Any musicians on BB?

Are you saying that artists in CCM are not in the ministry anymore? Or are you saying that certain people in CCM are not in the ministry anymore?

It all has to do with how you present yourself. I truly believe that Rebecca St. James, who is a CCM artist, is still in the ministry.

In Christ's gracious love,
Teresa

 

I think I see what you're getting at, Abiyah. Are you saying that music is often singled out as something we shouldn't make money from, even though we make money from the other gifts God has given us? Hmmm. I have no problem with people making money from music, or even making money from Christian music, but it does seem odd for people to get personally rich from a ministry. Not all musicians use their music for ministry. To continue your analogy, I've never seen a plumber use his or her plumbing as a ministry, which, in my eyes, makes it completely different.

Maybe I have spent too much time with the Quakers, but one thing I did learn is that very few of their ministers, if the meeting even has one, are paid little more than a living wage or in some cases, a stipend. Many have other jobs, or if they do not, they live very very very modestly.

It just doesn't sit right with me to get rich from a ministry. If that's the vocational choice you want to make, fine, but I wouldn't ever exoect to get rich from it. Like I said, it just feels like exploiting Christianity to make big bucks.

So, Abiyah, maybe I disagree with you. Or not - because I noticed you didn't speak directly to the ministry aspect. I see a difference between using a God-given gift to make a living outside the realm of a ministry and using your gift within a ministry and getting rich through that ministry. It all depends on what the purpose is with your career: is it a ministry or not. If it's a ministry, I have issues with getting rich from it (again, different from making a living).

 

Kelly, would you please define "rich"

It is such a vague term,and without a similar definition, there is no way to know if we are talking about the same finical level.

Thanks in advance
~Teresa~

 

I play the piano, organ, clarinet, and bass clarinet although I really haven't had much time for any of them in the past couple of years. I look forward to the day when I can have my own piano again and spend hours just playing away.

 

You're right. My definition may be different from yours ('course, they're all kinda relative, aren't they?). My apologies.

To make a living more on par with secular big name musicians. I think it's excessive anyway, but to make that kind of money off of God seems disgusting to me. I understand that the fans are the ones paying, and I certainly think that people who put all their time in a ministry should be paid (certainly enough to keep them comfortable), but to make the kind of money one would from the same kind of service in the secular arena in a ministry seems counter to the purpose. One doesn't go into ministry to get rich, they do it because they are called to it.

Definitions of rich will vary, and so it's probably not possible to give you a dollar figure ($100K a year would be rich to me!). But if a Christian musician were making several million dollars through their ministry, and not giving a great portion of it back to God, I know I would be turned off by it. I would think that if you had such a ministry, part of its purpose would be turning most of the money back over to God.

Being a musician who is Christian isn't the same as a Christian musician. Is that part making any sense? I'm making a distinction between having a music ministry and being a musician. I certainly don't think Christians shouldn't make money!

Edited because I don't want to give the impression that only millions of dollars could be considered "rich," or that I'm speaking from knowledge about how much Christian musicians make, because I have no idea. I don't want to pull the "I know it when I see it," but I don't have enough knowledge to give a number. It really does depend on your perspective. To some people, I a couple hundred K isn't rich at all, but to others, it's a huge amount of money. Shoot, we could say that about $50, couldn't we? Anyway, I just don't want to give anyone the idea that I know anything about what Christian musicians make, because I really don't want to have to deal with things like "You think they make how much? bwahahahahah!"

Man, you can tell it's the end of the day.

Anyway, the point is that it's a personal conviction, and that I don't think it really matters what they make. But I would feel funny about getting my definition of rich from any kind of ministry. Others may not feel the same way. YMMV.

[ August 05, 2002, 06:54 PM: Message edited by: stubbornkelly ]

 

No, I was not speaking to the ministry aspect--
merely to the talent aspect. Here is how I see it:

I am a believer.

Let us suppose that I am a great singer, and I
have a band to back me. I cut some CDs and
sell them. That is my living. Now, as a result of
my CDs, I am asked to present a concert in a
stadium. They contract with me. I make money.
I tithe and gift a ministry from that money and
keep the reswt for myself and my living.

Because of my concert at the stadium, I am
asked to come minister to a congregation.
I would do this for free, unless I actually
needed to recover cost, whether or not the
audience was charged admission, because
that is my ministry.

 

One admonition: let us not decry the rich!!! The
believing rich give to ministries out of their
abundance, and withouut them, there would
be far more who are hungry in both body and
soul!

 

I think I see what you're saying. I'll have to wait until my brain stops hurting from this day to really process it, though.

And, as I said, I'm a Capitalist. I want to be rich, so I certainly wouldn't begrudge rich people their money! But I wouldn't feel right becoming rich from a ministry. If I became an opera singer and made a few mil, I'd be in hog heaven! Is this at all hypocritical? Hmm. I'll have to do some thinking.

 

I am a band director at Robinson High School here in Arkansas. If you check my profile, there is a link to my band's website. I play every instrument in the band and orchestra as it was required they I have proficiency in all of these instruments for my BA in Music Education. My major instrument is the Trombone. I still own my first trombone (and my favorite), a Conn 88H. In high School, I was a guitarist and backup singer for a Christian Rock band (commence stoning now... ). I have also been in many choirs and took private lessons in operatic singing from a voice professor at University of Central Arkansas my senior year in High School. I also took private lessons in college. In elementary school, I took 4 years of piano lessons. I have done some composition work in college and on my own for band, small group ensembles, piano, and guitar and voice. Most recently, I have written a piano piece named "Glenda" for my wife which was played at our wedding and I also wrote a song for guitar and voice called Isaiah 6 which combines the Hebrew and English languages. I am considering doing somemore stuff along these lines for possibly a recording. But that will be done as I have the time. Once I do, however, I have a friend who has the technology at his house to do CD recordings and I will probably work with him to record it and will maybe sell it for a nominal price, or will present it for publication.
Haven't really decided which way I want to go with this yet. I also do handbells at Church.

Joseph Botwinick

 

Boy Bostwick, you put me to shame! I am going to school to become a vocal performer and my emphasis will be in CCM. High School Band Director, eh? Does your school have a marching band?

In Christ's gracious love,
Teresa

 

Yes we do. We are working on our halftime show right now. We will be doing a Classical show including Dvorak's "New World Symphony", Holst's Chorale from the "Jupiter Symphony" and "Farandole" (I am not sure who wrote this one).

Joseph Botwinick

 

I also forgot to mention that when I hae time, I also play for a group here in Arkansas called "Jubilation Jazz" which takes old time hymns and re-writes them in the Big Band Jazz Style. I don't get much of a chance to play with them since it is strictly volunteer basis, but really enjoy it when I do.

Joseph Botwinick

 

Mr B, any recordings of your big band music available ? I am very interested in hearing some.

 

I don't think so yet. We have mostly just been touring and doing concerts. Plus, most of the music we play is bought and not original arrangements, therefore there are copyright considerations as well.

Joseph Botwinick