Christian singer Cory Asbury has apologised and removed a shirtless photograph from social media after concerns were raised that it could be a "stumbling block" for others.
The Reckless Love singer said the image was included in a collection of photographs looking back at a recent tour with fellow Christian artist Forrest Frank.
"A few days ago I posted a recap of tour with Forrest and one of the pictures was of a couple of us working out, shirts off," Asbury explained in a video addressing the reaction.
"Honestly, I didn't think much of it but I wanted to bring some clarity to that post."
Asbury said the photograph was intended to capture the culture among those on tour, which included a focus on physical as well as spiritual and mental wellbeing.
"It was about mind, body, soul health... so we were working out a lot," he said.
"And one of the days we were looking at the progress and going, 'man, we've come a long way'."
However, the singer said the image subsequently generated "controversy online" and stressed that causing offence had not been his intention.
"There was no intention for anyone to stumble or be a block or offense at all," he said.
After discussing the reaction with others on the tour, Asbury said he decided the photograph should be removed.
"That doesn't need to live on the internet as a possible stumbling block," he said.
Asbury also stressed that the decision to publish the image had been his and asked people not to blame Frank.
"It was from my account," he said. "So lay off my boy."
He denied that his response was a public relations exercise, saying he simply wanted to apologise to those who had been troubled by the post.
"I didn't want it to be a thing. I didn't want it to offend anybody. So it's down, it's gone."
Asbury concluded: "Let's all push on towards loving Jesus with humility."
