CHALLENGE to MUSICIANS! - Keith Green
Posted by: prophetic <prophetic@...>
A Challenge to all Worship Leaders, Christian Artists
and Musicians for Jesus.
by Keith Green
[For as long as he could remember, the late Keith Green's greatest
dream was to be a musical success. After he gave his life to Jesus,
however, he felt the need to surrender those aspirations. Ironically,
when sometime later he sensed God was directing him to pick
these abilities back up, his music soared straight to the top of the
contemporary Christian charts. The following message was birthed
out of his personal struggle to strike a balance between music
and missions, humility and fame.]
Today, so many people ask me if I can tell them how they can
start or enter into a music ministry. At concerts I get countless
questions about this, and I also get lots of letters and even some
long-distance phone calls from many people who feel they are
only "called" into the music "ministry" One day I began to ask
myself why so few have ever asked me how to become a missionary,
or even a local street preacher, or how to disciple a new believer. It
seems everyone would prefer the "bright lights" of what they think
a music ministry would be, rather than the mud and obscurity of
the mission field, or the streets of the ghetto, or even the true
spiritual sweetness of just being a nobody whom the Lord uses
mightily in small "everyday" ways.
Are You Willing?
My answer to their question is almost always the same. "Are you
willing to never play music again? Are you willing to be a nothing?
Are you willing to go anywhere and do anything for Christ? Are
you willing to stay right where you are and let the Lord do great
things through you, though no one may seem to notice at all?"
They all seem to answer each of these questions with a quick
"yes!" But I really doubt if they know what their answer entails.
Star Struck
My dearest family in Jesus...why are we so star struck? Why do
we idolize Christian singers and speakers? We go from glorifying
musicians in the world, to glorifying Christian musicians. It's all
idolatry! Can't you see that? It's true that there are many men and
women of God who are greatly anointed to call down the Spirit of
God on His people and the unsaved. But Satan is getting a great
victory as we seem to worship these ministers on tapes and
records, and clamor to get their autographs in churches and
concert halls from coast to coast.
Can't you see that you are hurting these ministers? They try
desperately to tell you that they don't deserve to be praised, and
because of this you squeal with delight and praise them all the
more. You're smothering them, making it almost impossible for
them to see that it's really Jesus. They keep telling themselves
that, but you keep telling them it's really them, crushing their
humility and grieving the Spirit that is trying to keep their eyes on Jesus.
Ultimately, what we idolize we ourselves desire to become,
sometimes with our whole heart. So a lot of people who want to
become just like their favorite Gospel singer or minister, seek
after it with the same fervor that the Lord demands we seek after
Him! And again, we insult the Spirit of Grace and try to make a
place for ourselves, rather than a place for Jesus.
A Thankless Job
How come no one idolizes or praises the missionaries who give
up everything and live in poverty, endangering their lives and
families with every danger that the "American dream" has almost
completely eliminated? How come no one lifts up and exalts the
ghetto and prison ministers who can never take up an offering,
because if they did they would either laugh or cry at what they'd receive?
How come?
Because (1) we're taught from very early on that comfort is our
goal and security... and (2) that we should always seek for a lot
of people to like us. Who lives less comfortably and has had less
friends and supporters than the selfless missionaries who have
suffered untimely, premature deaths trying to conquer souls and
nations for the whole glory of God? Do you really believe we're
living in the very last times? Then why do you spend more money
on Gospel records and concerts than you give to organizations
that feed the poor, or to missionaries out in the field?
There are ministries all over the world where "penniless" people
are being saved and transformed. They are broken people who
have promise and qualities, but just need someone to bring them
God's light during the times when their lives seem so completely hopeless.
I repent of ever having recorded one single song, and ever having
performed one concert, if my music, and more importantly, my
life has not provoked you into Godly jealousy (Romans 11:11) or
to sell out more completely to Jesus!
Quit trying to make "gods" out of music ministers, and quit
desiring to become like them. The Lord commands you, "Deny
yourself take up your cross daily, and follow me" (Luke 9:23).
My piano is not my cross, it is my tool. I'd never play it again if
God would show me a more effective tool in my life for proclaiming
His Gospel.[God gives us each our own unique tools. But we
may never use them if we become more interested in someone
else's. Seek God, ask Him for His plan for ministry (true, God
glorifying ministry) in your life.]
Conclusion
To finish, let me say that the only music minister to whom the
Lord will say, "Well done, thy good and faithful servant," is the
one whose life proves what their lyrics are saying, and to whom
music is the least important part of their life. Glorifying the only
worthy One has to be a minister's most important goal!
Let's all repent of the idolatry in our hearts and our desires for
a comfortable, rewarding life when, really, the Bible tells us we
are just passing through as strangers and pilgrims in this world
(Hebrews 11:13), for our reward is in heaven. Let's not forget
that our due service to the Lord is "... not only to believe in Him,
but also to suffer for His sake"(Phil. 1:29).
Amen. Let us die graciously together and endure to the end like
brave soldiers who give their lives, without hesitation, for our noble
and glorious King of Light.
~Source-