In a recent interview on the ‘Funky Friday’ podcast, Kirk Franklin, the Grammy-winning American gospel artist, expressed his thoughts on how marriage, giving, and sexuality have been manipulated within Western Christianity.
According to the ‘My Life Is In Your Hands’ singer, the weaponization of these concepts has led many individuals to mistakenly believe they are following God’s will when they are actually fulfilling man-made doctrines.
Kirk Franklin highlighted the unfortunate scenario where young people are barred from serving in churches based on their marital status.
He also emphasized the role that families play in perpetuating the weaponization of marriage within society.
“I am of the opinion that marriage, giving, and sexuality have all been weaponized within Western Christianity,” he remarked.
He continued, “In our culture, any woman can relate: the pressure faced by single black women in their thirties or older is immense. Attending a family gathering becomes an interrogation on why they are not married.”
“The expectation is that marriage is a defining factor of one’s identity and worth. If a person is not married or has children, society perceives them as flawed. It is crucial to recognize the destructive nature of these messages and how they trivialize important aspects of life.”
Reflecting on his own experiences, Kirk Franklin shared, “I have witnessed friends involved in ministry being told by churches that they must be married to continue serving. Consequently, they rush into marriages under the misguided belief that it aligns with God’s plan, when in reality, it is conforming to human ideologies.”
He concluded, “One can lead a purposeful life and be of service to God while being single. Marriage does not determine one’s eligibility for divine guidance. Unfortunately, society has distorted this idea and often harshly judges those whose marriages do not succeed.”