Renowned gospel artiste Kirk Franklin has expressed his discontent with certain beliefs within Western Christianity, particularly regarding marriage, giving, and sexuality. In a recent appearance on Cam Newton’s Funky Friday show, the 54-year-old musician argued that these aspects of faith have been “weaponized” to judge and pressure individuals.
Franklin specifically targeted the portrayal of marriage, stating, “I believe that marriage has been weaponized in Western Christianity. There’s this notion that if you’re living in sin, you need to get married, without understanding that marriage doesn’t fix sin.” He shared his personal experience, highlighting the harmful effects of rigid religious beliefs on his own marriage to Tammy Collins.
Franklin emphasized the importance of understanding faith holistically, rather than allowing cultural norms to dictate one’s relationship with God. He also highlighted the pressure single women, particularly black women, face within their communities, where their marital status is often scrutinized.
“It’s as if not being married or having children is seen as a flaw, a sign that something is wrong with you,” Franklin remarked, calling these attitudes “dysfunctional.” He argued that the Christian community often elevates marriage as a prerequisite for identity and value, overlooking the potential for single individuals to serve God.
“Marriage is a good thing, but Paul also said that some of you could be even more useful in the kingdom if you were single. Yet, we’ve made marriage a necessary distraction,” Franklin said. He shared how some friends were pressured into marriage by the belief that they needed to be married to serve in ministry.
“People rush into marriage thinking they’re fulfilling God’s will, but they’re really just following man’s dogma,” Franklin stated. “You can be single and be used by God. Being married is not a prerequisite for God’s hand on your life, but we’ve weaponized it.”
Franklin concluded by addressing the harsh judgment faced by those whose marriages end in divorce, pointing out the hypocrisy in how the same community that pressures people into marriage often condemns them when those marriages fail.
