One of the more corrupt and perverse industries on the entire planet is the Christian Music Industry, and I am speaking from experience. In fact, I would place it right up there with the Catholic Church and TBN. How did it become that way? Well the obvious answer is the answer to everything else in life… money. Since the Didache was brought into the Fide-O conversation this week, let’s put the average traveling singer up against its wisdom and see where they stand. Since itinerant concert musician is not an actual biblical office, I am obliged to take some liberties in the application.
Concerning the apostles and prophets, so do according to the ordinance of the Gospel. Let every apostle, when he comes to you, be received as the Lord; but he shall not abide more than a single day, or if there be need, a second day. If he abides three days, he is a false prophet. When he departs let the apostle receive nothing except bread, until he finds shelter; but if he ask for money, he is a false prophet.
I was going to give a few paragraphs of commentary, but I think this speaks for itself.
On second thought, let’s go with commentary.
I traveled as an itinerant evangelist for 12 years. Everything I did was under the authority of the local church. I never asked for money, and somehow through shear luck I always had food and clothing (nice gaudy traveling evangelist clothing). One of my greatest fears was that I might wake up one day and find myself actually living the reputation that most traveling ministers have.
The average semi-popular singing group will not come to your church for less than $3000, with a 50% deposit upfront, non-refundable if you cancel the gig. The more popular the group, the more the cost. One Orange County soloist will come to your church and sing a one hour concert with CD trax for $8,000, $10k if you want the live band. I understand it costs to travel. Traveling is expensive, I know, I did it. “Why this is a business they are running,” correct? They have to pay their agent, record label, publicist, stylist, photographer, roadie/bus driver and “throat coat” (Jim beam and honey) provider, which goes to heart of the issue. Why did we turn the “work of God” into a business? What ever happened to the ole “where God guides, God provides” attitude. Apparently this began early. Really early.
Let every one who comes in the name of the Lord be received; and then when you have tested him you shall know him, for you shall have understanding on the right hand and on the left. If the comer is a traveler, assist him, so far as you are able; but he shall not stay with you more than two or three days, if necessary. But if he wishes to settle with you, being a craftsman, let him work for his bread and eat it. But if he has no craft, according to your wisdom provide how he shall live as a Christian among you, but not in idleness. If he will not do this, he is trafficking upon Christ. Beware of such men.
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36 year old husband, father, pastor, singer, musician, reader, eater, rider, watcher,
It really bugs me that some of these guys, excepting the ‘Steves’(Green and Camp), insist on calling it a ‘ministry’.
“If you’re ministering to me why is all the food on your table?”
You can quote me on that free of charge.
The words “trafficking upon Christ” or “making a trade of Christ” are gut-wrenching. As we study Church history we find that no true Christian dared to profit off of Christ for such things as singing or playing instruments. No, men actually paid everything, including their families and their own lives to spread the Gospel.
And I am thankful that my church pays me a double honor as is taught in Scripture. But as I read the Didache I pray that I become more of a giver than a receiver.
Listing the “Steves” above wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the man that Steve Camp looks to as the original CCM “bulldog” whose mantle he took up, Keith Green.
And if we’re stirring the pot, why limit it to Christian music? All of Christian media and production has some accounting to do. There are some selfless men of God who write books solely for the glory of God and the feeding of his flock, but a casual stroll through Lifeway tells you something is still very much amiss in this “industry” as well.
Good point, James. I think Campi has actually tried to brach his reformation out to include the whole Christian Industry now.
As a member of the Catholic Church, I agree that there has been and is much corruption, but don’t throw the baby out with the bath water: Christ is still present and working within the Catholic church as well as Protestant churches. I am also a Christian musician and will be setting out for a cross Canada tour for 40 days, relying on God’s Providence. I don’t charge a cent for my singing, but I do sell CDs, and I agree that the Christian music “Industry” has compromised the Gospel in many ways, not only by lusting after money but also by watering down the message of the Gospel, avoiding reference to sin, the cross, the Blood of Jesus, hell, death, etc…. So much of it is fluff and me-centred. Anyways, please pray for me. My website is http://www.petermason.net God bless
Just a thought, inviting discussion, dissing, whatever.
When I was a HS student I really spent a lot of time listening to CCM and attending concerts. A bit of a groupie, bigger than others, not nearly as big as many. And I have no reason to doubt what you’ve said in relation to the fees and logistics of these concerts. But those concerts and music encouraged me quite a bit, and also they gave me, for lack of a better word, an “outlet” for my interest in music. Should I listen to Michael W Smith or Elton John? Should I pop in a Guardian cassette or Stone Temple Pilots (music to which a friend committed suicide)?
I guess one could easily say that the Lord worked in a pure heart even thru corrupt means?
Respectfully,
ALAN
I understand what he’s saying, and we should always be on guard against excess, but let’s take this to its logical extent: Do you expect your local pastor to work for whatever “love offering” your church decides to cough up that week, or do you give him a salary that he can expect to receive. I don’t think I’ve ever had even a bi-vocational pastor that didn’t have a set salary.
