What Faith Did the Lead Singer of Hawk Nelson Leave?

Jon Steingard, the lead singer of the Christian rock band Hawk Nelson, announced on social media that he has left the faith.  I read his statement closely.  Like Jon, I am a preacher’s kid who lived and breathed church but left the faith.  I, however, left as a teenager and converted as an adult whereas Mr. Steingard seems to have done the reverse. 

The singer stated that he believes the Bible to be a product of human beings, doesn’t understand how evil can exist if God is real, etc.  I’m sure I’m not alone that when reading these objections wondered how serious the singer truly is about these specific “problems.”  After all, a quick Google search would have given reasonable answers to Mr. Steingard’s questions.  He could have found books, articles, blog posts, podcasts and videos from William Lane Craig, Frank Turek, J. Warner Wallace, Mary Jo Sharp, Mark Mittleberg, etc.  

So, why I have doubts about the singer’s doubts, one statement really struck me.  He stated,“church had become a chore.”  I found that to be very interesting. 

I am fairly ignorant about Christian music as a whole and know less about Hawk Nelson (I prefer to study to classical and work out to hard rock).  I would like to know more about the former Christian’s congregation.  It may be a wonderful church but it may have good intentions but fallen prey to the worst of evangelical Christian culture in which a person feels they have to put on a good face and hide their struggles.  

It is possible as well that the church succumbed to an even worse temptation—to tickle the ears in order to draw a large crowd.  These congregations are everywhere these days—“worship” that draws from whatever is popular on K-Love regardless of the tune’s theology, canned sermons that are human oriented usually focused on self-help complete with gimmicks and a few proof texts sprinkled on it, etc.

I can completely understand being excused by the first possibility and bored by the second.  A shallow culture and/or a shallow approach to discipleship is one of the reasons we are losing more than 70% of young people when they leave for college. 

I am guessing and I’m not trying to pick on Mr. Steingard. I have been in the same spot but mine was as steeped in volitional reasons (i.e., I wanted to party like it was 1999 at least until I came to faith in 1997).  I see no signs as of yet from this young man.  

I hope that we hear more from him.  He stated that he is open to having his mind changed.  I hope he is serious.  I would love to have him converse with J. Warner Wallace or Frank Turek or Sean McDowell or Brett Kunkle. (heck, he’s even welcome to connect with me if he doesn’t mind this former atheist’s natural snarkiness and abiding love of Guns n’ Roses).  

If I’m right that Mr. Steingard has not yet found a deeper faith, I hope pastors who spend way too much time hoping to be a megachurch pastor with book deals and conference speaking gigs will note that their personal ambition comes at a steep cost.