Gospel music icon Kirk Franklin is known for his powerful lyrics and deep faith, but he recently took a bold stand against what he sees as a troubling trend in Western Christianity: the weaponization of marriage. Speaking on Cam Newton’s “Funky Friday” podcast, Franklin didn’t hold back as he challenged the way marriage is often used as a measure of worth within the Christian community.
“I believe that marriage has been weaponized in Western Christianity,” Franklin stated. He expressed concern that marriage is often presented as a solution to sin, with an underlying message that single people are somehow incomplete or flawed. “It’s very much that ‘You living in sin, you need to get married,’ without realizing that marriage doesn’t fix sin,” he explained.
Franklin, who has been married to Tammy Collins since 1996, shared his personal experiences with the pressures and expectations placed on marriage within the church. He emphasized that marriage, while a beautiful union, should not be seen as a requirement for fulfilling God’s will. “You can be single and be used by God. You can be single and have purpose,” Franklin said passionately. “Being married is not a prerequisite for God’s hand on your life.”
Kirk Franklin Challenging Cultural Norms
The conversation took a deeper turn as Franklin addressed the societal pressures faced by single women, particularly within the Black community. He highlighted the often painful experiences of single women at family gatherings, where they are questioned and judged for their marital status. “It’s a prerequisite for identity and value that if you don’t have a man or you don’t have kids, that something about you is broken,” he noted.
Franklin’s remarks have sparked widespread discussion on social media, with many praising him for speaking out against the toxic narratives that have taken root in some Christian communities. He called for a broader understanding of faith, one that doesn’t reduce a person’s worth to their relationship status. “How we superspiritualize these messages… it’s dysfunctional,” he concluded.