Make Jesus the Hero Again: We Are Messengers Frontman Condemns Celebrity Culture in the Church
In a bold and heartfelt rebuke of Christian celebrity culture, We Are Messengers frontman Darren Mulligan called on the Church to stop idolizing flawed humans and to re-anchor its worship in the one true, unfailing Savior—Jesus Christ. Reacting to the disturbing allegations against Michael Tait, former Newsboys lead singer, Mulligan expressed sorrow for the victims and the damage done, declaring that “justice should and will be done.” But more than just addressing the headlines, he turned the spotlight inward, urging the body of Christ to confront its own dangerous obsession with fame, platform, and adoration. “Humans will always let you and me down, but Jesus never will,” he said, cutting to the heart of a systemic issue within Christian culture.
With multiple Dove Award nominations and a K-LOVE Fan Award under his belt, Mulligan knows the pull of the spotlight—and its perils. Yet rather than bask in applause, he chooses a prophetic posture of humility. In a powerful video, he lamented how the Church has made “heroes out of men” when only one Man—Jesus—deserves the crown. His message was not just for artists, but for all believers: we must purge the hunger for fame and return to the hunger for holiness. At a time when scandals shake pulpits and platforms alike, Mulligan’s call is both timely and timeless: stop building kingdoms around people, and start building altars to the King.
