Two former members of the Christian pop group Avalon have re-recorded the song “Testify to Love” and are hailing it as a gay-affirming anthem. One of them (Melissa Greene) even claims on her Substack that the song has always been a gay-affirming anthem. This is misinformation and propaganda of the worst kind, and here’s why:
First, there is no evidence that any of the songwriters intended the lyrics of the song to be a gay-affirming anthem. That was not a thing in anyone’s farthest imagination in 1997 when this song was released. Neither is there any evidence that any of the group members intended it to be a gay-affirming anthem in 1997. Indeed, one of the group members at the time (Michael Passons) eventually came-out publicly as gay, but that was nearly two decades after the other members of Avalon fired him for moral reasons relating to his homosexuality. There is no evidence in 1997 nor even in 2003 that Michael Passons’ bandmates in Avalon wished to affirm homosexuality. Indeed, his removal testifies to the opposite.
Second, former members of Avalon who left the band decades ago don’t get to make up a meaning for lyrics they didn’t write—much less impute some perversion to those lyrics that none of the authors or performers intended. That would be like saying that Thomas Jefferson’s words about “freedom” always meant to be LGBTQ+ affirming. It’s an absurdity even to suggest such a thing, and it’s no less absurd to impute such a thing to the authors of “Testify to Love.”
Third, none of the current members of Avalon have ever come out as gay-affirming. It would be unfair to them for fans to allow this inspirational song to be ruined by apostates who care nothing about the Christian faith represented in the song. The song belongs to Avalon and to the ages, and it has nothing to do with affirming sexual perversion.
The bottom line is that two former members of Avalaon who have deconstructed their faith are now trying to coopt “Testify To Love” for their deconstruction narratives. Don’t let them do that. Feel free to listen to Avalon and the original version of “Testify To Love.” There is nothing “affirming” about this song, and there never will be.
Here is the podcast in which Michael Passons tells how he was forced out of Avalon in 2003.
Here is the original version of “Testify To Love” as it was released in 1997.
