Philosophy of Ministry
ARTIST - VS - MINISTER
There is a major battle raging over Christian music today. No, it’s not the previous decade’s argument over “The Demonic Rock Beat in the Church” that boiled down to a “King James Only” type of debate over old - vs - new and freedom - vs - legalism. Instead, it is a war over Christians and their role in “Secular” music. I am writing this statement for 2 reasons. First, to have a stated opinion on this important debate, and second, to better define a vision for my own ministry.
I believe that there are two unique callings that have been blurred by the music industry, Christian churches, and the world. The first is The Artist and the second is The Minister. No one confuses a doctor with a full-time medical missionary, even though they both heal. No one confuses a politician and a pastor, even though they are both public speakers. No one confuses the sketch-board artists for Open Air Campaigners with a famous painter, even though they both use canvas and paint. But in our world, the Christian musical artist is constantly confused with the Christian musical minister, and I believe, it does a serious disservice to both.
Before I go any further, I want to make clear that I believe that neither is wrong, but they are just two different callings with two different purposes. I would also like to take the time to define the word, “Secular”. So many Christians see anything secular as evil. I believe that the word “secular” should be thrown out of a Christian’s vocabulary because it limits a Christian’s vision. All truth is God’s truth. The “secular” fact that 2+2 equals 4 is just as true as the “Christian” fact that God created the heavens and the earth. Therefore, no line should be drawn between “Christian Truth” and “Secular Truth.” If an artist sings the truth…Good for him! “Christian” or “Secular.” If not…He is in the wrong regardless of how good his art is. I hold everyone, not just Christians to this standard. If an unbeliever says something true…it is still true. If a Christian speaks lies…it is still untrue. If in this paper, I use the word “secular” it will be in quotes and will mean, “not specifically related to a particular verse in the Word of God.”
In these debates, you usually hear these sentiments:
Artist: “I feel like there is a ceiling as to how far I can go with my music simply because I am a Christian. Churches won’t have me because I sing songs that are about life instead of every song being about the gospel, and the “secular” market won’t play me because they see me as a full-time minister.”
Minister: “I feel that there are so many people in ‘ministry’ that are obviously not called to do anything but entertain. I constantly find myself lost in the shuffle with these artists, but I feel as though I am called for something more. Most people don’t see a difference in what we do. I often feel forced by the industry to soften my message in response to sales, but I feel that I am called to preach the truth.”
I believe to understand the differences and begin the separation of the two in our minds and culture, we must define what we mean by Artist and Minister. The first is an Entertainer/Artist who has, as his/her vocation, chosen to make art through music and bring a message and consequently a worldview to the masses (or at least those who will listen). This is a job, no different than a doctor, lawyer, secretary, mailman, etc. As an artist, his job is to make art through music. As a Christian, his job is to be a witness in whatever he does. How he chooses to be a witness is between him and the Lord. If he sings songs with an openly “Christian” message, then he should be prepared to be criticized as any other worker in any other field who openly proselytes to those with whom he comes in contact. It is not my duty to judge his ART for the amount of Christian content…no more than for me to judge a busboy’s work in a restaurant for how many tracks he leaves on the tables. His degree of witness is between him and the Lord.
The Second is The Minister who has as his calling to minister to the needs of God’s people. Where the artist sets as a goal to broaden his listening base, the minister sets out to deepen his audience (whomever they may be) in the Word. The artist is doing a job and should be paid according to his ability and drawing power. This is how it works in every other business, why should a singer be any different. The minister, on the other hand, should live by faith. He should be taken care of, but the goal will not be to make money, but to minister. This does not mean that a Minister should be taken advantage of or half-heartedly supported. They should be treated as if a missionary or evangelist or even, dare I say, the Apostle Paul, were to set foot in your church to encourage and teach and edify your congregation. I don’t consider any modern day minister an apostle. Paul was the last. But I do see the role of a minister similar to what Paul did in his journeys. The Minister’s calling is no different than that of a traveling evangelist or preacher.
There are some things to note, however. An Artist can certainly minister and intend to do so. The Minister can be very entertaining and artistic, although ministering is his main focus. Often we see Artists judged on how well they minister and Ministers judged on their artistic quality. When the qualifications are switched, neither can do their job effectively.
There are some glaring differences in the qualifications of an artist and minister:
1. The Minister should be willing and able to live up to the standard of an Elder or Pastor. The Artist may simply be a layperson in the church, and while the standard is set at holiness for both, the consequences of not living up to that standard differs. When a parishioner fails to live up to the standard of the Bible, after repentance has occurred, he is still allowed to be an active member of the church. However, if a Minister (or pastor or elder) fails to live up to his qualifications, he forfeits his right to be a leader. For if he can’t rule his own life, how can he lead others? The standard is the same, but the consequences are different.
