Convicted Heavy Metal ‘Christian’ Singer Admits Being Atheist, Duped Fans

I've not heard of this guy (don't really follow Metal). I just wonder how many others are going through the motions to make a buck...

"A so-called Christian heavy metal band whose frontman was convicted of attempting to hire a hitman to murder his estranged wife has admitted that it duped fans into believing that they were Christian in order to sell their music.

“Truthfully, I was an atheist,” Tim Lambesis, the lead singer and founder of As I Lay Dying told the Alternative Press in a recent interview. “I actually wasn’t the first guy in As I Lay Dying to stop being a Christian. In fact, I think I was the third. The two who remained kind of stopped talking about it, and then I’m pretty sure they dropped it, too.” "

[...]

http://christiannews.net/2014/06/18...dmits-being-atheist-duped-fans-to-sell-music/

I doubt his Christianity to begin with since he so cavalierly tossed it to the side.

Of course the anti-Christian rock people like "Dial the Truth" will jump all over this and use it as another excuse to condemn all CCM and Christian rock. Never mind that there are likely frauds in ALL styles of Christian music and even preachers, but that isn't a valid reason for condemning it all.

Hank Hanegraaf has described people who supposedly have renounced Christianity as having a said faith rather than a real faith. In other words their faith likely wasn't real in the first place.

I'd rather see someone be honest and admit their faith wasn't real, as sad as that is, than to continue deceiving the church and themselves. It's better than for them to be honest than to be supposedly "exposed" by someone who is out on a witch hunt against all CCM and Christian rock to try to use as an excuse to condemn it all. Hopefully though they can still come back to Christ for real.

Not to mention the "frauds" in other music genres. And, not to mention the other frauds in other aspects of the Christianity "business". This guy is little different from the frauds and charlatans who run churches as mega-sized businesses.

Because of living in an area where Southern Gospel is still dominant, I've heard of SG singers who didn't exactly have totally pure motives (Nobody major, but local people in it for the money rather than for reaching people for Christ). The same applies for other styles of Christian music and preachers as well. Yet some of the very same people who accept them will try to dig up any excuse to be against CCM or Christian rock. And that isn't counting secular artists who don't even pretend to be Christian but do "Gospel" songs or albums. Some of the very same people who are anti-CCM will accept them as well.

Don't click that link!!!!! TWO pop over adds and attempts to install stuff! Disgraceful behavior for a site called "christiannews.net".

Sounds like another guy who wanted to be a big fish in a small pond, instead of a small fish in a big pond. These happen from time to time. We didn't play Sandy Patti / Patty however she wants it spelling because she didn't fit our format. Turns out she was an adultress. There was a fire that burned up all her Dove awards. I just laughed - God wasn't fooled by her false piety. It is a real shame she did that. I remember her at Billy Graham in 1980 when she was actually thin instead of fat, and actually sang songs that would fit a Hot-AC format.

Yeah, there was some phony in the Southern gospel format, I think the guy that did Stomp was involved in pornography. We actually played "Stomp" - and pulled it from rotation when his porn addiction was revealed.

There was some Christian comedian that lied about his background - we didn't play him.

A big problem was secular artists who crossed over like Bob Dylan. Some sort of "well I decided to be a Christian for 3 years" or some such nonsense. Cat Stevens did that amazing version of "Morning Has Broken", then turned his back on God to join the false religion of Islam.

Anybody can be deceptive and fool a program direction at a Christian station. We did the best we could at discerning the artists. I guarantee that we failed in a few cases. It isn't a sin to be fooled. But when you find out you are, it is your responsibility to take corrective action and get the hypocrite out of rotation. Sadly, most CCM stations left Sandy Patty in rotation once her sin was revealed, because her songs were popular on that format and the lyrics were good. I think that was a mistake.

rbrucecarter5 said:

Don't click that link!!!!! TWO pop over adds and attempts to install stuff! Disgraceful behavior for a site called "christiannews.net".

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Yuck. I saw the ads, but didn't notice it was installing anything. Here's a few more reputable links...

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-e...eist-and-lying-to-christian-fans-9548697.html

http://time.com/2900967/christian-heavy-metal-band-frontman-admits-hes-actually-an-atheist/

Yea, the right thing for him to do would have been to get out of Christian Rock, and do his own thing (Atheist Rock?) However, some kids might have been helped when he pretended to pray with them, etc...

What a surprise that the Apostle Paul even saw that coming down the pike in his Epistle to the Philippians.

That really bothers me, more so than the Sandy Pati (sp) situation, as unfortunately we're flawed humans and still have our sin nature. It's not right of course, but it can happen to the best of us, and thankfully God is forgiving, although she and others who have done similar stupid things like that will probably never live it down with their audiences. However, the atheist guy singing Christian music really bothers me and creeps me out. If he did not believe he should have quit the Christian industry and done secular music instead. This is why we should only put Jesus on a pedistal and not man. It's good to have people to look up to and respect, but people are flawed, and thus they will disappoint.

Yeah - it didn't take the anti-CCM trolls very long to latch onto this. Fortunately - well unfortunately - there are plenty of examples of hypocrites scattered throughout Christian musical styles, Christian denominations, and TV ministries. We look to Jesus for perfection, not men. Men are flawed and are prone to fall. There are a lot of phonies out there. Sometimes they wear heavy metal costumes. Sometimes $3000 suits. God knows the heart and motivation and will deal with phonies. I feel sorry for them - it won't profit them in the end, because they have received their "reward" in life, forgetting eternal judgement. The sin isn't in being fooled by a phony like this artist. The sin would be failing to act - pull him from airplay immediately.

