An examination of Michael English and Amy Grant

I didn't get involved in the Sandi Patti thread and I won't buy any Amy Grant CD's but I did want to say that I saw Michael English's web site a few years ago and it had a testimony about his fall from grace, his repentence and how God was using this to touch others and bring them to Jesus. I was very impressed by the honesty and humble way this was presented. He blamed his sins on himself and took full responsibility for his choices.

I don't have the link and don't know if his web site still has that info....... but I really felt Michael English had repented and turned from his sin. Therefore, I do buy Michael's CD's.

Diane

 

I will support any artist if they truly repent. I have yet to see Amy Grant do that.

 

Truly repent?
How would anyone really know if they did? Really, that is between them and God.

As for Amy Grant, do I condone what she did? Of course not. Does buying her Cd's make a statement that I condone it? I don't think so. Have you heard the disc Legacy? I rather enjoyed that, despite her personal life. In reality, I don't care about her personal life. God can use anything for His will.

 

Baptist in Richmond, When someone lives a very public 'Christian' life and sins and it is public knowledge, like those people we've mentioned, they need to repent publically so that God can receive the glory for their turn from their sins and so the unsaved world can see their remorse.

The web site apology and repentance that I saw from Michael English sure convinced me he felt really sorry and had repented. I've not seen nor heard anything from Amy Grant that would imply she felt she did something wrong. I won't buy her CD's because I don't want to give the appearance of agreeing with her life choices.

Does that make sense?

Diane

 

dianetavegia writes:
>>When someone lives a very public 'Christian'
>>life and sins and it is public knowledge, like
>>those people we've mentioned, they need to
>>repent publically so that God can receive the
>>glory for their turn from their sins and so the
>>unsaved world can see their remorse.

I disagree: someone does not need to "repent publicly so that God can receive the glory." We are only accountable to God. I have enough trouble worrying about myself than to take on the additional responsibility of concerning myself with the sins of Michael, Amy, or anyone for that matter. Besides, Michael made a public apology, and people are still condemning him for a sin that God has already forgiven, which (to me) is also a sin.

Secondly, to answer your question, yes: it does make sense. You have stated your belief, and you have made an rational argument for how you feel.

 

I buy Michael English CD's because I read his public statement of repentence and that's enough for me. His slate is clean with his Father in heaven and no longer is my business.

I still contend that when one lives a public 'Christian' life, making money off of Christianity... and sins openly, like Amy Grant and Sandi Patti, they... if they are sorry and repentent... should make a public statement concerning their repentance.

Shouldn't they be held as accountable as a television preacher? If their open sin is 'winked at' then what message are we sending to the young marrieds who buy their music and admire them?

Diane

 

dianetavegia writes:
>>Shouldn't they be held as accountable as a
>>television preacher? If their open sin
>>is 'winked at' then what message are we sending
>>to the young marrieds who buy their music and
>>admire them?

No, as I stated in my previous post, I don't feel that way at all. How am I winking at their sin? I said it before and I will say it again: it is between them and God. Why do you feel that they owe you any public explanation? Were you directly affected by their transgression? Are we any better? Despite the offense, sin is sin.

Bottom line: God didn't ask me how I felt about it, and He didn't ask me whether or not I thought that their apology (public or otherwise) was sincere.

 

Nope... but they will be supported and endorsed by ME if I buy their CD's. That was the original train of my thought..... that I will not purchase their CD's while they live openly in unrepented sin, not that they had to repent to me.

Gotta run, it's church night y'all.

Diane

 

dianetevegia writes:
>>Nope... but they will be supported and endorsed
>>by ME if I buy their CD's. That was the
>>original train of my thought..... that I will
>>not purchase their CD's while they live openly
>>in unrepented sin, not that they had to repent
>>to me.

That was my original train of thought.
How do you really know if anyone has really repented? On the same note, how do you know if they have not repented? That is between them and God.

 

AGAIN.... their sin was public knowledge and MY money will not support their sinful lifestyles if they do not appear to have repented! They are PUBLIC figures who represent Christianity to the unsaved world! They should repent publically. If it was you, and no one knew you.... then fine. BUT these people make money off of their 'christianity' and are accountable for their witness.

It is MY TESTIMONY at stake if an unsaved person sees me purchase their material and believes I condone their sin.

Baptist in Richmond, I'm 52 and you are NOT going to change my mind about this. We'd might as well go discuss something else.

Diane

 

dianetevegia writes:
>>If it was you, and no one knew you.... then
>>fine. BUT these people make money off of
>>their 'christianity' and are accountable for
>>their witness.

So, following this logic, their sin would be worse than that of an anonymous person. Sin is sin, regardless of the sinner.

As I previously stated, Michael repented, and is still vilified for his "repented" sin.

P.S. When did I ever say that I was trying to change your mind? I simply do not share your need for some sort of public apology (or evidence that they are not openly living in sin) for a personal sin commited against someone other than me.

 

Go back and read my previous posts. I've answered this a bunch of times. And Michael English is quite an example of a man who made things right with his God and with his public, in my opinion! God bless him and his ministry.

Diane

 

dianetavegia writes:
>>Go back and read my previous posts. I've
>>answered this a bunch of times.

Answered what? I didn't ask a question.

>>And Michael English is quite an example of a
>>man who made things right with his God and with
>>his public, in my opinion! God bless him and
>>his ministry.

I totally agree with you here.