An Inquiry in Being part of Christian Music Ministry.

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rye715

Guest
#1
#1
Hi to all my brothers and sisters in Christ. I am new member here and I am glad to see the different threads that speak about God's glory and His promise of salvation.

My wife and I are members of the music ministry in our church for almost 6 years now, and currently resides an expat in a foreign country in order to work.

One of my friends invited me to play a 3-member acoustic set in a high-class bar in our area. My friend needed a second-source of income as he is expecting his 4th baby soon, so we decided to help him. He is a good friend, and we've been through a lot and he is also in the same church as we do. My heart told me to help him. Moreover, aside from my current work, my wife and I have been praying for a second source of income.

Our ministry and church leaders disapprove our decision and told us that it is either we turn down the offer or we cannot serve the ministry. Their arguments are :

1. We cannot serve two masters. It is either God or money.
2. They are worried that if other church members knew or saw us, ministers of God's work through music, working in an environment that they consider as unholy, the ministry's integrity and obedience to God will be questioned. We might be considered as "stumbling blocks" to others.
3. Our God-given skills in music are meant for God alone, and not to secular life.

My wife and I prayed together and realized that we'd rather help our friend in need. As a consequence, we were given a disciplinary action and our case was made known and publicized throughout the church as an example. We were not permitted to serve the ministry.

I'd like to ask these questions :

1. Was my and my wife's decision right?
2. What is your stand on Christian servants in the music ministry who are working as part-time musicians outside the church? You can cite some Bible verses if you want to. It will really help us.
3. How do we approach/deal with the disciplinary action that was given to us in terms of talking to our pastors, our ministry leaders and fellow church members?

Thank you and I hope and pray that you can shed light on this matter.

God bless to all.
 
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kenisyes

Guest
#2
#2
I've been in music ministry leadership for 43 years professionally, so I am giving you a professional opinion.

If God sent you to the bar (your heart, the opportunity, a reason it would bless you), you should go. After 6 years of ministry, you are not going to be misled to the ways of the world. For all you know, this might be the beginning of a lifetime of ministry in bars, getting people saved. If God wants you in a church, He will find you one that is not so authoritarian as to bring you to discipline for following what He told you to do. Basically, their theology is what Bob Mumford used to call VRG - verbalized religious garbage. The proper procedure would have been to announce in the church that you are being called to a great opportunity for evangelism and to pray over you for it.

Scriptures? They're tricky, because you need to see with a music minister's eyes. 1. The greatest worship musician who ever lived was King David, right? He had to be called to strum the harp to cheer up King Saul, who got depressed all the time. What are people doing in bars - trying to cope with depression, right? 2. When Jesus went to raise the daughter of Jairus, there were flute players there; He had them stop playing. According to Jewish records, people all brought their flutes to the Feast of Tabernacles, and played them with the Levites for the water pouring procession. So these guys all had a double ministry, one secular. 3. And look at the titles of the Psalms. Many are "to be played according to..." These are most likely secular songs. Each of these titles did double duty as a worship song and a popular song.

It is a simple fact, provable scientifically, that your love of God influences ALL the music you play, every note, and will put a new "life" into this bar music as well.

This being said, your reaction should be: Find a real church. Better yet, start praying with your friend. Maybe the three of you will pick up some more members in that bar. Let God worry about the church. They obviously have a different call from what you do, as they cannot understand yours.
 
RickyZ

RickyZ

Senior Member
#3
Sep 20, 2012
9,635
787
113
#3
The issues I see are; is this a one time thing or an ongoing gig? The environment is important too, being an acoustic club it's not going to draw the hell's angels mindset. Were you receiving any financial support from the church for your music ministry? If they're "paying you" for your professional work I think that gives them a little stronger argument, if not you have a right to earn a living. Is your friend a part of the church? I would hate to think they would be so uncharitable towards one of their own, or offer better solution to him. And like Ken said above, if you sought God's leading in this and He said it was ok then they have no place to say otherwise.
 
