One person commented, “This was not a Christian gathering of grief, mourning, and lament. It was a Roman precession [sic] for a fallen soldier of Christian Nationalism.”
“Nothing this man said has anything to do with The Fruit according to The Bible. Read your Word,” another follower wrote.
Frank isn’t the only one receiving criticism. Dr. Kevin M. Young, who is a graduate of Cedarville University, Dallas Theological Seminary, and Portland Seminary, posted that he will no longer be listening to the Christian artists (Brandon Lake, Phil Wickham, Chris Tomlin, Kari Jobe, and Cody Carnes) who performed at Charlie Kirk’s memorial service.
Although these artists’ music has “dramatically impacted my spiritual journey for the better,” Young said, “I no longer think I will be able to listen to them again. It will undoubtedly be a long time before I can trust their faith or connection to the Spirit of Christ. I can’t support the things that were said from the same platform they shared today.”
“Worship and hate speech do not belong together,” Young continued. “Perhaps these artists will issue a statement over the next few days saying they disagree with the rhetoric and shockingly anti-Christ things that were said before/after their music, but I do not expect it.”
“We have lost evangelicalism to the unholy empire. It is now a State Church, in a deviant state,” he added. “In my view, by performing there, these artists give full allegiance to the content, speakers, and speeches that accompanied them. And I cannot and will not support that.”
Skillet frontman John Cooper, who has spoken at a TPUSA Faith event in the past, posted on social media praising his friends for leading worship at the memorial. “Speechless watching my friends @karijobe @codycarnes @christomlin @philwickham @brandonlake leading worship at the memorial. Great job brothers and sister.”
Cooper told ChurchLeaders that he has also witnessed his guitarist Seth Morrison and drummer Jen Ledger receive backlash for sharing positively like Frank did. Similar to Frank, both Morrison and Ledger have lost many social media followers because of their posts.
“I’m shocked at the backlash that people like Forrest Frank, Chris Tomlin, and even my guitarist, Seth Morrison, have received, simply for saying things that just a few years ago almost no one would have disagreed with,” Cooper said. “I’m so very thankful for CCM artists who have the courage to stand up for what’s right even though it costs them. I was shocked to see how Christians reacted to Forrest’s post. I’m cheering him on.”
Read Ledger’s and Morrison’s posts below:
