Sunday 19th April 2009

Continued from page 1

This kind of radical music ministry wouldn't simply bring people out to a show and get them to a place where they have a few goosebumps down the spine but instead it would fire them up and prepare them for living out their faith in the real world.

These days there are no real models of this kind of ministry. A few do a limited version of this. But we have sucked on the milky breast of entertainment for too long and for this revolution to succeed, we will need to eat the meat of a mature faith. We have settled for the fat comfort of showbiz and been distracted by taking on the world's ways in our music marketing. We have allowed our artists to be hyped instead of praying that they would be humbled and truly raised up by God.

Artists and songwriters seem to have their focus on their careers rather than on ministry. We have imitated the world and let loose a generation of immature teenage artists rather than encouraging maturity and ministry and we are weaker for it. We have valued the music in terms of commercial sales and award ceremonies rather than the spiritual fruit and we are weaker for it.

Whatever happened to music ministry? It got watered down into something else. But isn't now the time that we want a new generation of men and women to emerge as songwriters and musicians ready to take up a new challenge? It probably won't make you rich, at least not this side of the pearly gates. But it could enrich the life of the Church and help a generation of world changers and spiritually mature believers to emerge who, instead of being continually obsessed about their own lives being sorted out by God, are aware that God sorts us out so that we can dive back in and help others reach maturity.

There is a bigger destiny to emerge. Imagine a generation of music ministry that is radical and delivers the church from the religious and the nice into the world changing and the radical. Imagine a destiny that delivers musicians from the unimaginative manipulation of industry and media to the freedom of ministry. For the last decade we have seen a fresh worship movement watered down from something powerful into album releases that seem to be like photocopies going through a printer, the image fading every time as the ink slowly runs out.

It is time for a new type of music ministry to emerge that truly makes an impact. Many of us have become discouraged by our experiences but I am still full of hope. Even for me, I can make a difference and encourage this new generation to emerge.

What about you? Are you with me?

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.

About Mike Rimmer

Mike Rimmer is a broadcaster and journalist based in Birmingham.

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Reader Comments

Posted by Derek Walker in Abingdon @ 15:39 on Jun 6 2009

I've shared your viewpoint for many years, Mike, as do many of my colleaugues at The Phantom Tollbooth e-zine. It is something that requires people at every level to work together.
1) Starve the bland: it flourishes when people avoid creative music and buy sub-standard;
2) Feed the good: artists like Brian Houston, Iona, B&J Miller, Mike Farris, Neal Morse, Aradhna need our support.
3) We reviewers need to do our part. I search out quality overlooked secular music before promoting factory-made CCM
3) Musicians should use the individuality that God gave them
4) Churches must find ways of encouraging creativity & originality.
Christians should be the most inventive musicians around!

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Posted by James Faddes in Ayrshire @ 21:01 on May 4 2009

I have a question for Mike: Is Cross Rhythms now just one more big cog in the massive CCM machine that is unfortunately crushing emerging grass-roots musicanaries in a Simon Cowell, industry type judgmentalism? Is it any wonder young Christians, growing up in a Fame Academy, X-Factor, Pop Idol era, find their music no longer has a place anywhere except their bedroom? Thankfully some will still push through the hard CCM ground. But the industry has a responsibility to encourage more than it has to critique. When will the CCM industry 'pull out' of its intercourse with every other worldly industry?

I hope the emerging, and often young Christian musicianaries are not too discouraged by what Mike wrote, even though I think he has a few good points. However, I equally hope that Cross Rhythms will live up to the parental image and example it proports. Show some real support for emerging musicianaries. Set an example of what it means to be different.

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Posted by James Faddes in Ayrshire @ 21:00 on May 4 2009

I initially think, 'nice article Mike!' But then I think: 'what about persevering prophets, worshippers and ministers like Allan McKinlay, Michael Harcus, TBWNN, Brian Houston, Martyn Joseph)? I am naming only a few of my personal favourites, but they don't play for accolades; and if their value was determined by how many review boxes CR - or the church! - gave them, they would probably have given up long ago.

So, your editorial is the kind of thing I would have expected to hear from the Cross Rhythms Festival platform 10 years ago (I would travel 500 miles every summer with a minibus/convoy of aficionados just to be part of something that was genuinely grass roots and spiritually focused). At that time I would have applauded CR's integrity, and its right to critique.

The CR festival served both as an amazing live platform for emerging musicianaries, encouraging and supporting them in what is effectively a blessedly poor ministry; and it also challenged Christians to avoid the bless-me, bless-me club approach to music ministry. I remember Chris Cole exhorting CR festival goers not to come for another Christian holiday. He also cautioned against the risk of entertaining ourselves to death. I am gutted that Cross Rhythms doesn't come across anymore as a champion of the small-town prophets and firey worshippers. Unfortunately he last Cross Rhythms festival wound up in 2001 or I would still be going.
(continued in next post)...

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Posted by peter scarlett in newcastle @ 20:18 on May 3 2009

Oh yes the CCM/ P & W machine grinds on. As a man who was proud to have been slagged in Melody Maker (mostly for being a Christian artist - Record Mirror loved it - but they didnt know - and neither did the Christian machine - with the exception of CR who interviewed us) I believe quite the thing that the Christian Record companies have been poor stewards of what they have been entrusted with. Being too keen to make artists into product. Secular companies are being found out on this, now perhaps its our turn.
I would rather we had a few artists with a true prophetic edge and even 'normal' jobs - connecting live to people - than 200 career christian bands.

