Gospel artistes, musicians are not nightclub entertainers

Music is considered a universal language. It has the capacity to transcend cultures, create moods, change the atmosphere, penetrate the human spirit, influence the heart and mind and soften the hard-heartedness of man. If properly administered, music can even help to reduce crime and violence, and heal the soul and body.

Gospel singers and musicians, as well as psalmists, must be called, anointed and appointed. Further to this, they must be held accountable, submitting to the authority of a pastor within a local church. The pastor must be their first leader - not their manager or booking agent. Gospel artistes of all kinds should be regulated, functioning in scriptural order (I Chronicles 15: 16-22) because it is a holy capacity within which to function, and must not be treated as common.

I Peter 2: 9 says, "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light."

It simply means that we are not called to do what everybody else does, in the way they do it; we are set apart, consecrated to God and must function to a higher standard, being part of the royal priesthood! Everything about them must be holy - their song, how they put themselves together - even how they deal with people. We can't say that we are set apart but we look like the world, on the basis that you are trying to win the world!

Some female gospel artistes are competing with Rihanna, Beyoncé and Lady Gaga with regard to their attire and how they carry themselves generally. And for some of the male artistes, you don't know the difference between them and Usher, Justin Timberlake or Justin Beiber!

Our gospel artistes must recognise that Preachers of LA and American Idol are not the standard by which their ministries must be measured! Some pastors are compromising on keeping our gospel artistes accountable for their representation of the kingdom and to the world. Most churches are now being transformed into nightclub settings with smoke effects and strobe lights.

Levitical Order

Gospel singers and musicians must recognise that they are considered (scripturally) as part of the Levitical Order. So as the Levites did, they must fast, study the Word of God on a daily basis, and sometimes pull away from the public eye and go into the presence of God to receive fresh revelation from Him to bring transformation to nations; dealing with spiritual warfare and even allow the wealth of the wicked to transfer to the just (II Chronicles 20).

One of the major responsibilities of gospel artistes and musicians is to take us into God's presence, not to entertain us. Another of their responsibilities is to set good examples for all those they reach. It is their responsibility to create an environment for solutions to come forth so that heads of governments and military personnel will receive solutions when facing a crisis (II Kings 3: 14 - 27).

It is the singers and the musicians who should be influencing the tearing down of strongholds over a nation, so that justice, order and freedom can be maintained (Psalms 149).

The condition within a nation is reflective of the condition of the praise and worship that is going up to God. Yes, politicians and others within the nation share the blame for the state of their nation. However, the state of the praise and worship that goes up to God, and the quality of ministry that comes from the gospel artistes and musicians has also played its role in the state of their nation.

It is the responsibility of the church also to make every effort to pay their musicians and singers, as David and Nehemiah did when they reformed the House of God, that we can keep them in order to maintain the praise and worship within the House of God - instead of being in every concert and shows where the focus is not to glorify God, but to entertain and 'eat a food!'

Pastors' responsibility

It is the responsibility of the pastors of our gospel artistes and musicians to correct, rebuke, guide, nurture, teach, admonish and help them when they are going beyond the boundaries of scriptural conduct, or are in rebellion and need to be brought back to basics and restored, among other things.

Finally, it is the responsibility of those who listen to and support our gospel artistes and musicians to pray for them to continue to walk in the way of the Lord, and call them to a higher standard of ministering and encouraging the presence of God on all present.

Steve Lyston is a biblical economics consultant and author of several books, including 'End Time Finance' and 'The New Millionaire'.