A Modern-Day Psalm of Repentance: Learning from Psalm 51 and Michael Tait’s ConfessionA Modern-Day Psalm of Repentance: Learning from Psalm 51 and Michael Tait’s Confession

Guilt weighs heavily on the human heart, but God offers a gracious remedy: repentance. In Psalm 51, King David confesses his sins of adultery and murder, pleading for God’s mercy. Recently, Michael Tait, former Newsboys lead singer, mirrored this cry in a public confession, styling his repentance after Psalm 51. Tait admitted to decades of cocaine use, excessive alcohol consumption, and inappropriate sexual behavior, calling it “sin” and seeking God’s forgiveness. His confession serves as a modern-day psalm, illustrating repentance. This blog draws from Psalm 51 and Tait’s statement to encourage all of us toward heart-level change.

First, Michael Tait’s confession:

Recent reports of my reckless and destructive behavior, including drug and alcohol abuse and sexual activity are sadly, largely true. For some two decades I used and abused cocaine, consumed far too much alcohol, and, at times, touched men in an unwanted sensual way. I am ashamed of my life choices and actions, and make no excuses for them. I will simply call it what God calls it—sin. I don’t blame anyone or anything but myself. While I might dispute certain details in the accusations against me, I do not dispute the substance of them.

When I abruptly left Newsboys in January I did so to get help. I was not healthy, physically or spiritually, and was tired of leading a double life. I spent six weeks at a treatment center in Utah, receiving help that may have saved my life from ultimate destruction. I have been clean and sober since, though I still have lots of hard work ahead of me.

I’m ashamed to admit that for years I have lied and deceived my family, friends, fans, and even misled my bandmates about aspects of my life. I was, for the most part, living two distinctly different lives. I was not the same person on stage Sunday night that I was at home on Monday. I was violating everything I was raised to believe by my God-fearing Dad and Mom, about walking with Jesus and was grieving the very God I loved and sang about for most of my life. By His grace, I can say that for the past six months, I have lived a singular life—one of utter brokenness and total dependence on a loving and merciful God.

I have hurt so many people in so many ways, and I will live with that shameful reality the rest of my life. I can only dream and pray for human forgiveness, because I certainly don’t deserve it. I have even accepted the thought that God may be the only One who ultimately and completely forgives me. Still, I want to say I’m sorry to everyone I have hurt. I am truly sorry. It is my hope and prayer that all those I have hurt will receive healing, mercy, and hope from the Merciful Healer and Hope-Giver.

Even before this recent news became public, I had started on a path to health, healing, and wholeness, thanks to a small circle of clinical health professionals, loving family, caring friends, and wise counselors—all of whom saw my brokenness and surrounded me with love, grace, and prayer. Sin is a terrible thing, taking us where we don’t want to go; keeping us longer than we want to stay; and costing us more than we want to pay. I accept the consequences of my sin and am committed to continuing the hard work of repentance and healing—work I will do quietly and privately, away from the stage and the spotlight.

To the extent my sinful behavior has caused anyone to lose respect or faith or trust in me, I understand, deserve, and accept that. But it crushes me to think that someone would lose or choose not to pursue faith and trust in Jesus because I have been a horrible representative of Him—for He alone is ultimately the only hope for any of us.

King David’s prayer of repentance in Psalm 51 has been my prayer this year: “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness… Blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me… Create in me a new heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”

God’s Answer for Guilt: Repentance

Repentance is God’s path to address sin and restore fellowship with Him. It transforms the heart and life to align with God’s will. It is the first step to receiving forgiveness from God and forgiveness from others.

Repentance Defined

Repentance is to change one’s mind. It involves a complete shift in thought and attitude regarding sin and righteousness, encompassing both thoughts and behavior. To repent is to forsake one’s perspective and embrace God’s. As David writes in Psalm 51:3, “For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.”

