Marty Sampson iswell-known in the contemporary Christian music scene for his work with the bands Hillsong Worship, Hillsong United, Delirious, Young & Free. He has been with Hillsong since he was 16 and is famed for powerful worship singles including “All I Need is You.”
What could make such a voice to the generation suddenly turn away from focus on the faith to questioning is belief? This is certainly a mystery at this point but what is clear is that no one wakes up and takes a decision like this on a whim, much less someone whose life and career was spent inside the walls of Christianity.
In the now deleted post on Instagram, Marty Sampson said:
“Time for some real talk. I’m genuinely losing my faith, and it doesn’t bother me. Like, what bothers me now is nothing. I am so happy now, so at peace with the world. It’s crazy.
This is a soapbox moment so here I go … How many preachers fall? Many. No one talks about it. How many miracles happen. Not many. No one talks about it. Why is the Bible full of contradictions? No one talks about it. How can God be love yet send four billion people to a place, all ‘coz they don’t believe? No one talks about it. Christians can be the most judgmental people on the planet—they can also be some of the most beautiful and loving people. But it’s not for me.
I am not in any more. I want genuine truth. Not the “I just believe it” kind of truth. Science keeps piercing the truth of every religion. Lots of things help people change their lives, not just one version of God. Got so much more to say, but for me, I keeping it real. Unfollow if you want, I’ve never been about living my life for others.
All I know is what’s true to me right now, and Christianity just seems to me like another religion at this point. I could go on, but I won’t. Love and forgive absolutely. Be kind absolutely. Be generous and do good to others absolutely. Some things are good no matter what you believe. Let the rain fall, the sun will come up tomorrow.”
The truth is there is always that underlying factor, that pain, that anger, bitterness, unanswered questions, etc, that instead of getting the balm of Gilead for its solution was probably ruthlessly judged by the Pharisees and Sadducees of the church… but don’t take these words for it, this is just speculating on a long shot.
Clarifying that he has not “denounced” his faith, the singer said “it’s on incredibly shaky ground.”
“I have and continue to analyze the arguments of prominent Christian apologists and biblical scholars, and am open minded enough to consider the arguments of atheist debaters and debaters from other religions,” he continued. “If the truth is true, it will remain so regardless of my understanding of it. If I search it out, surely it will become even more clearly seen as the truth that it is. Examining a diamond more closer reveals the quality of the diamond. As I am still breathing, I am still learning.”
Nevertheless Jesus said unto us:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” – Matthew 7:21-27.
Therefore while it is a shock that an iconic personality of the faith will come out in public to make such declaration, we can continue to pray for him without losing heart by taking solace in the fact that the master has said before time.
Despite his long history with Hillsong Church, Sampson emphasized his thoughts are his own and do not represent any church, adding, “If anything all I have ever received from Hillsong is support and the opportunity to follow my own mind, and they have always taught what I perceive to be sound Pentecostal doctrine.”
On a flip side however, this “shaky ground” may just be the shaking Sampson needs to get into genuine encounter that will bastardize every questions and doubts he has about the Christian faith.
