CHRISTIAN MUSICIANS - You Are Responsible!

The older I get the more God is impressing on me the need to humbly serve people and help them understand why they were created. The biblical teaching of discipling started with Jesus and continues today. Jesus discipled 12 men and comissioned them to go out and make more disciples (Matthew 28:19-20) and gave them the power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish the task (Acts 1:8). The process continued all throughout church history and today I thank God that someone before me took time to challenge me with the truths of God's Word, the Bible.

I went to school (Philadelphia Biblical University) to be a pastor because I was certain that God was leading me into ministry. How did know I was called into ministry? Because my heart hurts for people. I yearn to see people experience freedom in Christ and life as He, the Creator, intended it to be. But getting out of Bible college in the early 80s left me unsure about who I was called to minister to. Through many different circumstances, God clearly opened doors to minister His Word to the 80's metal counter culture as a frontman for the band SARDONYX. But enough about me. Here is something I want to challenge you with.

Becoming a minister of God's Word is not like any other profession because it involves more from you than simply learning to say the right words and "looking the part". It involves a deep and intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. A well known Bible teacher named Howard Hendricks influenced me greatly in my younger years. He used to say, "You cannot impart what you do not possess"! Wow! That is a truth that all of us need to grasp.

Let me be clear about what I believe about Christian rock and metal bands. I joined the ranks of the Christian metal musicians of the 80's not simply because I wanted to be cool and play good music. As a child I learned to carry God's Word to my generation. That calling was leading me. My voice and music talents that God gave me were only tools to be used for my calling. Sadly, many of us lose sight of our calling and focus on our talents (tools). Our tools become idols and the ministry God called us to fades into history. We end up envying the world and becoming like them ... and people continue to die and go to hell ...

I want to make something very clear. I could never use my tools for my own glory or the glory of the enemy (1 Peter 5:8). That is why I believe Christian musicians need to have a clear and defined purpose before they step on stage. They need to be ready to accept the responsibilities of a man or woman called of God. If you can't do that then either play for the enemy or get off the stage and keep your mouth shut.

Why do I keep hearing Christian bands talking gloom and doom? You know what? My life doesn't suck! It's hard ... but it doesn't suck. I hear Christian bands say things from the stage and in interviews that are really sad these days. And their fans email me and tell me they can't stand Christian bands because and all they get from them is [quote], "... grief, disgust, disappointment ... an f*in' joke". That is literally from an email I got recently. Does that describe you?

So.

That motivates me. That motivates me to lead. It's time to lead. I've been raising kids and heavily involved in my local church ministry and missions in Alaska for the past 14 years. But now God is calling me back into music ministry.

If you are a Christian and you are also a musician, it's time for you to take some time evaluating how you are going to live out the rest of your days. YOU are responsible for WHAT you are teaching the people who look up to you. YOU are responsible for living a consistent life off stage as well. YOU will not be respected simply because of how you look or how good you play or whatever no more than a pastor who has a nice suit and tie but is bangin' women in his church. Don't start complaining about what you don't see when God is calling YOU to be the consistent one.

Consistency takes WORK. Consistency takes being disicipled by someone who is already living a consistent life. Questions need to be asked. A teachable desire to learn and be mentored needs to be just as important to you as turning on your amp. Are you willing to do that?

Maybe some of you older guys and gals are you the ones who should be leading and you are hiding from your calling. Maybe you are a lot like Jonah and you are being swallowed up by a "BIG FISH" and you don't even realize it. Maybe you think you are too old to lead. That is not a good excuse. I'm 46 and I experience the presence of God every time I step on stage. I know I am not "out to pasture" yet.

I can't emphasize this enough. God wants you to lead! There are too many going down in flames who are crying out for someone to help them ... someone who they can follow. It's time to lead. It's time for the Church of Jesus Christ to rise up in this world of intense music and lead again with lyrics and lifestyles that lead people to Jesus Christ. It's time!