0626 PAUL AND THE CHRISTIAN MUSIC INDUSTRY

JUNE 25 = PHILIPPIANS 1

THE CHRISTIAN MUSIC INDUSTRY

The city of Philippi was made up mostly of Roman military families and retired soldiers. Consequently, it was a mostly-Gentile church, and the topics that Paul addresses are somewhat different. And as a result, those of us who are Gentile believers might find this letter to be of special interest. Indeed, there are lots of practical and theological moments throughout the book. It is a short book. You might have noticed that the New Testament epistles of Paul are arranged by length! The longest one was Romans, and we are getting to the shortest ones now.

Now, you might be wondering why I would be talking about the Christian music industry in the first chapter of Philippians. Music isn’t even mentioned, nor an industry. But there is an interesting correlation between what Paul says and the Christian music industry. Here it is:

“It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,”

This may be a little side road in the letter, but years ago I heard our youth minister speak about the Christian music industry, using this passage, and I found it to be tremendously helpful. So let me take a crack at it and see what we can glean from it.

I’ll try a paraphrase that applies what Paul says to the music industry:

It is true that some produce Christian songs and worship music out of ambition and greed. But others write and sing with pure motives. They make their music available out of love, knowing that God has called them to honor him. The first group I mentioned produce and market music out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can become famous, or rich, or both, in the name of Jesus. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is honored. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice.

It probably should not be that a song written for the Lord can make millions of dollars. It probably should not be that people who do the production and distribution and marketing of that song aren’t necessarily believers. I know of some of the best-known writers who don’t believe in what they write, but they have found a formula, and that formula works for those who do believe. I also know many worship leaders whose lives and faith are very inconsistent with their Sunday morning persona. And that worship far too often will manipulate people’s emotions in the pretense that it is the Holy Spirit.

But even if all of those statements are true, it seems fair to respond to it all the way that Paul does. Whether from false motives or true, Christ is honored, worship happens, and people have opportunities to grow closer to God through it. Music speaks to the heart in ways that mere words cannot. And a good worship song can make more change in the church worldwide than a thousand sermons. With that blessing can come lots of money. Which, in turn, can be given to the poor.

I should clarify that it is not at all a problem to receive money for doing God’s work. Paul sometimes took payment for his work, and he is the one who quoted that you shall not muzzle the ox while he is treading out grain. It is fair for those who work for the Gospel to be paid for their work. But motives are not always so pure, and that’s Paul’s point (and mine).

So even if some of the writers on through the end of the distribution cycle have wrong motives, let us pray that they will hear the words of those songs and be changed eternally! Amen.