2. Both the Artist and the Minister should study God’s Word (as all Christians should), but the Minister’s knowledge of the Bible must be especially thorough and accurate to effectively live up to his calling. If the Minister is to lead God’s people into worship and service, he should be certainly able to rightly divide the Word of truth. The Minister should also be able to communicate that message effectively. Pastors are often giving up pulpit time, and what is musically put in its place should be of such quality that it fills the void adequately. Again, I define an Artist’s quality by the quality of his art. I define a Minister’s quality as how well he teaches and meets the spiritual needs of the audience.
3. The Minister should be willing to live by faith. This is not to say that there is a limit to how large a ministry can grow, but as a word of warning, the larger a ministry becomes, the harder it is to keep the focus on ministry. Unfortunately, that is how the music industry works. The musical Minister should not let the call of fame and fortune suppress his ability to minister. The Minister will not let the record company dictate the level of Christian content in his music. To do this may not sell out his art, but will sell out his ministry. You can often tell the difference between the Artist and minister by the complaints they have with their record company. The Artist will complain that the record company is stifling their “art” for commerciality, whereas, the Minister will often butt heads over the watering down of the message content in the songs.
When I left the Speer family, the only way I knew to conduct my business was as a business. It is only after 10 years of being removed from the industry or “loop” that I have felt that I have not been called to be an artist, but to be a minister. I still try to create artistic music, and I still try to be entertaining, but the way I go about it is totally different. Here are some changes I have made in the last 10 years because of my philosophy shift from Artist to Minister:
I never tried to hide the message in my music to make it appealing to the “secular” radio market, but I did write songs that I felt the people wanted to hear. Now I seek to write music that people need to hear. All the songs we write and sing are based on the absolute truths in the Word of God and are focused on the needs we see in the church today.
Even though I never charged a huge flat fee, I did believe the philosophy that bigger was better. Working churches was a stepping-stone to something bigger (The Big Time!). My attitude has changed, and now I see that I am exactly where God wants me to be. This is not a stepping-stone. We operate on as small of a budget as possible to be available to minister almost anywhere.
Rather than working up to a huge flat fee, we are still supported on love offerings, individual monthly support, and modest expense checks from the churches. This way we can go to places that many other Ministers are not able to go.
One of my goals was to be able to build a name and a following so that I could pack out large venues. Today, my goal is to go wherever the Lord leads and sing to whomever God leads there. I know that doesn’t sound like a great business plan or vision, but that’s just the point.
Where I used to introduce a song in concert based on which album it was on, now the focus is on tying the lyrics of songs together to best present the message.
These are just some practical differences between the two, inwardly it is a matter of philosophy that effects every aspect of the musician: the booking, writing, arranging, sound, staging, expenses, venues, tape sales, marketing, etc.
For years, the Church…AND the world have blurred the lines between the two. Artists, who have been stuck doing the work of a minister, even though they have not received that calling, have considered it (and even called it) the “ghetto”. To an artist this is probably true. To a minister this is home…living by faith and ministering to the people of God. The Artist seeks to reach all people with his music, just as a Christian businessman seeks to have as many customers as possible. Failure for an Artist is that no one wants to view his art. Failure for the minister is, on the other hand, non-existent. As long as the minister is ministering, he is doing the will of God regardless of the outcome.
So what are the solutions to this debate? Here are some good starting points:
1. My opinion is that the only people who should be marketed as “Christian Musicians” are those who truly are called to be Ministers. The rest should not be labeled “Christian Artists”, just “Artists” who happen to be Christians. We don’t label Christian Surgeons or Christian Lawyers in the phone book, but that doesn’t mean they are not out there. They are just not labeled as such.
2. Christians should stop criticizing Artists for being artists. God may not have called them to be full-time ministers. That is between God and them. Stop playing the role of the Holy Spirit and stop being critical of God’s people. I say, let them be artists. Let them sing about life, let them do it from a Godly worldview. The world surely needs to hear that.
3. As churches, support your local Ministers. These people who are truly called into ministry and truly gifted to minister can be very effective in complementing your current ministry and inspiring your congregation.
4. To Artists and Ministers: define yourselves. Know what God has called you to do, develop a vision and a plan to do it…and do it. If you are an Artist, don’t use ministry as a stepping-stone to push your art. Nothing does more harm to the real ministers than that! Find out where God has called you. Follow your calling. Neither is wrong, just make sure you are doing what you are really called to do! You will never be content unless you are.