Amen, so true.

WPHA said:

When I was in the unenviable position of having to pull their music, I did so only with a very heavy heart, and in an attitude of sorrowful prayer for them. I *HATED* having to pull so many VERY GOOD songs... but in order to do what was RIGHT and BIBLICAL, I had to pull the music... and I did. It was a sad duty, but a necessary one.

One primary reason is that these artists have made themselves into STUMBLING BLOCKS. If I play their music, it could be seen as a tacit endorsement of their sin, and a "weaker" listener could "fall" as a result.

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Yeah, I hear you. Jesus was really clear and plain when he said, "Judge those who stumble and fall, and shun them. Show them no mercy".

WPHA said:

I had also pulled Amy Grant's music when controversy began to swirl around her. When her marriage ended, that music was deleted.

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We actually talked with Amy on the phone, and tried to contact Gary. But he did an unfortunate interview in Rolling Stone magazine that pretty much confirmed some of the things Amy had told us. It was controversial with a few listeners, but after knowing the truth - we put Amy back on the air. Not only that, we did a special consisting of nothing but her musical career. It impressed the station owner so much that he sent a copy of the show to Amy, and tried to sell the special to other stations. Unfortunately, a lot of stations took a narrower view of Amy and would not listen to him when he presented the facts.

There is no doubt in my mind that there was a real attempt to suppress Amy and some of the excellent CHR artists at the time. There is also no doubt that Amy had mellowed out, same with Sandi. I actually remember her when she was thin and making a lot more CHR-like music. Twila Paris was the same way, her early stuff was a lot better than the later stuff. Rebecca St. James started making the music Amy SHOULD have been making at that point in her career, but she didn't keep it up in the face of overwhelming pressure for CCM to go in a more praise and worship direction.

I really don't know if CCM can overcome almost two decades of the praise and worship music - it came at the worst time possible and gutted the format of things that appealed to young people. In the late 80's I gave seminars to youth groups about trying CCM, and had some really enthusiastic kids. In the early 90's, most of my announcers were very young - but they were as good as any on-air talent I have ever heard. The praise and worship direction caused the bottom to drop out of the ratings with kids and virtually no kids listen to CCM today.

There is hope - we have some very creative formats on the air in Orlando and Houston - they suffer on HD channels and weak translators, but are still managing to show up in the ratings. Kids are listening in ever increasing numbers, and I hope that maybe - after a long slumber - CCM can finally resume the direction it was taking in the late 80's and become viable again as a ministry tool to reach kids - who after all will be the future of the church and Christian radio.

This has been going on for years. When I was in radio back at the dawn of time..lol...There were christian rock bands that said they were christian but really werent. One that comes to mind is Vengeance Rising. Lead singer Roger Martinez now says he also is an athiest. A lot of the bands from the 90s now claim to not be christian and a lot of them say they never were. But the music still was used as a tool to help and/ or convert people to christianity..and I was one of them.

WPHA said:

If you're going to "quote" Jesus... it's best to get your quotes from the Good Book... thus:

MATT 18:6 "but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea." (Jesus speaking)

There is also a very clear description and instruction regarding not causing someone else to "stumble" in chapter 14 of the book of Romans:

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans 14&version=ESV

I personally acted according to THIS VERSE regarding the decision to remove certain music and artists from the air:

13 Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.

I did so, NOT to pass judgement upon the artists... but rather, to NOT place a "stumbling block" in front of anyone else. (Our listeners.)

Because it is RADIO, it's reaching all kinds of people, in all different walks of life, and places in their walk. For some, hearing those artists would, indeed, be a stumbling block. Thus, I will always prefer to err on the side of caution, and avoid playing artists that have a strong potential to cause others to "stumble".

I took their music off the air, in a spirit of sadness and humility before God... because I know that I am FAR FROM "perfect". I only do so, because of the "stumbling block factor."

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The only problem with this "stumbling block" argument is that people who don't like Christian rock music love to use it to try to banish all Christian rock - and anything else they don't like - off the air. The wield it with considerable power and a lot of arrogant impunity. When you get right down to it, you are letting them put you in bondage to their entire doctrinal baggage, and not just musically. This - is what happens when you let somebody quote scripture out of context!!!! It leads to an imbalance, and ultimately heresy. We stand in the liberty - because Christ has set us FREE - and we will NOT be entagled again in the yoke of bondage. I do NOT need Christians acting like Taliban imposing a Christian version of Sharia law. The existence of Christian rock music and Christian rock stations is no threat to them in any way, because they are responsible for their own walk and they are responsible for avoiding stumbling blocks.

Excuse me while I go eat some bacon in a restaurant that also has Islamic customers.

landtuna said:

And now, before some of you get your dander up, I have made my opinion heard and I will not debate further. You believe what you believe and I don't. It is as simple as that.

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If one only "believes" what is proven, then it isn't really a belief. To be a religious belief, it must be believed without proof. Now, if one chooses to have no religious beliefs, then that is one's choice. But if one makes that choice, one should be aware that is the choice one has made.