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‘Exvangelical’: Kevin Max of DC Talk and Audio Adrenaline Gets Candid About Faith Struggles

“Astronaut Sad” from Kevin Max’s Twitter – Erick Cole (L) and Kevin Max (R)

‘Exvangelical’: Kevin Max of DC Talk and Audio Adrenaline Gets Candid About Faith Struggles

By Movieguide® Staff

Kevin Max, a former member of Christian bands DC Talk and Audio Adrenaline, publicly declared his crisis of faith and labeled himself an exvangelical. 

https://twitter.com/kevinmax/status/1393440477714788352

Max was a part of the original trio who started DC Talk in 1987 while at Liberty University. Max left the band in 2000, performing with Audio Adrenaline for two years.  

Max’s tweet led to confusion among fans who thought the 54-year-old artist was renouncing his faith. However, Max responded by saying he “didn’t say that” and that he believes in the “Universal Christ.” 

“I have no idea how many peoples [sic] blogs or podcasts are using that announcement for further division,” Max wrote, “but I’m here for The Grace.”

Although Max has yet to expand on where his crisis of faith has ultimately led him, he did point to one of his new songs from his band Sad Astronauts: 

It’s OK to be estranged / from everything that you were taught /and it’s OK / to unpack all the hopeless baggage that you bought / I know the sun it never shines / in the same place twice / and I know that life is better / with a trusted vice / but you will change / when you cave / to the universal Christ,” the lyrics read. “And it’s OK for you to lose / the shame from all the churches [sic] abuse / and it’s OK / for them to see / you don’t believe in man’s inerrancy / I know the sun it never shines / in the place you hide / I know you think it’s better / shrouded in secrets and lies / but you’ll change / when you embrace / the glowing universal Christ.

Max further described himself as “anti-war, pro-peace, anti-hate, pro-love, pro-LGBTQIA, pro-BLM, pro-open mindedness, anti-narrow mindedness, pro-utopia, anti-white nationalist agenda, pro-equality, pro-vax, pro-music, anti-1%rs, pro-poor, pro-misfit-pro-Jesus, etc…” in another tweet.  

In December, Max noted that no one should be afraid to ask questions about their faith.  

“When you give into the fear of, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m asking questions,’ or, ‘Oh man, I don’t know if I believe this anymore,’ you’re giving into the same fear that you know kept us from progressing as people for so long,” Max said while on the Decent Christian Talk podcast. “The total totalitarian fear that’s constant, in my opinion, in a lot of evangelical churches have made people regress over time.”

He continued: “I feel like anybody out there going through it, they should just embrace it,” he continued. “If they’re a believer, they should have these deep conversations with the God they believe in and really struggle with it, talk to Him about it.” 

At Movieguide®, we believe in the inerrancy of God’s Word to guide us and find ultimate answers. When Christians do have questions about identity, who God is, and how we should live, God provides truthful answers through His Word, and faithful Christians teaching His word.   

As Movieguide® Founder and Publisher Dr. Ted Baehr wrote in his book The Culture-Wise Family, our worldview determines how we answer some of life’s most thought-provoking questions: What is reality? What is our basis of knowledge? How can we know right from wrong? What is man? What happens to a person after death? What is the meaning of history? Why is there suffering and evil? What is the purpose of our existence? How should we live?

For “exvangelicals,” and other people who do not see the world through a Christian lens, the answers to these questions lack hope:

1. What is reality? Materialism maintains that there is no reality beyond the physical.

2. What is our basis of knowledge? Rationalism seeks to discover the structure of reality guided by human reason alone. Empiricism declares that reason alone is not sufficient, all our knowledge must be based on information provided by our senses.

3. How can we know what is right or wrong? Existentialism evaluates everything from subjective personal experience. Agnosticism maintains it’s impossible to settle the primary questions in life because of the limitations of human knowledge.

4. What is man? The evolutionist maintains we are matter in motion, evolved slime, mere meat machines, monkeys who mutated from goo to the zoo to you. From mud to monkeys to man. A cosmic accident. The result of random chance.

5. What happens to a person after death? According to Hinduism, we are reincarnated in a kind of cosmic recycling of souls, either moving up the ladder to become holy cows, or sliding down, because of bad karma, to possibly become insects.

6. What is the meaning of history? Marxism maintains that history is driven by economic determinism. The post-modernist maintains that there is absolutely no transcendental, objective meaning to history.

7. Why is there suffering and evil? The polytheist, who believes in many gods, maintains that it’s because of conflict between the various gods.

8. What is the purpose for our existence? The hedonist maintains we should live for our own personal pleasure. The materialist proclaims, “He who dies with the most toys wins!” Humanism ultimately destroys all purpose for one’s existence. You came from nothing, you are going nowhere, life is meaningless.

9. How should we live? The Muslim claims we should live in obedience to a whimsical, angry god through Sharia law, based on the Quran and the Hadith, the teachings and practices of Mohammed.

Christianity, however, is the only worldview that can fully answer each of these questions. As Baehr writes:

1. The Bible makes clear that God is ultimate reality. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1).

2. Our basis for knowledge is God’s Revelation, but that Revelation is not illogical or irrational because logic is part of God’s essential nature. “In the past God spoke. . . through the prophets. . . but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son” (Heb. 1:1-2). (Note: If logic were not part of God’s

essential nature, then the words in this biblical verse would have no inherent meaning.)

3. We can know what is right and what is wrong from the Word of God. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16).

4. Man was created by God, but human nature is sinful. Because we have been created by God, in the image of God, there is some good even in the worst of us. However, because we are fallen, there is bad even in the best of us. “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works” (Eph. 2:10).

5. After death, each one of us shall face eternal judgment. We will either enjoy God’s gracious rewards in Heaven or endure just punishment in Hell. “Man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment” (Heb. 9:27).

6. God is ruler over history. “The Most High is ruler over the kingdom of men and He gives it to anyone He wants” (Dan. 4:25).

7. Suffering and evil are a result of man’s rebellion against God since the Fall. “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows” (Gal. 6:7).

8. The purpose of our existence is to glorify God and to worship Him forever. “Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31).

9. We should therefore live in obedience to the Bible. “The LORD your God commands you this day to follow these decrees and laws; carefully observe them with all your heart and with all your soul” (Deut. 26:16).

If we do not rely on God, His Word, and a faithful body of believers, culture dictates our worldview. If we do not raise our children and younger generations to look to the ultimate Authority for answers, the media and opposing worldviews will offer weak, counterfeit foundations for faith. 

Christians in the evangelical church should seek to be courageous to walk alongside those struggling with their faith and show them the true Gospel through their actions and how they love. 

We must train our families to understand that only Christ offers the True answers to life’s questions

Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.


Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.