For nearly six decades, the Dove Awards have claimed a central stage in the world of Christian music, lauding artists and performers for their accomplishments. Originating in 1969 as an initiative by the Gospel Music Association, the Dove Awards have closely mirrored secular events like the Grammy Awards in presentation and scope. Even its association with Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN)—a network that has faced its own litany of controversies, including the promulgation of heresies like the prosperity gospel—raises questions about the ceremony’s doctrinal grounding.

Dressed in the veneer of Christianity, the Dove Awards make a desperate attempt to be like the world, echoing the glamour of secular award shows in its decor, musical performances, and even acceptance speeches. The ceremony—held amidst glitz, glamour, and the adoration of fans—allegedly seeks to celebrate Christian artistry. But let’s cut through the pageantry and ask a hard-hitting question: Does this annual spectacle truly serve to glorify God, or has it morphed into an arena that idolizes men and compromises the Gospel?

At the heart of the Dove Awards lies a glaring issue—the idolatry of human achievement. In its quest to be like its secular counterparts, the Dove Awards place extraordinary emphasis on the very elements that lead us away from godly living—fame, fortune, and the praise of men. We’re instructed in the New Testament to “do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31), yet the Dove Awards seem more aligned with celebrating the artistry, talent, and—let’s face it—commercial viability of musicians than with magnifying the Lord.

Flashy performances and red-carpet interviews fill the ceremony, each artist jostling for a slice of the evangelical limelight. Fans and artists alike revel in the wins, the accolades, and the social media buzz that follows. Is this really the avenue we wish to travel down—where a tweet from a Dove Award winner gets more attention than the life-changing message of the Gospel? After all, wide is the gate that leads to destruction. In this whirlwind of adoration and self-congratulation, where in this spectacle is the Creator, the One who granted these talents? Buried beneath layers of worldly applause, it seems.

A cursory examination of the artists that this event has so heartily applauded over the years reveals quite a bit. Names like Kirk Franklin and Lauren Daigle. Should we not discern whether the platforms and artists we endorse align with Scripture? The evidence here is damning.

The event, with such anti-Christian characters as its face, reduces Christianity to a subset of the broader music industry, creating “stars” and “celebrities” within a faith that teaches us the Lord alone deserves such exaltation. In essence, the Dove Awards replaces the object of our worship from God to men. This is spiritually hazardous.

Kirk Franklin, a winner of the Dove Award in the Gospel music category a few years ago, is known for his “gospel music” that features cursing and foul language. Franklin was intimately involved in the production of the Christianity-in-exchange-for-money Kanye West’s new “gospel” music who stated that “God Wrote” his first curse-filled album. Franklin has also claimed that Jesus would bow down to Satan in what appeared to be a Freudian slip while practicing his lyrics.

Kirk Franklin is pro-choice — meaning, that he doesn’t believe that abortion should be limited. In an interview with a former Grindr (a gay hook-up app similar to Ashley Madison) worker, he said that he personally believed in life, but doesn’t believe he should impose his beliefs on others. Other Dove Award winners include the pro-homosexual Lauren Daigle and rank heretics like Steven Furtick.

If an organization that professes to operate under Christian principles rewards those whose views and actions blatantly contradict the Bible, can it genuinely claim to serve God? The answer is a resounding no. “Do two walk together, unless they have agreed to meet?” The Dove Awards have become a platform for compromise, elevating artists who fail to uphold basic biblical tenets and thereby muddying the waters of the Gospel.

As Christians, we are not called to accommodate the impulses of worldly culture or elevate those who do. We are called to stand unwaveringly on the Word of God. So why would we endorse or even passively support an event that falls so far short of this standard? If we compromise on this, what’s next?

The professing Church has already compromised on the sanctity of marriage, the inerrancy of Scripture, and the exclusivity of Christ. One concession leads to another, and before we know it, our faith is hollowed out, devoid of any substance and true reverence for God. We should cease offering our applause to worldly ceremonies and return to our first love—glorifying God in all that we do.