Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 14!
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 14!

JFH Staff Book Review


Sinner's Creed: A Memoir

Scott Stapp
Sinner's Creed: A Memoir

Page Count: 336 Pages
Street Date: October 2, 2012

 
READER RATING: 
/ 5.0 (0 votes)

Scott Stapp (born Anthony Scott Flippen) is the lead singer and songwriter for the multi-platinum and diamond selling band Creed. While his band blew up in the late nineties, Scott's personal life was explosive starting at a young age. In his memoir, Sinner's Creed, Stapp, now clean and sober, is finally telling his story of abuse, addiction, rock stardom, and eventual recovery.

The book actually starts with Scott's well-publicized suicide attempt at Miami's Delano Hotel. A paranoid Stapp, strung out on drugs, made an attempt to escape his sixteenth floor hotel room via his balcony when he fell some forty feet onto a concrete ledge. The fall should have been the end of his story, but God had other plans.

Scott hits the reset button and starts over with his childhood. He tells of his biological father leaving while watching TV together at age five and the enormous ego and super-hero complex that arose out of it in an attempt to take care of his mom. From there, he tells of his mother's remarrying to Steve Stapp, his step-father. He spins the tale of confusion brought on by the Bible teaching and constant beatings from Steve. Scott gained a firm biblical and Godly foundation, but the abuse set in a deep depression that would haunt him for years to come.

In vivid detail, Scott recalls his upbringing, academic and athletic success, running away from home and being kicked out of college for smoking pot. Conversations held with his father and others seem to be forever etched in his memory and he remembers them, seemingly word-for-word, at key points during his life. From there, he explains how he made it alone in Chattanooga, made his way back to Orlando, and reconnected with his biological father before starting FSU. Throughout his hardships, Scott maintained a faith and belief in Christ, but avoided living the lifestyle of a believer.

He then recounts the rise and fall of Creed, from meeting Mark Tremonti to the bitter disbanding. Scott shares the enthusiasm of starting and molding Creed, but also tells the story of prescription drug abuse, alcoholism, depression, and the internal discontentment that came with becoming a rock star; all of which led to the band's break-up. Stapp also revisits the rollercoaster relationship he shared with his Creator. He claims he never lost his faith, but his volatile lifestyle had him in varying degrees of closeness with Christ. Whether it was the birth if his first son or meeting his current wife, God kept calling him back.

The story finally comes "full circle" as Scott gets back to his fall at the Miami hotel. He tells of how God, his wife, and a Christian recovery center got him back on the straight and narrow before Creed's reunion and how he slipped back into his old ways shorty after. Finally, Scott's story reaches its positive end with a complete recovery at the Betty Ford Center, the birth of his third child, and news of a fifth Creed album. Scott professes his love for Christ and gives all the glory to Him.

If you are looking for a story of God's love and redemptive power, Scott Stapp's is a strong one to look at. If you are a Creed fan, or if you want an inside look at the media circus that was Scott Stapp after the break-up of Creed, this book is worth the read. If you think you know the story, you're probably wrong. Also, if you find yourself struggling with a rough spiritual upbringing and confusion about your life and God because of it, this is a must-read. You may even find yourself to be inspired by God's triumph in Scott's life.

- Review date: 8/31/12, written by Michael Weaver of Jesusfreakhideout.com

 

. Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
. Page Count: 336 Pages
. Street Date: October 2, 2012
. Buy It: Amazon.com (Hardcover)
. Buy It: Amazon.com (Kindle)
. Buy It: Amazon.com (Audiobook CD)

 

Leave A Comment! (Don't forget to be nice)

 

 

go to main Book review page

 

                 
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 14!

Search JFH



This Friday, November 14, 2025
ALBUMS
Bethel Music We Must Respond (Deluxe) [Bethel]
Emery White Line Fever (Remastered) - Disc One (independent)
FYR FYTR Snow After Fire - EP (independent)
HolyName Three Bar Cross - EP (independent)
Jake and Mates Songs of Deliverance (independent)
JERICKO Ups and Downs - EP [Syntax]
Kings Kaleidoscope Asaph's Arrows II EP [BEC]
VIC LUCAS The Journey (Deluxe Version) [Syntax]
Ronnie Martin Evergreen Melodie [Velvet Blue]
NF FEAR - EP [Capitol]
Blessing Offor To All A Good Night [Capitol CMG]
Rave Jesus I MET GOD ON THE DANCEFLOOR [Provident]
Kristian Stanfill Come to Jesus [sixstepsrecords]
We Are Messengers Rejoice! (A Celtic Christmas) [Curb]
The Young Escape Not Done Yet [BEC]

SINGLES
ADRIEL CRUZ & JAMIL Praying For My Enemies - Single [Syntax]
BILL B. My Lord - Single [Syntax]
Biscuits Drifting Off (Hayloft) - Single [Circle Back]
Holly Brand Tennessee Christmas (feat. Warren Peay) - Single [Integrity]
Leanna Crawford Still Waters (Strings & Choir Version) - Single [Provident]
Melvin Crispell III, Jason Clayborn Whatever It Is - Single [Tyscot]
CUTRIGHT, ZIPPY, & QEW Pick it Up - Single [Syntax]
DRENAE Like U Do - Single [Syntax]
Eighteen Mile What Mercy Means - Single [Mountain Home Music]
His Kingdom Suffers There's No Light In This House - Single [Charon Collective]
KNALADEUS, SELAH THE CORNER, & AYO SHAMIR Let it Be (ft. JOSEPH SD) - Single [Syntax]
LEXLY NIRVANA Perdoname - Single [Syntax]
Richard Lynch Why Me Lord - Single [MTS]
Jamie MacDonald My Family - Single [Capitol CMG]
NEEDTOBREATHE Where You Call Home - Single [Omnivore]
Hunter Plake Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Single [BEC]
Skillet O Come, O Come Emmanuel - Single [Hear It Loud]

Next Sunday, November 16, 2025
ALBUMS
Bir Witness 26.13 (independent)

Next Thursday, November 20, 2025
SINGLES
The Rocky Valentines Happy Thanksgiving - Double Single [Velvet Blue]

Next Friday, November 21, 2025
ALBUMS
Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors, Ellie Holcomb I'll Be Home for Christmas - EP [Magnolia]
Joseph Habedank The Great Adventure: A Tribute to Steven Curtis Chapman [Daywind]
Andrew Marcus Christmas - EP (independent)
Stryper The Greatest Gift Of All [Frontiers]

SINGLES
Cliff & Antoinette Murray Happy Thanksgiving - Single [DREAM]
Good Weather Forecast Little Christmas - Single [DREAM]
Jake MacAdam, Mark & Sarah Tillman Christ Has Come - Single [Ocean House]
Life.Church Worship A Thousand Blessings - Single [Ocean House]
Seph Schlueter Cling To The Cross (feat. Matt Maher) - Single [sixsteps]

VINYL
Stryper The Greatest Gift Of All Vinyl [Girder]


For all release dates, click here!
 

Purchase Original Art Prints, Drawings, Stickers, Bookmarks and more from JFH's own John DiBiase!
Need proofreading and editing help? We've got you covered! Click here to learn more
Check out depositphotos for royalty free images