Renowned American Gospel musician Kirk Franklin has voiced his concerns about certain beliefs within Western Christianity, particularly how marriage, giving, and sexuality have been "weaponised."

Speaking on Cam Newton's Funky Friday show, the 54-year-old musician criticised the portrayal of marriage as a solution to sin, arguing that it has been misused to judge and pressure single individuals.

"I believe that marriage has been weaponised in Western Christianity. 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 said.

Franklin shared his own experiences, noting that he and his wife, Tammy Collins, have had to navigate the harmful effects of rigid religious beliefs.

He highlighted the pressure single women, especially Black women, face within their communities, where not being married or having children is often seen as a flaw.

Franklin called these attitudes dysfunctional and stressed that marriage should not be a prerequisite for identity and value.

"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.

Franklin also discussed how some of his friends were pressured into marriage by the belief that it was necessary to serve in ministry.

He argued that being single does not prevent one from being used by God and criticised the community for condemning those whose marriages end in divorce.

"People rush into marriage thinking they’re fulfilling God’s will, but they’re really just following man’s dogma. 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 weaponised it," he said.

Franklin concluded by underscoring the need for a broader understanding of faith and purpose beyond marital status, noting the challenges he and his wife have faced together since their marriage in 1996.

See the full video below:

“I believe that marriage has been weaponized in Western Christianity”

- Kirk Franklin pic.twitter.com/QdKSS3kuah

— @𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗷𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗯𝗼𝘆 (@OneJoblessBoy) August 11, 2024