October 1, 2026
What began as a lighthearted moment during a Coldplay concert quickly turned into one of the summer’s most scandalous viral stories. When Andy Byron, the now-former CEO of Astronomer, was caught on the concert’s Kiss Cam in an intimate moment with colleague Kristin Cabot, the clip was replayed millions of times across the internet. What followed were resignations, investigations, news coverage, and, predictably, the world’s jokes.
Comedians laughed. Commentators speculated. Memes exploded. And sadly, if we’re honest, many Christians joined in on the mockery.
I’m not surprised by the world’s scorn, but I am discouraged that so many Christians have joined the revelry. That’s why we need to pause; not just to consider the moral crisis of this viral moment in our culture, but the spiritual danger it poses to the church of the Lord Jesus.
This Kiss Cam moment wasn’t just a public embarrassment; it was the public unraveling of the sacred institution of marriage. It was a fiery arrow launched into the blessedness of family. It was even a grenade of impurity that sent shrapnel flying into the leadership of a thriving company. Reputations are now shredded. Children, spouses, friends and coworkers are likely reeling. Hearts are broken. Shame is real. And at the heart of it all is sin, deadly sin, for which Christ died.
Paul’s words in Ephesians 5:3 are sobering: “But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.”
Even more, in verses 11–12, he warns: “Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret.”
And yet so many saints are joining the world in turning this heartbreaking situation into a joke.
The Danger of Joking with the World
Why do we find scandals funny? Is it relief that it’s someone else’s shame, not ours? Is it the thrill of gossip masked as “cultural commentary?” Or have we really just become numb to sin and its effects?
James tells us, “From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so” (James 3:10). Our speech reveals our hearts. When we make light of sin—whether in Hollywood, Washington, at a Coldplay concert, or even in our own workplace—we risk joining the scoffers of Psalm 1, not the saints of Hebrews 12.
We must remember that as God’s people, we don’t have the luxury of careless laughter about things that nailed our Savior to the cross. In fact, shame be upon us if we poke fun at that for which our beloved Lord was pierced.
Christ Died for This
This exposed affair, and every other act of infidelity, dishonor, or deceit, is the very kind of sin Christ bore in His body on the tree (1 Pet 2:24). When we laugh at scandal, we trivialize the cross. When we turn sin into sport, we forget that grace was not cheap. It cost our Savior everything.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer once warned of this danger in his excellent book, “The Cost of Discipleship.”
He wrote, “Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance… grace without the cross.”
Friends, let us not become grace’s mockers. Let us not make light of the sin for which Christ died.
A Better Response
Instead of joining the world’s foolish joking, how should God’s people respond? How could we respond to this situation in a way that brings glory to God, obedience to His Word, and clarity to the gospel? Here are a few suggestions:
Grieve: Grieve the hardness of hearts that leads to betrayal. Grieve the fallout. Grieve the public shaming.
Pray: Pray for repentance, for healing, for salvation.
Guard our speech: “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths…” (Eph 4:29). Our humor should edify, not mock.
Tremble: “Let anyone who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor 10:12). Every scandal is a reminder—it could be us. “But for the grace of God go I."
Speak wisely. If you must speak of the scandal, speak with sorrow, not sarcasm. Speak as one who knows the weight of mercy.
Pursue Holiness, Not Hype
The world will continue to laugh and make fun of sin. Comics will continue to spin their jokes, and media outlets will chase their clicks. But we are not of the world (John 17:14). We belong to Christ, and He died to redeem people from the very sins we too easily make light of.
Brothers and sisters, let this be a warning. Let it drive us to reverence, repentance, and prayer. Let it wake us up from our spiritual stupor. Let it stir us up that we may be killing our sin, lest it be killing us
And Heaven literally forbid that we make light of that for which Christ died. The cross was no joke. Neither is sin. And neither are the souls caught in its deadly grasp.
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Seth Carter is lead pastor of First Baptist Church in Paintsville, Ky. This commentary appeared in Kentucky Today.
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