There are many things I don’t like about the modern Christian music scene (e.g., paying to use a song in worship), but we also have to keep the maxim in mind — you get what you pay for.
PS – Don’t forget that the Didache is not canonical.
Ever the devil’s advocate,
Chris
In my mind this issue is miniscule compared to the larger fundamental trespass of the christian music industry, an inadvertent fallacy. You could argue all day as to where the line is between necessity and excess. However, the main problem I see in the christian music industry, and the christian church in general is isolationism. On the surface, it looks as though the christian music industry is a good thing because it brings kids to christianity. However, in my opinion, christian music pushes more people away from being a christian than it brings in.
Of course, a worker in the christian music industry would argue that the “excess” money that was refered to in previous posts is used to serve god. This I don’t deny. I believe that most hearts are in the right place. To understand christian music we must examine the main purpose for its existance. I would say that the main purpose for creating a massive industry is for evangalism. How does it bring people to god? it creates a social norm that gives christians their own culture. In essence, it makes christianity “cool”, to those who like overproduced music. Of course, this is an immitation of the secular music industry. What does the secualr music industry use to make its money? it exploits kids who need to fit in by giving them something they can share in. This is obvious in advertising of the media. Consequnetly they get filthy rich. The christian music industry does the same thing. However, they have the excuse that they are doing it to serve god. This I don’t deny. The money is second to the mission. However, what about those people who dislike the secular music industry? If the christian music industry immatates the secular, people are going to look at this labeled industry and begin hating the label.
How did a theme become an industry? When Handel wrote his halleluja chorus, it brought thousands to christianity. Not because it copied a style advertised to a built in audience of christians, but because it was a beautiful piece, and he didn’t need to isolate himself from the rest of the composers of the time.
It is so much easier for christians to advertise because they have a built in audience of thousands. If you were a christian pondering getting into music, It would be much easier for you to become a christian band, because you know thousands will already like you without even considering your music. They would like you because you would have a good message.
This is what all this rambling comes down too. When an industry claims to be christian, then ever time the christians are thought of they are associated with that label. For instance, if you are a christian, you like christian music. Would about those (and there are many) who dislike christian music. Then they associate that dislike for christian music with dislike for christians. I love music and I am a christian. However, I am constantly being pushed away by the christian music industry. I am not the only one being pushed away by the christian industry. In the growing indie movement perpetuated by the internet, people are beginning to excape the secular music industry and begin their own culture. Many of the people have an incredibly slim chance of becoming a christian, because the christian music industry is an immitation of the secular. This is why the Christian music industry is a troubling thing for the christian community.
sorry for the babbling, I feel like I need to say it somewhere. any thoughts or comments email to the_yellow_sub@hotmail.com
The problem I have with the Christian music industry is that the music just doesn’t feel that honest to me for the most part. Don’t get me wrong, there are sincere artists even within the corrupt industry, but the problem is that I don’t know who!
See, who is to say that some fat-cat exec isn’t telling some of these groups to cover this song because it’s oh-so-hot right now, or that they need to write a worship album by this financial quarter or they’re gonna get kicked out, or any such thing. How do I know that’s not happening often? And even many small-time “worship” bands kind’ve walk that same path, because they know this is what people want to hear and this is what will get them popular.
And let’s face it, what they write isn’t gold. I’ve listened to this stuff lately, and it’s become stagnant. Wanna bet that they’re tapped out of creativity or just burnt out entirely because some higher up is nudging them relentlessly to churn out new material? Yes, there are talented Christian bands who still make the occasional good song, but that’s just a few drops in a sea of mediocrity. Sadly, that’s one of many things the Christian music industry has in common with the secular music industry.
As a consumer, I just want honesty. I don’t want somebody to sing to me warm fuzziness when they don’t feel it, I don’t want fluff, I want the real feelings of a real human being. That would include sadness, anxiety, fear, worry, doubt, anger… any number of negative emotions, and we all have them. To pretend otherwise is just that — pretense.
Ya know what? I don’t think I’d mind that much if I heard my christian artist cursing, if that’s what he or she feels, then so be it. I would rather that than to be shocked when I find that, *gasp*, that’s how they talk behind the scenes in real life?? Exactly, it’s ridiculous. That has to be a bit hellish when the public gets this false image of you and you’re left to deal with all the trash that comes from when the public gets a mere glimpse of the real you.
The key here, throughout this long comment, is HONESTY. If you’re angry with God, tell me. If you’re struggling with sin, tell me. If you’re struggling to understand what seems to be an anomaly to you, let it hit my ears. Otherwise, you’re just PREACHING TO THE CHOIR. Think I’m wrong about how it’s mostly people who are already saved listening to Christian music? Trust me, I’m a Christian and I find this stuff to be hard to listen to for the most part, 99% of non-Christians do too. I hate to beat a dead horse, but if these artists were just honest (and allowed to take their time to allow their creativity to breathe)… that may not be so.
Anyway, I know I’ve dusted off an old topic, but I happened upon it and felt compelled to rant, thanks for taking time to read it!
*”Saved” and “I got a warm fuzzy feeling at a church service” are not the same thing, so there probably aren’t that many getting truly saved ultimately.