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kenisyes

Guest
#4
#4
RickyZ said:
If they're "paying you" for your professional work I think that gives them a little stronger argument, if not you have a right to earn a living. .
Click to expand...
Even then, exclusivity after 5 years is almost unheard of in the industry. By then, the person hiring had better have given them the opportunity to have several platinum albums out.
State of the art in the US, in recording is here(#9, and note the limitations): ► Sample Music Contracts, Sample Recording Contracts and Sample Record Contracts for less money, using the 101 Music Business Contracts software program. Plus find the latest new music business how to books by Ty Cohen & Platinum Millennium Pub
for songwriting is here (and note the mandatory prepayment: Types of Music Contracts | eHow.com
And from a document preparation site, note the reasoning for exclusivity in the middle of the page: Music Recording Contract - LawDepot.com

Churches are notoriously bad at using the idea that "God's laws in the Bible are superior to man's laws". That would be fine, if there weren't 36,000 denominations out there who can't agree on what the Bible says. You are quite right, if this church wants exclusivity, let them prove how God is blessing their position, by paying these people a full time salary, and creating outreach opportuinities commensurate with their experience and anointing.
 
U

Ugly

Guest
#5
#5
Your church sounds legalistic. We all need money, and that is not the same thing as serving money. Idiocy.
 
R

rye715

Guest
#6
#6
kenisyes said:
I've been in music ministry leadership for 43 years professionally, so I am giving you a professional opinion.

If God sent you to the bar (your heart, the opportunity, a reason it would bless you), you should go. After 6 years of ministry, you are not going to be misled to the ways of the world. For all you know, this might be the beginning of a lifetime of ministry in bars, getting people saved. If God wants you in a church, He will find you one that is not so authoritarian as to bring you to discipline for following what He told you to do. Basically, their theology is what Bob Mumford used to call VRG - verbalized religious garbage. The proper procedure would have been to announce in the church that you are being called to a great opportunity for evangelism and to pray over you for it.

Scriptures? They're tricky, because you need to see with a music minister's eyes. 1. The greatest worship musician who ever lived was King David, right? He had to be called to strum the harp to cheer up King Saul, who got depressed all the time. What are people doing in bars - trying to cope with depression, right? 2. When Jesus went to raise the daughter of Jairus, there were flute players there; He had them stop playing. According to Jewish records, people all brought their flutes to the Feast of Tabernacles, and played them with the Levites for the water pouring procession. So these guys all had a double ministry, one secular. 3. And look at the titles of the Psalms. Many are "to be played according to..." These are most likely secular songs. Each of these titles did double duty as a worship song and a popular song.

It is a simple fact, provable scientifically, that your love of God influences ALL the music you play, every note, and will put a new "life" into this bar music as well.

This being said, your reaction should be: Find a real church. Better yet, start praying with your friend. Maybe the three of you will pick up some more members in that bar. Let God worry about the church. They obviously have a different call from what you do, as they cannot understand yours.
Click to expand...
Thank you kenisyes for that enlightening reply. My wife and I decided to look for another church that will understand our situation. It is just sad that most of our close are in the same church. We may be of different churches, but our faith in God is the same no matter. God bless you.
 
R

rye715

Guest
#7
#7
RickyZ said:
The issues I see are; is this a one time thing or an ongoing gig? The environment is important too, being an acoustic club it's not going to draw the hell's angels mindset. Were you receiving any financial support from the church for your music ministry? If they're "paying you" for your professional work I think that gives them a little stronger argument, if not you have a right to earn a living. Is your friend a part of the church? I would hate to think they would be so uncharitable towards one of their own, or offer better solution to him. And like Ken said above, if you sought God's leading in this and He said it was ok then they have no place to say otherwise.
Click to expand...
Hi RickyZ. Just to answer your questions :

1. The gig started this month and will end in 6 months time. The environment is typically a class lounge/bar where foreign dignitaries, ambassadors, government officials, diplomats and high-profile expatriates go, chill and relax. Not the usual type of bar that you can go in uninvited.

2. Our ministry in the church is voluntary. They don't pay us. We do it for free to serve God.

3. My friend is part of our church. I was the one who introduced him to our pastors and he accepted Christ as His savior about 2 years ago.

Thanks for the insight. :) God bless you.
 
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