Steps of Repentance (Psalm 32, 51)

Repentance follows deliberate steps, as modeled in Psalm 51:

  1. Acknowledge Sin
    Confession begins repentance. Proverbs 28:13 states, “He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.” David acknowledges his sin (Psalm 51:3). Tait does likewise, stating, “I am ashamed of my life choices and actions, and make no excuses for them.”
  2. Take Responsibility for Your Sin
    Repentance accepts full responsibility. David says, “Against You, You only, have I sinned” (Psalm 51:4). Tait echoes this, admitting, “I don’t blame anyone or anything but myself.”
  3. Seek and Pursue an Inner Man Change
    Repentance targets the heart (Psalm 51:5-12). David pleads, “Create in me a clean heart, O God” (Psalm 51:10).
    • For the unsaved: This begins with salvation (Ezekiel 36:26).
    • For the saved: Believers seek sanctification (Romans 12:2). Tait’s treatment and sobriety reflect this pursuit.
  4. Seek and Pursue an Outer Man Change
    Inner change produces outward transformation (Psalm 51:13-17). This includes:
    • Change of behavior: New actions align with godliness (Ephesians 4:25-32).
    • Restitution: Amends may be required (Luke 19:8). Tait’s commitment to the hard journey ahead suggests such steps.

Goals of Repentance

Repentance transforms for God’s glory, with these goals, as originally suggested by Paul Tripp:
  1. Consideration: Awareness of heart motives (Psalm 51:5)
    This is where you consider your past to determine where you have sinned against God and others.
  2. Confession: Acknowledging sin at heart and behavior levels (Psalm 51:3-4)
    In confession, you say what you have learned through your consideration of the past. You confess. This needs to happen with God and to those against whom you have sinned.
  3. Commitment: Pursuing a biblical direction (Psalm 51:10)
    Once you have confessed, you need to pursue a new biblical direction. You make a commitment to change.
  4. Change: Implementing biblical life changes (Psalm 51:13-17)
    In this goal, you begin to change. Change takes on two different aspects: 1) You need to think forgiven and     rest in the forgiveness offered through Christ and the Gospel (Romans 6:11; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11); 2) You need to change sinful behavior by putting off sin and putting on godliness (Ephesians 4:25-32; Colossians 3:5-17).

A Modern-Day Psalm

Tait’s confession, rooted in Psalm 51, models repentance. Like David, he acknowledges his transgressions, saying, “I am ashamed of my life choices and actions, and make no excuses for them.” He prays, “Have mercy upon me, O God… Create in me a new heart,” reflecting brokenness and dependence on God’s grace. His six months of sobriety, following treatment in Utah, demonstrate repentance’s steps – acknowledgment, take responsibility, and pursuit of change in the inner man and outer man. Tait’s confession parallels Psalm 51’s structure: admitting sin, seeking cleansing, and desiring renewal.

His new journey in repentance is just beginning. He now needs to put one step in front of another and another and another. As has been said in the past, faithfulness is a long journey in the same direction. His vulnerability challenges believers to confront our own sin, trusting God’s mercy in our own walk as well. As followers of Christ, we are called to respond with compassion, supporting Tait’s journey, while upholding accountability and responsibility for his sin. Tait’s story reminds us that repentance is not a one-time act, but a lifelong process, sustained by God’s lovingkindness.

Applying Repentance Today

Psalm 51 and Tait’s confession challenge us to confront sin. Acknowledge your transgressions, take responsibility, seek inner and outer change, and pursue God’s goals for repentance. Psalm 51:17 assures, “A broken and a contrite heart—these, O God, You will not despise.” As such, think forgiven, walk in newness of life, and rest in God’s mercy.

Editor’s note: this post evaluates his written repentance and confession only. Please, do not take anything in this post as a reflection of what he did or did not do, simply because I do not know any of those things. This post is specifically limited to the words of his confession only. Where necessary, he needs to be responsible to both his ecclesiastical authority and governmental accountability. As written above, accountability and restitution are both necessary and should be sought. 

Here is a related article on grace: Who Needs Grace More

Become a Patron!

 

Image Credit

To learn more about the Good News of the Gospel

KevinCarson.com | Wisdom for Life in Christ Together

© 2025 KEVINCARSON.COM