Gospel singer Jonathan Steingard no longer believes in God

Jonathan Steingard of the musical group Hawk Nelson performs onstage during the 3rd Annual KLOVE Fan Awards in Nashville, Tennessee.

By Nimot Sulaimon

Canadian gospel singer, Jonathan Steingard has said that he no longer believed in God.

Steingard, in a lengthy Instagram post, admitted that after a lifetime as a Christian, he no longer believed in God and would be leaving the band.

He goes further to explain the reasons why he came to such a conclusion.

‘‘I still find myself wanting to soften that statement by wording it differently or less specifically – but it wouldn’t be as true”, he said.

Read his post below:

View this post on Instagram

I’ve been terrified to post this for a while – but it feels like it’s time for me to be honest. I hope this is not the end of the conversation, but the beginning. I hope this is encouraging to people who might feel the same but are as afraid to speak as I am. I want to be open. I want to be transparent with you all – and also open to having my heart changed in the future. I am not looking for a debate at all – just a chance to share my story in the hopes some good can come from it. I love you all.

A post shared by Jon Steingard (@jonsteingard) on May 20, 2020 at 1:51pm PDT

The 36-year-old Canadian musician went on to write that losing his religion occurred over several years.

His former band ”Hawk Nelson” released a statement on Wednesday, supporting his choice to leave the band.

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Jon Steingard One of our best friends, one with whom we have walked, worked and lived alongside for 20 + years revealed some of his innermost feelings on his faith journey this past week. Our mission as Hawk Nelson has always been to inspire and encourage all people with the truth that God is FOR them and not against them. In that message’s most simple and purest form, that THEY matter. So now we turn that truth towards one of our own. That God is still FOR Jon & he still matters. Why? Because that truth doesn’t change just because we question it. How we treat one another when they are at a different stage in their journey based on their life experiences is part of a bigger conversation. We are called to love one another unconditionally, as God loves us. We should also encourage and challenge one another in our Faith, seeking truth. Are we the authors of our own salvation and eternity? Has God provided a way to salvation for us through Jesus? These are the questions that we each must ask and explore. In the Bible (Romans 8:38) Paul writes, “… I am convinced that nothing can separate us from God’s love… neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow – not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below – indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” The same Lord is Lord of all, and gives richly to all who call on Him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Ever thankful and grateful for how God has used this band, the music and the relationships and how He continues to do so. Daniel, Micah, David.

A post shared by Hawk Nelson (@hawknelson) on May 27, 2020 at 6:48am PDT

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4 Comments

Eseigbe says:

May 28, 2020 at 7:41 am

To say he no longer believes in God publicly is wrong.It’s very much like crushing all he has worked for just for some personal issues he needs to sort out with our FATHER. He may feel spited, neglected or disappointed in God due to some happenings, a misconception or a certain loss.

Whatever brought him to this phase can only be a finger of the devil that has been on his case knowing his weaknesses and significance. I advise He fights the good fight of faith by prayerfully seeking God and asking Him to clear his doubts. God will rather leave the 99 sheep just to find His missing 1 sheep. Hence, Jesus will come for him. Thomas’ unbelief didn’t stop Jesus from showing Himself to be true and rising to heaven in the sight of His disciples.

God truly exist and I am a witness of his existence, one made so from my spiritual encounter. We’ll pray for him to snatch him from the fire. God bless him.

Merovingian says:

May 28, 2020 at 5:39 am

I almost never comment on Christianity and religion in general, but I will this time. Jon echoes my thoughts of close to two decades. It takes a lot of thinking and doubts and worry, and eventual acceptance to arrive at that point. Eventually you see religion for what it actually is, a form of control…

…I believe God (or a Creator of sorts) exists. The complexities of the world we live in is unlikely to have occurred by chance. But this Creator’s intentions? That’s a different story. The Bible is man made, and was written at a time when superstition was rife and flow of information was measured in weeks, rather than the fractions of a second that it is now. How do we know the entirety of its contents are Holy? Who decided to remove/include the Apocrypha? There are questions that have no answers aplenty…

… Perhaps more laughable is the belief held by prime religions (Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism etc.). Each one assumes the others are infidels and there’s only one true God. Theirs.
This belief has shaped the world we live in, turning paradises into places of terror as aggressive and often militaristic religions destroyed ignorant or peaceful people in the drive for conversion to faith. Even today this continues, driven by the phantom fear of the spiritual.

It is perhaps a sign of the evolution of religion (which is supposed to be constant and unchanging) that worshippers in regions where religions are imported by force and thrust unwilling into the populace have later developed variations in said religions, and are often far more devout than those at the source. I could go on and on about this…

… Ultimately, though, I believe the Creator had a thought in his head and created this universe (at least) to test it. The Creator is so far beyond our understanding that he probably can’t be bothered to let us in on it. I’m sure many will ask when we get to meet him after we die. But right now….

I treat my case..

Mutiny says:

May 28, 2020 at 8:49 pm

You are right and spot on.

Eddie says:

May 28, 2020 at 4:29 am

Well,the guy has right to his opinion and decision. But little as his sense capacity is to comprehend Almighty God,he will soon discover by himself that God exists. Somehow, this is what this generation will continue to experience if all our hope and confidence are put in man either in leadership as politicians,scientists,spiritualists or as parents and, you eventually discovered that those personalities are not worth what you thought they are.
Knowing God is a personal thing that we all must do urgently in life. Because,if we don’t know him from our tender age,it would be a problematic situation for us as we grow in life and face different challenges.
And I want to state it clearly here that, knowing God is different from being indoctrinated with religion from childhood. You only know God by personally search his word with prayer and sincerity of heart that you want to know him. Believe me,God will undoubtfully show himself to you. Then your journey of life would be better and you would be able to fulfill your purpose in life.
I guess that young man is confused.