‘I No Longer Believe in God,’ Says Lead Singer of Christian Band Hawk Nelson

The lead singer of the Christian contemporary group
Hawk Nelson said in an Instagram post
last week he doesn’t believe in God and
“can no longer stand on stage” and
sing the band’s songs because of his
new stance.
“After growing up in a Christian home,
being a pastor’s kid, playing and
singing in a Christian band, and having
the word ‘Christian’ in front of most of
the things in my life – I am now finding
that I no longer believe in God,” Jon
Steingard wrote in a lengthy Instagram
post.
Hawk Nelson, formed in 2000, is known
for hits such as Drops in the Ocean,
Diamonds, Words and Live Like You’re
Loved. The group released its most
recent album in 2018.
Steingard, 36, said in his post he joined
the band at age 20 and has been the
lead singer and main songwriter since
2012.
He said he “agonized over whether to
say this publicly.”
“[I]t didn’t happen overnight or all of a
sudden. It’s been more like pulling on
the threads of a sweater, and one day
discovering that there was no more
sweater left,” he wrote. “… I am
stunned by the number of people in
visible positions within Christian circles
that feel the same way as I do. Like
me, they fear losing everything if
they’re open about it.”
Addressing those who might question
his sincerity over the years, Steingard
wrote, “The short answer is that I was
not lying. I did believe those things at
the time.”
“I’ve got a whole lot less to lose now.
The band isn’t playing shows or
making music at the moment, and
we’ve all found other work and careers
to focus on for the time being,” he
wrote.

Steingard began changing his beliefs,
he wrote, as he began questioning his
faith.
“They were things that just didn’t make
sense to me,” he wrote. “If God is all
loving, and all powerful, why is there
evil in the world? Can he not do
anything about it? Does he choose not
to? Is the evil in the world a result of
his desire to give us free will? OK then,
what about famine and disease and
floods and all the suffering that isn’t
caused by humans and our free will? If
God is loving, why does he send people
to hell ?”
He said he “can no longer stand on
stage and in good conscience sing
songs like Drops in the Ocean . … I know
this means giving it up voluntarily.”
“I am open to the idea that God is
there. I’d prefer if he was. I suspect if
he is there, he is very different than
what I was taught. I know my parents
pray that God reveals himself to me. If
he’s there, I hope he does,” Steingard
wrote.

Band member Daniel Biro wrote
in an Instagram post after Steingard’s
announcement: “Forever grateful for
these brothers of mine. We’ve been
through some highs and lows together
and we share a very special bond that
can’t be broken. There are many
seasons to a band, as Hawk Nelson
has experienced. But one thing that
isn’t seasonal is our support for one
another on or off the road touring. God
has a unique path for each of us and
it’s important that we stay honest with
one another. Looking forward to seeing
how each of us continue to G R O W.”

On social media, fans of the band said
they’re praying for Steingard.
“Try your best to not let doubt take
hold, that’s what Satan wants and he’ll
exploit it,” one person wrote. “I’ll be
praying for you, that God speaks to you
about what you are experiencing.”
“Believing in God isnt a feeling, it’s a
choice,” another fan wrote. “Believing in
God is choosing to have a relationship
with Him and welcoming Him into your
life personally acting by the fact that
He exists. … God is true and He’s
present especially now that you’re
going through a difficult time in your
life. God is gentle. He’s not confined to
a simple praise session. God is much
greater than that, He’s much greater
than us humans. Praying for you.”