Worship is an industry?

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1still_waters

Guest
#1
#1
This can piggyback off my previous thread about the merchandising of Christianity.
Link to thread--->http://christianchat.com/christian-...e-so-you-can-tell-how-much-you-arent-fan.html

I was reading a link from Kari Jobe from her Twitter feed. It sent me to a page that describes her as a leader in the worship industry.
Link--->Covenant Church: Worship Leaders

KARI JOBE
After being established as one of the industry’s premier worship leaders with her Dove Award-winning, self-titled debut, Kari Jobe continues to serve as a worship pastor at Gateway Church in Southlake,

Am I being too picky on the merchandising and industrialization of Christianity?
 
N

niceguyJ

Senior Member
#2
Feb 5, 2011
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They could've put the word "music" before "industry". I don't think the person writing that is trying to say worship is an industry, they are just referring to her being one of the most well known worship leaders in the music industry. Which I suppose one could argue is saying the same thing...I can't see it quite like that though.
I have no problem with a Christian artist making money off their music. Musicians have to make a living too. Of course, most "Christian" record labels are ultimately owned by people who aren't Christians and ONLY have the interest of making a dollar. There isn't much the artist can do about that though. They can try to make it as an independent artist, or just accept the fact that their label is only interested in making a dollar. I don't think it makes the artist bad. It's all in where their heart is at. They can still achieve what God wants them to while their label gets what they want. Now if an artist in the Christian music scene is there ONLY to make a dollar, I'd say it's wrong.

The fact of the matter is this: To anyone selling anything, Christians are just another demographic to sell to. Can we as Christians take whatever it is they're pushing and make something positive from it or find a good use for it? Sure, it's possible. It all depends.
 
U

Ugly

Guest
#3
#3
For some time now i've felt 'praise and worship' has become just another genre, a form of spiritual-ish entertainment.

Same with the idea of a christian bookstore. Or at least some of the things in them. A place to find Christian books and music etc is one thing. But christian candy, pens, and all these other silly little things that reek of cashing in.
 
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1still_waters

Guest
#4
#4
Yeah I know Christian workers are more than worthy of their labor. Just a tough balance between getting your just pay, and then allowing it to morph in to some sort or merchandising industry.
 
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Jullianna

Guest
#5
#5
While I agree that, like evangelists and pastors (who also put out videos/CDs/books/etc), those in fulltime music ministry should be paid, as an unpaid individual in music ministry I have found that the business and planning side of the thing can be very distracting from the gift and calling God puts upon those He wants to serve in this way. The purity of worship is something that must be closely guarded. I've worked very closely with those who lead worship "professionally", as well as many christian music artists over the years and it's tough. I can't begin to imagine the distraction working in an "industry" like that can pose. It's little wonder that some fall hard from time to time.

That the tribe of Judah led the others into battle is evidence of the power, honor, holiness and responsibility of godly music. While many people are deeply touched and often led to Christ by the powerful lyrics of many popular christian songs floating around on the air waves, it is a HOLY thing and deserves to be treated accordingly.
 
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K

kayem77

Guest
#6
#6
I agree with Mr. niceguy, it's all about the heart.

PS. I love Kari Jobe :) her songs are a blessing....
 
C

Crossfire

Guest
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#7
Over the years I've had the opportunity to meet a handful of well known christian personalities with recognizable ministries. Most devote their entire lives to the ministry that God has given them and, unlike many churches who have paid pastors and staff, most refuse to collect a paycheck from the ministry itself. In turn, they support their families through sales of the books and / or audio cds that they produce. Some have done very well for themselves through such sales thus they are often accused of all sorts of nonsense by those that do not agree with them.

Personally, I don't see a problem with someone selling books and / or cds just as long their hearts are in the right place and lives are truly being saved & transformed.
 
Liamson

Liamson

Senior Member
#8
Feb 3, 2010
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Then again, there are 'those people' who would rather buy a pen from a Christian bookstore than from a "secular" store like Staples.


Or people who would rather listen to Chris Tomlin than "Secular" music like J.S. Bach.
 
J

Jullianna

Guest
#9
#9
I do want to say that I read Kari's blog on a regular basis and do much of her music at my church. She has a heart for the Lord and I think it would trouble her deeply for anyone to feel that she does what she does for any other reason. I would imagine that this is like any other area of ministry or our christian walk - we have to guard our hearts.

From listening to these songs, it appears that there are a lot of christian artists out there who have struggled with the issues fame can bring to one in an area of ministry that goes viral:

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mJFFrVnczE[/video]

It's all about You, Jesus
And all this is for You
For Your glory and your fame
It's not about me
As if You should do things my way
You alone are God
And I surrender to your ways


[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7Y3uoVOZFE[/video]
 
zander

zander

Banned
#10
Feb 9, 2007
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Chat sites too? Just asking
 
lil_christian

lil_christian

Senior Member
#11
Mar 14, 2010
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Liamson said:
Then again, there are 'those people' who would rather buy a pen from a Christian bookstore than from a "secular" store like Staples.


