There was another song writer much more well known and he was too a musician. In his lifetime he was hunted down to be killed by a man whom he had spared his life. The musician and writer loved GOD. Yet this man would send his best friend into a circumstance in which he knew his friend would be killed. He did so because he wanted his wife. He did not want the scandal of simply taking his friends wife so he had him killed. I think we all know of whom I am talking about.
None of us are perfect nor without sin we break the least Commandment we've broken them all. There are song writers I disagree with politically as well as singers. I may not even agree with their entire religious beliefs. Yet they have written or sang some great songs. Ever hear of Paul Stookey? A man very liberal but also a long time devout Christian. He penned a song for a friends wedding and sang it. Someone heard it and talked him into recording it and he did. But he refused "ALL" profits from the only hit he by himself would ever have. Many have had the song played in church weddings it is called The Wedding Song aka There is love.
Willie Nelson's lifestyle isn't for me my party days are almost four decades behind me by The Grace of GOD. Yet Nelson's best work IMO was an album he did called The Troublemaker. It is basically songs out of the Broadman Hymnal. Ones he likely sang in church with his sister growing up. I bought it while I was on ship in cassette form and wore out sever and then sever albums of it afterwards and I still have it in CD form today. It came out in about 1976. I also by listening to it eventually learned to play a guitar and play the songs on that album. Vern Gosdin did a version of Jesus Hold My Hand my dad and I would play together. Larry Gatlin had alcohol issues. He penned a song called "Help Me".
GOD uses people and He uses their talents he gave them. OK to me it boils down to this. To whom do they give the glory? Did anyone know Eric Clapton recorded Swing Low Sweet Chariot? Ever hear of the Hee Haw Quartet? What about that one guy in it huh? What we are earlier in life and what we become later in life should be an improvement by learning from mistakes and if a person listens becoming more focused on listening to GOD. We also don't really know their personal battles.
I mentioned Hank Williams Sr. in a previous post. In Gospel music terms I saw the light comes to most mind. He wrote many including House of Gold two of many more in his short 29 years of life. Many of his songs weren't secular they were Gospel. He drank and was known for pills. Yeah and he hid a serious spinal condition that he was born with that caused him great pain and likely in those days contribute to his early death.
What about Charlie Daniels? His first song Uneasy Rider. Then Long haired country boy. The devil went down to Georgia two versions. Yet he is also a devout Christian and penned "Two out of three" which is a song that goes straight to the heart of what I've posted." Sweet Jesus how could you love me? Because when I've had a choice between good and bad I picked bad two out of three. Calling Daniels a liberal sure won't cut it LOL.
GOD uses people for His message and purposes and they may very well not be what some consider refined persons. But they have helped persons including me. My favorite song? "Why Me Lord?" So simple and to the point. None of us know how many persons Johnny Cash or anyone in their witness may have lead to Christ. Johnny and June in their later years became more focused on their relationship with Christ but still faced their trials.
They were artist so was King David. He was a musician and a song writer. How does his sins compare to Johnny or June? It doesn't matter. They were in faith saved by the Grace of GOD declaring them to be righteous. It is not man opinions.
And that is the beauty of the gospel-despite our limitations God will use us to His great glory. While we are commanded to put off the old nature, it should give us great comfort that God uses us, warts and all, to further His kingdom.
There were many who hated King David, especially after what he had done to Uriah, and participated in the overthrow of David. But that did not stop God from saying that David was a man after His own heart.
People should be careful who they judge.