Christian Music Industry Part 4

I know there’s a lot of responsibility in being an artist or a leader. You’re driven to reach a huge number of people. You want to spread this gospel all over the world! Sometimes, appealing to people is your only source of income, like when music is your career. But, I pray that God teaches us how to handle this huge responsibility. We need not only to reach, but to allow God to impact His people. For Him to encounter His people, for His people to not be the same after an encounter with Him, either through concerts or listening to a song on the radio, or visiting your social networks.

This is why I love the idea of a conference instead of a concert. For example, Jesus Culture. These guys are an awesome worship band that goes to different cities, really around the world not just performing their songs. Before they have a conference, they have a team preparing the leaders and equipping them and teaching them. They have an amazing conference, like a high quality concert-level light shows and everything. Then they begin with a time of teaching and prayer. When it’s time for the band to perform, they have their lyrics up on screen so people can worship along with them and so they aren’t just entertaining. Then, they make their music videos available on You Tube, and their songs are up on their website and on i-Tunes. Another thing they do to make their music available is that they don’t force a person to buy the whole album if they like a particular song. You can just buy any single off the album. 

The stories of transformation that follow their conferences are amazing. (Which by the way, I read off their blog on the website!) Stories of the Holy Spirit awakening gifts in ordinary people and stories of healing and restoration. It creates an impact that lasts long before the music fades away. Their mission statement (as listed on their website!) is to create an emerging breed of new revivalists.  That’s exactly what they’re doing. After a worship experience, nobody is ever the same. That coupled with preaching the word of God and passionate, heartfelt prayer. The Holy Spirit moves. God moves in the hearts of His people. I’ve never been to a JC Conference, the closest they’ve been to Kenya is South Africa L but through You Tube and the social networks, I’ve been impacted HUGELY!

That’s what I’d hope to see in Kenya: a breed of revivalists. This city needs a revival, especially this year. I pray that God allows us to feel His Spirit. We’re really concerned about the condition of our hearts and the submission of our minds and emotions to the word of God, which is amazing. We’re also so fearful of the Holy Spirit, because, at least for me, I don’t want to writhe on the ground and be exorcised like I see on Ng’ang’a’s pulpits or seeing pastors blow into microphones and say “the spirit is blowing through this place”

This is SUCH a wrong view of the Holy Spirit. So, over the next couple of days, let’s look at what the Bible says about the Holy Spirit:

Christian Music Industry Part 3

I don’t understand why as an artist, you’d fill your webpage with pictures and merchandise and concert and event details, but you didn’t have a page that leads people toward growth. What happens after the music fades? Artists should be in that place where they care about making an impact and not just entertaining. One page, with your testimony or at least with a prayer for salvation and leading them to a place where they can correspond with someone (not necessarily you, maybe your church prayer line, or twitter feed or address) that will lead them to Christ, there are so many organizations that send people free publications like a new believer’s pamphlet, a download link, apps that help you find a Church near where they are.

I also don’t understand, (and this is like pointing the finger inwards at me, because the Church I attend is guilty of this) why, a worship leader would lead praise and worship with a re-mixed version of a Secular song, when there are SO many Christian songs in this world. I LOVE my Church, it’s one of the best things that has ever happened to me, and opened me up to a relationship with God rather than religion that I had trouble with. However, I personally don’t agree with that “take-back” thing.  I mean, I get the argument about reaching the un-churched or “taking back” the world for God, but do we have to do it using secular songs? It causes so much strife, that’s so unnecessary and there is more going against it, than going for it.

Christian Music Industry Part 2

As a Christian artist or a worship leader, it’s important to realize you do have a following. As a leader, you carry a HUGE RESPONSIBILITY! People look up to you. I don’t understand why, or what’s the purpose of causing strife over what to me is nothing.

I don’t understand why as an artist, you refuse to acknowledge that you’re a Christian. For example, Firefly in an interview didn’t want to be labeled a “Christian band” Yet, you’ve been given this huge incredible platform so that people who love your music know the God behind it. I’m all for not putting a “GET SAVED NOW OR DIE!” admonition in your songs, but when you’re at an interview, why deny who you are. Your songs have been leading people to something; tell them what that something is!

Christian Music Industry Part 1

So, I’ve been thinking about music a lot lately. Like I said, I’m into writing songs now and I’m planning on buying an electric guitar within the next few months God willing. Plus of course, the whole, “God, I’d love to marry a Worship Leader” thing.

I realize as I write this I need to do a series of posts just to explain that first paragraph, and some of the thoughts that run through my head!

There’s so much debate going on about the type of music that’s invaded our Churches and I just thought I’d give my take on it.

Personally, I love rock. Rock music from the likes of Jeremy Camp and Switchfoot introduced me to Christ and got me into Christianity. I love the fact that you can put a bunch of people each gifted in playing a specific instrument and be able to put it all together and come up with something great. As I’ve grown up though, my tastes have evolved somewhat and now I’m more into the content of the lyrics and the Spirit behind it rather than just great-sounding tracks from Christian labels. So now I’m into Jesus Culture, Jeremy Camp, Gateway Worship, Casting Crowns, Tenth Avenue North, and Switchfoot.

I recognize the fact that music is INCREDIBLY spiritual. One of the best examples of this I can give is when I listen to a Switchfoot song…they are a Christian band but their lyrics aren’t explicit but more figurative like a lyric, “the shadow proves the sunshine” just tells you about how we go through struggles, but in overcoming we see the light of God shine through. I mean, when I listen to a Switchfoot song, my soul is stirred up! Too many times I’ve ended up wrecked on the floor crying out to God, “…I fall in love with things that run me through, when all along all I’ve needed is You!” (Another Switchfoot lyric)

Sharp contrast to a Lady Gaga song. I don’t know if it’s the outfits or what I’ve read about her, or just her lyrics, but those songs just feel to me like I’m being bound. It’s a real distinct feeling. A closer example, is I used to love Florence and The Machine, I mean I could sing every word from their first album, Lungs. It didn’t feel quite right but I ignored it, because when I Googled them, there was still some speculation, that they “could be a Christian group” Then their second album came out and the first time I listened to them, it was just like “NO WAY!” something has to be wrong with this group. So again, I Googled (yes, I am a Google addict) and I saw pictures of the video from the single off that album, and it was insane, the guy giving the commentary drew contrasts of her being reborn into Satanism and the imagery in the video was almost exactly the same to the occult texts.

Anyway, my point is that I’m not blind to the fact that there is such a power behind music. It’s a spiritual thing. Music can stir up emotions and light a fire in you. Question everybody needs to answer is “Who are you burning for?”