"To think that I am trying to influence others, without even asking me if that is my intention is offensive.
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In another Instagram post that was captured by Relevant magazine on Thursday before his Instagram account was taken down, the Hillsong songwriter addressed Cooper, challenging that he had no right to put words in his mouth. Cooper's response was geared toward the phenomenon of Christians publicly announcing they no longer believe while still appearing to want to influence others with their platforms. The original Instagram post where he said he was losing his faith has since been deleted.Īlthough Cooper's message was addressed to Christians in general and not directed at Sampson, the Skillet singer referenced some of the ideas Sampson used in his post explaining how his faith was falling apart. He subsequently clarified that he had not renounced Christianity entirely but that his faith was on shaky ground. Sampson, who for years has written songs for and toured with the popular music group Hillsong United, recently announced on social media that he was losing his faith. "I’m perplexed why they aren’t embarrassed? Humbled? Ashamed, fearful, confused? Why be so eager to continue leading people when you clearly don’t know where you are headed?" Cooper posited, adding that it was not his "place" to make judgments of people who do not believe.
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On Tuesday, Cooper said in a Facebook post titled “ What in God’s Name Is Happening in Christianity?, that he was "stunned" that the most important thing for leaders who had expressed that they had lost their faith seemed to be bold proclamations about their new views in an apparent attempt to steer others in a similar direction. Marty Sampson defended his frankness in expressing his struggles with faith and reasons for leaving Hillsong in response to Skillet's John Cooper who advised Christians to stop learning theology from modern worship songs and "influencers." Facebook Twitter Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment 0 Marty Sampson sings with Hillsong Worship | Screenshot: YouTube/Hillsong Worship