Back in the 1970's Jesus Movement there were loads of bands - but it wasnt about money it was the love and the mission to share the Gospel ,we are not in this to lay up treasures on earth.

Exterminate the Dove awards - There is only one awards ceremony that really counts!!

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Posted by mark in wales @ 21:55 on Apr 28 2009

thanks mike, nice to see someone else feels like i do, i made similar comments in a review not long back about lyrics not being as inspired, i would say the music has got more diverse (for the better) but when i first started listening we had groups like petra , rez , steve taylor and stryper they may be dated to some but these guys inspired me and to me they remain classics which will never age.i am not saying that we have not got any but some modern bands could take a tip or two from the legacy of these.

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Posted by Rick in Belfast @ 09:53 on Apr 28 2009

I totally agree with what you've said Mike, but the unfortunate reality is that the Christian Music Industry is not going to change until we stop feeding it. It's easy for we, the music lovers, to see the problem and not to support the monster it has become - but for average Joe Christian, he knows no better. So it's going to be hard to change, but some revolutionary will raise up their head with the right ethos, maturity and attitude and everything will change.

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Posted by Mark Polden in Wirral @ 21:48 on Apr 24 2009

I agree with you Mike the record companies will only publicise something that sells. What we need is a christian version of Itunes to get the great music made by unsigned christian artists out there

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Reply by A @ 08:24 on Apr 29 2009

What, do you mean iTunes?
I'm fairly sure anyone can use iTunes...

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Posted by Vince Millett in Croydon, UK @ 06:48 on Apr 24 2009

Many of the people commenting here seem to be still holding to the old paradigm of the record labels having the power and making things happen for people. Record labels are dying - the music industry is being torn apart by its failure to react to modern ways of doing things. These days, anyone can record at home, anyone can release albums very cheaply in the digital marketplace and there are limitless opportunities to promote the music online. The last album we released cost $40US to place on all the major download sites for a year. There's no need for record labels at all, therefore the only issue is creativity, not the failure of record labels to give people permission. Don't ask permission, do it yourself.

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Reply by paul d in doncaster @ 11:31 on Apr 24 2009

as someone in that same boat (of self publishing/distribution), i completely agree vince. i make music that is hopelessly uncommercial and very marginal but at least i have control. most of the scare stories about not having the backing of record companies comes from the record companies themselves! there are plenty of good solid real world examples of independent production now for the arguments to not hold water anymore. i hate to trot out the old Marillion chestnut, but they are a very good example of turning the conventional production funding and distribution chains upsidedown. their current model now sustains tours, recording, their families etc etc and all the music is still what they want to do and when and fully theirs in terms of ownership. they aren't the biggest band in the world, but they are probably one of the more secure and happy ones!

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Reply by Jasper in Shropshire @ 11:19 on Apr 24 2009

It's not 'permisson' that artists need. It's financial backing, mentoring, support, expertise, promotion.

Sure, anyone can put together their own CD at home with limited equipment, but its an entirely different matter getting the music out there and heard.

And there are more than enough decent bands and singers out there to prove that a lack of creativity isn't the issue.

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Posted by Jasper in Shropshire @ 12:32 on Apr 22 2009

This is all about the industry not supporting artists that arn't producing bland, middle of the road worship albums.

I don't necessarily think that it's fair to criticise the writing of the songs. Whilst they may not appeal to you, they are still personal offerings of worship to God.

There are plenty of fantastic bands out there who arn't getting the support of the industry to get their work heard.

Take Quench. They took five years to produce their new EP themselves because they couldn't get the backing from the labels to produce a rock album.

Take Delirious? I love their recent work, but after the battering Audio Lessonover? took, their next two albums seemed to have been 'playing it safe' as it were to ensure that the business didn't go under!

More and more we're seeing bands like Third Day doing a worship album between projects in the knowledge that the sales will allow them to produce the diverse music that we all want to hear.

New and interesting artists thrive in this atmosphere, like David Crowder Band, but most of them arn't getting any backing.

It isn't about uninspired music, it's just that the inspired music isn't being recorded and released.

Lets show the industry that we need new, fresh music by supporting bands like Quench, SuperHero etc by buying their CDs and going to their gigs!

Just my two pence worth!

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Posted by John in Celina, TX @ 20:58 on Apr 21 2009

You speak truth, but few people within the walls of the church really want to know the truth let alone hear the truth.

What you spoke about regarding the music and the industry can also be said for most in the church and how they operate at school, work and amongst those who do not know Christ. Their lives are just as watered down as the music and the industry.

Most Pastors today deliver a warped and watered-down message of the real Gospel, they are more concerned about the fads or the numbers and unfortunately in most churches the pastor is not the real pastor, but the Elders and Board of Directors and large donors are running things.

I have counseled so many pastors that are saturated in fear of losing their jobs if they really preached what they wanted to preach or if they confronted all the sin around them within the walls of their own church.

To sum it up, that is why a small minority of those in the world are interested in what we have. The church for the most part is a watered-down version of Jesus and his church and what the disciples had to sacrifice to be disciples. For the most part the church does not look much different than the world.

It is said that we should not go on sinning so that grace may increase, but the message of most churches is that you can keep doing what you have always done and at the end of the journey you are going to inherit everything without sacrificing anything.

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Reply by David Paul in Northern Ireland @ 12:21 on Apr 22 2009

Thank you for your thoughts John. Yes I suppose in summary of everything I've said as Christians, organisations, musicians - whatever our sphere of influence - the point is we can't exhort the values we personally don't encourage.

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Whatever Happened To Music Ministry? A hard hitting editorial by Mike Rimmer

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