Original Newsboys Singer John James Weighs In on CCM’s Recent Controversies

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The original lead singer of the Newsboys is weighing in on the health of the CCM industry, saying he disagrees with those who want to burn it down but believes artists need greater accountability and a stronger foundation before they are thrust into the spotlight.

John James is the Australian singer who served as the Newsboys’ original lead vocalist, helping popularize songs such as Take Me to Your Leader before leaving the group in 1997 due to a secret battle with alcohol and substance addiction. He later shared openly about his fall, repentance, and restoration, themes he explores in his upcoming book, Newsboy: My Story of Hope and Second Chances.

“I never had those safeguards, that accountability,” he said in a new episode of The Sean McDowell Show. “I was never plugged in and under accountability in the local church. I never had people speaking into my life that loved me enough to be honest with me.”

The state of the CCM industry has been debated for years amid stories of deconstruction and falling away, but the conversation has gained fresh urgency in recent months due to controversy involving Michael Tait, the Newsboys frontman until last year.

“People sometimes have said, ‘Well, we need to burn it all down because it's inherently corrupt.’ I don't believe that,” James told McDowell. “I think the issues in the industry that we've created is in regards to how we do authenticity, how we do accountability – how we have a platform where you have young men and women that are one day obsolete and unknown, and the next day, they're put in this incredible influential position now.

“And especially through social media, where you can go viral now – I think we have created a culture where we elevate and put people on pedestals because of their merit, gifting, charisma, talent. But what about the foundation of character? What about the foundation of theology?”

Character and foundation, James said, are the two biggest issues in the stories of CCM stars who later stumble.

“They're fast-tracked to this incredible place of influence. But you know, it's not rocket science, mate: If the character and the foundation – and as believers – the solid theology isn't there, really, what you're doing is you're setting people up potentially for failure. And I think that's why we've seen that happen so much, whether in the Christian music industry or in the church environment. And it's kind of the result of, I think, what we've unfortunately created.”

Asked about Christian artists who later walked away from the faith, James said the root problem lies in a shaky biblical foundation.

“I know people that have gone down the road of deconstruction,” James said. “But I guarantee you – if you would talk to these people and go back to ground zero on the fundamentals that they had built their lives on, and for whatever reason those foundations crumbled – I guarantee you that those foundations were never built on solid scriptural perspective and a biblical worldview. They may have had a perception or an opinion of foundational truths, but I guarantee you it was built on sand.”

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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.