys in the early 2000s, said Tait’s ‘late-night hangouts’ with younger fans raised red flags, but no formal complaints were made.”

Let that sink in. Industry insiders in CCM—the Contemporary Christian Music Association—knew about strange late-night parties and never asked questions.

The Christian Post quoted a former band member in a June 5 article: “I heard ‘whispers’ about Tait’s lifestyle as early as 2010 but dismissed them as gossip because no one came forward with evidence. We all knew Mike liked to party, but I never imagined it went this far.”

Wait, what? They knew Mike loved to party?

These are the same people singing about Jesus at every event, yet they looked the other way when they heard about Mike’s party life. That should’ve been a huge red flag. Their silence let the abuse continue.

Ministry Watch reported on June 5: “An industry source who worked with Tait’s management in the mid-2000s said Tait’s behavior was an ‘open secret’ among some crew members, particularly his heavy drinking and late-night socializing. But no one knew about the assaults—or if they did, they didn’t speak up.”

Jessica Morris, in a CHVN interview, said, “There were people in the industry who heard things, but it was hushed up. I spoke with sources who felt powerless to act because Tait was such a big name, and there was no hard evidence until victims came forward.”

The Guardian’s June 13 article added: “The Guardian interviewed 25 people in the Christian music industry, most of whom said they had prior knowledge of allegations that Tait engaged in abusive behavior. The men who came forward—two agreeing to go on the record, the rest anonymously—were aged 13 to 29 at the time of their alleged experiences.”

A Call to Repent and Reform

I’m not saying these industry insiders are as guilty as Michael, but it shows how the Church turns a blind eye when allegations arise against mega-leaders. Instead of caring for the weakest in the body of Christ, they protect the powerful.

As long as the Church tolerates a double standard—condemning the rank and file while excusing leaders—it stands condemned. We need genuine repentance. The trail of broken lives must end.

That classmate I mentioned? His rejection wasn’t just a personal slight—it was a symptom of a Church culture that often values appearances over compassion.

Honestly, if I hadn’t met Jesus on a deeply personal level, I might not find church all that attractive. It’s filled with broken people, but the problem isn’t their brokenness—it’s that many embrace it. A few weeks ago, I shared at church, “People want just enough Jesus to avoid hell.” But the gospel demands all-in devotion to Christ, not to an organization or leader.

Too often, the Church shields its leaders because their charisma or influence is tied to the institution’s success, leaving victims to bear the cost of silence. From Ravi Zacharias to Mike Bickle, Robert Morris, and now Michael Tait, the pattern is chilling: whispers ignored, victims dismissed, reputations preserved until the truth can no longer be contained.

We must make the Church a place where narcissism dies. Churches need zero-tolerance policies for abuse, safe reporting channels, and leaders held to the same standards as everyone else.

I recently spoke with a pastor friend and suggested his church create policies to direct victims to outside help, so they get real support while the church addresses the consequences for the leader. I was encouraged by his openness to solutions that prioritize victims.

Imagine a Church where victims are believed, narcissists are humbled, and Christ’s love shines through actions, not just words. It starts with genuine sorrow and repentance for our part.

While many churches are filled with compassionate believers, these recurring scandals reveal a systemic flaw we can’t ignore any longer.