Gospel artist Kirk Franklin, known for his strong Christian faith, recently expressed his discontent with certain beliefs held within Western Christianity.

Speaking on Cam Newton's Funky Friday show, the 54-year-old musician criticized how marriage, giving, and sexuality have been "weaponized" within the faith.

Franklin specifically targeted the way marriage is portrayed, arguing that it has been misused as a tool to judge and pressure single individuals. 

He pointed out that many within the Christian community view marriage as a solution to sin, an idea he strongly opposes.

"I believe that marriage has been weaponized in Western Christianity," Franklin stated. "There's this notion that if you're living in sin, you need to get married, without understanding that marriage doesn’t fix sin." He shared his own experience, noting that he and his wife, Tammy Collins, have had to navigate the harmful effects of rigid religious beliefs. Franklin emphasized the importance of understanding faith in its entirety, rather than allowing cultural norms within Christianity to dictate one's relationship with God.

Franklin also highlighted the pressure single women, particularly Black women, face within their communities. He described the scrutiny they endure at family gatherings, where they are often questioned about their marital status. "It’s as if not being married or having children is seen as a flaw, a sign that something is wrong with you," he remarked, calling these attitudes dysfunctional.

He further discussed how the Christian community often elevates marriage as a prerequisite for identity and value, overlooking the potential for single individuals to serve God. "Marriage is a good thing," Franklin acknowledged, "but Paul also said that some of you could be even more useful in the kingdom if you were single. Yet, we’ve made marriage a necessary distraction."

Franklin shared how some of his friends were pressured into marriage by the belief that they needed to be married to serve in ministry. "People rush into marriage thinking they’re fulfilling God’s will, but they’re really just following man’s dogma," he said. "You can be single and be used by God. Being married is not a prerequisite for God’s hand on your life, but we’ve weaponized it."

He concluded his passionate critique by addressing the harsh judgment faced by those whose marriages end in divorce, pointing out the hypocrisy in how the same community that pressures people into marriage often condemns them when those marriages fail. 

Franklin, who has been married to Tammy Collins since 1996, noted the challenges they've faced together and underscored the need for a broader understanding of faith and purpose beyond marital status.]