Whats up with Kevin Max (of DC Talk)

[eknock]

First off, I just found out about Kevin's divorce last year, then I read this at Crosswalk.com:

"...dc Talk's Kevin Max announced his future intentions to members of the press. During a press conference, he said he would no longer be booking solo shows at Christian festivals. Instead, he says he wants to reach out to audiences disenfranchised by the church, including the gay community.

During his show, he performed several songs from his solo debut Stereotype Be, as well as covers of songs by U2, David Bowie, Queen, and Leonard Cohen. Max surprised many in the audience by not joining Toby Mac on stage, as Toby performed Jesus Freak and Charlie Peacock's song In the Light. Michael Tait did not appear with Toby either."

What is up with this guy? He was always the "talker" who was a little wierd, but I am honestly worried about him... Why did he get divorced, and does he think homosexually should be supported by the Church? Whats up with him?

[Shell]

You never know what might be lost in editing or translation in articles or press releases; you can't depend on the media to be 100% accurate in getting the whole story. He might be trying to reach out to people in a way they can relate to. That doesn't always work though, other people have run into trouble that way.

[separateunion]

KMax and the wife divorced because of irreconciliable differences. I know they were attending marital counseling with a pastor before the decision. I can't remember much else since this happened so long ago. I didn't know about the reaching out to the disenfranchised part, but I do know that he recently signed a new record deal with a label I have never heard of before.

[Shell]

Guys, it's probably not a good idea to be discussing why someone got divorced when we don't know all the circumstances. And he could have signed with another record company for any number of reasons.

The best thing you could do is to pray for him.

[brent]

KMax and the wife divorced because of irreconciliable differences. I know they were attending marital counseling with a pastor before the decision. I can't remember much else since this happened so long ago. I didn't know about the reaching out to the disenfranchised part, but I do know that he recently signed a new record deal with a label I have never heard of before.

Usually, disenfranchised insinuates that the parties were/are "cut off" from "the church" not by their own volition, because they did not hold the same beliefs as the Grantor of their rights, etc (according to Mr. Webster). Maybe that was not the correct word, or a poor choice by Max.

I will research it further, but one of the guys in DC Talk admitted that he struggled with homosexuality in an interview years ago. Maybe this is his attempt to minister to those people facing the same temptations.

As far as unreconcilable differences are conscerned, I have always been knocked out how Christians, whose whole life should be based on reconciliation of man to Christ, live it out in front of the world without reconciliation between each other. Not a judgement, just an observation. In my family, I have had two family members get divorces in the past two years. I FULLY understand divorce. My parents have been mulitiple times. I WILL NOT!

Word on the street is that there will be some form of a DC Talk project "someday" in the near future.

[Shell]

Of course it's not cool to marry and divorce multiple times; the Bible is clear about that.

I have a girlfriend (nobody you guys would know) who is seriously considering divorce. Without going into all the glorious details, basically her husband refuses to do his part to work through their problems. She is under so much stress she is afraid she is going to end up having a heart attack, and she has been to the ER several times with chest pain. She has had counseling and been to the doctor and has been told the source of her problem is her marriage. The point here is it does take two for a marriage to work. Is she supposed to do nothing and maybe end up dropping dead of a heart attack? Is he supposed to not suffer any repercussions for refusing to do his part? Divorce is a sad thing, and of course everything possible should be done to save a marriage that is in trouble, but it's not always as cut and dry as "you work things out no matter what." What do you do when one person is doing their best and the other person refuses to do their part? And when things are so bad it's get out or die...What do you do? There has to be a place for God's grace and healing there.

[brent]

I know that situation well. He is in essence abusing her. So, she ought to bail. reconsiliation takes two. One to offer, one to receive it.

Try this one. One person is unfaithful throughout the marraige. That person gets confronted, makes a B-line for church to get counseling, "confesses and repents", gives the other person a guilt trip for not wanting to stick it out and make things work. People around them tell the one wanting the divorce that it is wrong.

There is no cut and dry, black and white answer to these situations that we all have mentioned, because the sin that started it has grown from a little bitty snowball at the top of the mountain, to a landslide at the bottom. However, that initital sin is black and white. It just goes to show what one little action (or non-action) can do to make an impact on hords of people that have enough crap to deal with.

[Shell]

That is a difficult situation. Repentance doesn't mean everything is going to be the same as it was or that that you aren't going to reap the consequences of sin though.

[reoracer]

I agree with Shell that discussing someone else's divorce is probably inappropriate, since we don't know all the circumstances. But I also feel that this topic is a good one for a general Christian discussion.

I probably shouldn't even respond here, because it will open up a whole can of worms on my life, but the issue of divorce and remarriage is a very personal one to me.

I, myself was divorced several years ago. My husband was controlling, emotionally abusive, and I had just found out he had a girlfriend. I became a Christian (at a Petra show!) a few weeks before we separated. I contacted a pastor and did some counselling before any choices were made. My ex-husband took off one weekend to another state with this other woman, which gave me a window of a couple days to figure out what to do. The pastor and I finally decided that maybe I wasn't supposed to be in this relationship at all, especially since it had been a choice made when I was living a non-Christian life. We found one verse that upheld my choice: I Cor 7:15. "But if the unbeliving depart, let him depart. A brother or sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace" This verse is taken in context from a discussion of marriage, divorce, and etc in this passage, and my ex-husband had left-with another woman! So was I wrong to feel like God was giving me a second chance, opening a window for me to get out of the non-Christian, abusive, adulterous relationship I was in, that I had tried for several years to save (he refused any thought of counselling or help) because I thought divorce was totally wrong??? I think God gives his children an open window to make things right in situations like this.

Secondly, I am now in a relationship with a strongly Christian man. We try to keep God at the center of our relationship as best we can. The circumstances that brought us together were nothing short of a miracle, but I won't go into those here. Since we are both divorced, would it be sinning for us to possibly consider marriage? I have been struggling with this alot....

Prayers on this situation are much appreciated, as well as verses to apply and personal thoughts...

Jen

[Shell]

I don't think divorce means you can't go on with your life or remarry, particularly when someone was unfaithful. God can and does work through that, and it sounds like He's done some wonderful work in your life Jen. It is difficult though, I can understand why it would be a touchy issue with you.

[crossways]

There, but by the grace of God, go I....

Anyone one of us could be in the middle of divorce, or some other devestating situation. One thing I have learned in the past few years of trials is that no two people or situations are exactly the same - but they all have the same answer for healing, God's love and forgiveness.

I always think of Petra's "minefield". You know we are all potentially one step or one choice away from big time consequences and sorrow. In marriage it is not only you who must stay focused on the Lord, but your spouse as well - twice the risk you might say.

I thank the Lord for a committed partner. She has been strong when I was not so strong, and vice-versa.

I don't want to hijack this thread - so I am starting another one about another issue that was raised.