Senior pastor at Chicago's Jesus People USA and founder member of The Resurrection Band, GLENN KAISER talks about The Artist As Prophet'.



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And perhaps some are market-driven rather than Spirit-led. Name a man or woman of God who moved prophetically in either Testament who was more concerned with their personal, dream or practical 'success' than the will of God. The few you will find have gone down in infamy. They were either false prophets or clearly rebels who rejected the causes God called them to stand for over some form of personal gain, comfort or supposed 'safety'.

While there are those still seeking the Lord as to what gifts and callings they may have, there are also 'Jonah's' in the Christian music community. Just as in every other area of the larger Church, there are those Christian artists who love personal gain, status, recognition and the acclaim of others MORE than they love God, the church or those still living without Jesus.

When an artist desires, seeks, proclaims and is willing to receive truth on the basis of God's word and reality, then that artist has the foundation for a prophetic calling. When an artist is willing to live a prophet's life and die a prophet's death, accepting a prophet's rejection by those who may not be very interested in biblical faith, repentance and obedience to God, then we see the emerging of the prophet in the Christian music scene.

Do you remember that Jesus called the Holy Spirit 'the Spirit of Truth'? In all the world, the most true and 'believable' lyrics and music ought to be coming from the Christian community. Unfortunately - though thank God, there are a fair number of exceptions -1 am of the opinion that in too many places, such integrity is sorely lacking.

He cannot be blamed for OUR unwillingness to risk everything in order to fulfil our individual and varied callings. But he continues to give 'gifts to each of us, severally, as he wills'. (1 Cor 12:11) May we be faithful to serve as he wills!

Where there is a wilderness there will be a voice that cries out. Obviously, the biblical prophets believed that they had someone worth crying out about and an audience worth losing their head over...

As always, God has the last word: "Whatever you do in word or deed, do all as unto the Lord. For you serve the Lord Christ." CR

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.