Or people who would rather listen to Chris Tomlin than "Secular" music like J.S. Bach.
Click to expand...
Actually, Johan Sebastian Bach wrote Christian music too :) he wanted his music to be used as balanced worship music. Example one would be, "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring."

I'll stop being technical now ;) I get your point and it is a valid one.
 
R

rainacorn

Guest
#12
#12
lil_christian said:
Actually, Johan Sebastian Bach wrote Christian music too :) he wanted his music to be used as balanced worship music. Example one would be, "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring."

I'll stop being technical now ;) I get your point and it is a valid one.
Click to expand...
He wrote tons of Christian music, but the fact is that it isn't marketed as Christian music and it's not necessarily sold in Christian bookstores and doesn't get Christian radio play....so many don't consider it Christian at all.
 
lil_christian

lil_christian

Senior Member
#13
Mar 14, 2010
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#13
rainacorn said:
He wrote tons of Christian music, but the fact is that it isn't marketed as Christian music and it's not necessarily sold in Christian bookstores and doesn't get Christian radio play....so many don't consider it Christian at all.
Click to expand...
That's also true...Bach isn't MODERN Christian music, it's not sold in Christian stores, the fact it wasn't recorded with a Christian label (they didn't even have recording back then), etc. it isn't considered Christian. Though it's sorta cool to learn about music like Bach's, find and know the story behind why they composed music, like the fact Bach wrote music intended to be used as balanced worship music "in the name of God" as my school curriculum said he put it. :)
 
lil_christian

lil_christian

Senior Member
#14
Mar 14, 2010
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But in regards to the ORIGINAL topic

Unfortunately, the music/worship ministry area is not only a ministry but also an industry. =\ it's sad but true. I honestly can't say much on the subject though because I haven't looked too deep into it.
 
R

rainacorn

Guest
#15
#15
What's sad about it?

That thousands of people are making a living and supporting their families off of the organized creation and distribution of legitimate high quality worship materials?

Or that great worship leaders can reach a massive, worldwide audience?

All of it costs money. Sure, some people will take advantage of the undiscerning Christians who will buy literally anything labeled as 'Christian' in a 'Christian store'... they are easy targets and it's easy money. However there are people who legitimately have a gift and we should be thankful to live in a society where it's even possible for those people to not only reach the masses, but dedicate their whole lives to such a ministry.
 
1

1still_waters

Guest
#16
#16
rainacorn said:
What's sad about it?

That thousands of people are making a living and supporting their families off of the organized creation and distribution of legitimate high quality worship materials?

Or that great worship leaders can reach a massive, worldwide audience?

All of it costs money. Sure, some people will take advantage of the undiscerning Christians who will buy literally anything labeled as 'Christian' in a 'Christian store'... they are easy targets and it's easy money. However there are people who legitimately have a gift and we should be thankful to live in a society where it's even possible for those people to not only reach the masses, but dedicate their whole lives to such a ministry.
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You have a point. There may not be anything wrong with having a worship industry.
 
lil_christian

lil_christian

Senior Member
#17
Mar 14, 2010
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#17
rainacorn said:
What's sad about it?

That thousands of people are making a living and supporting their families off of the organized creation and distribution of legitimate high quality worship materials?

Or that great worship leaders can reach a massive, worldwide audience?

All of it costs money. Sure, some people will take advantage of the undiscerning Christians who will buy literally anything labeled as 'Christian' in a 'Christian store'... they are easy targets and it's easy money. However there are people who legitimately have a gift and we should be thankful to live in a society where it's even possible for those people to not only reach the masses, but dedicate their whole lives to such a ministry.
Click to expand...
What I think is sad about it is it can get to the point where it's not about God anymore, you can lose your focus, it can become all about money, and then some other things I can't remember at this moment (memory and concentration are suffering horribly today.)

I mean I see your point...it's just in the industrial area things CAN get sticky.
 
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lil_christian

lil_christian

Senior Member
#18
Mar 14, 2010
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Though with that being said I don't have too much against the music ministry and industry...with God's help I actually plan to go into that area, actually. It's just it's extremely hard to get out there.
 
V

violakat

Guest
#19
#19
The thing we have to do is look at the music in itself. Is it about God or man? Are they songs we mean? There are a lot of artists out there, who people think are very worldly, simply because they are modern day worship singers, and yet they refuse to look at the words themselves. And then they sing Hymns that are more about the individual then God. James MacDonald speaking on this topic made me rethink about a lot of the songs that I enjoy.

James MacDonald on Songs They Don't Sing at His Church - YouTube
 
1

1still_waters

Guest
#20
#20
Just to clarify. Any Christian worker is more than entitled to the fruits of their labor. To suggest a Christian worker isn't entitled to the fruits of their labor is to go against what the Bible teaches.

My concern was with taking 'worship' and turning it in to an industry, seeing that worship is sacred.

I guess people can get on two extremes of things. Some can be so pious they view it as evil if a Christian worker gets their pay from the fruits of their labor. On the other hand, some can take the sacred and go way beyond earning an honest living, and they can turn the sacred in to just an 'industry'.
 
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