We Are Messengers Frontman Darren Mulligan Warns against Celebrity Worship in the Church
The frontman for the CCM group We Are Messengers says the church must stop promoting celebrity culture and fix its eyes on Jesus because, he said, humans will inevitably fail. We Are Messengers lead singer Darren Mulligan made the comments in a social media post Thursday as he alluded to the sexual misconduct allegations against Michael Tait, the former lead singer of the Newsboys.
"My heart breaks for everyone who's been hurt, and yes, it's deplorable," Mulligan said, adding that "justice should and will be done."
We Are Messengers has received multiple Dove Award nominations and won a K-LOVE Fan Award in 2019, but Mulligan said the body of Christ has become too comfortable with placing Christian celebrities on a pedestal. At the same time, he believes CCM artists must lead with humility and walk in integrity.
"For those of us who create art and trust in the Lord, we must be held to a higher standard, and we must purge ourselves and [the] industry of the incessant hunger for celebrity and for the fame, power, money, and adoration that so easily corrupts," he wrote. "Humans will always let you and me down, but Jesus never will. Make Jesus the Hero again, do justice, and love mercy."
In an accompanying video, Mulligan said Christians too often make "heroes out of men, heroes out of women."
"We have made celebrities out of people who God gave a little bit of talent to.
"We've got to chill the beans," he added, using a phrase from his home country of Ireland that means to relax. "Yeah, we want you to listen to our music, stream our songs, and share what we do. But ultimately, we want you to know God, to know the finished work of Jesus, to know the salvation that is only available to us through the finished work of Jesus Christ.
"And ultimately, we want our music in this industry, not just my band, but all these bands and artists and managers -- we want you to see that Jesus is the Hero of the story, not some very fallible, weak men and women who depend on the mercy of God. We want you to see that Jesus is the Hero. He's the Hero. He won't let you down. He's not like us."
Mulligan said he's been hesitant to speak on the topic, admitting he's grown tired of individuals with platforms rushing to share their thoughts -- "like we're some kind of wizards," he said, as if what he has to say "is so valuable for the whole universe to hear."
The CCM industry may have individuals who fail to live up to the calling, but it's also filled with "some of the most incredible human beings, men and women of mighty character, men and women who love the lost, the lonely, the least and the hurting," he said.
"Pray for everyone who's been hurt. Pray for our industry," he said. "Pray that we would continue to make Jesus the Hero of this story."
Photo Credit: ©Word/Curb
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
Listen to Michael's Podcast! He is the host of Crosswalk Talk, a podcast where he talks with Christian movie stars, musicians, directors, and more. Hear how famous Christian figures keep their faith a priority in Hollywood and discover the best Christian movies, books, television, and other entertainment. You can find Crosswalk Talk on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an interview that will be sure to encourage your faith.
Originally published June 27, 2025.
