Should church players be paid?

[BoB/335]

giantslayer,
What can I say?



"... and in order to "drink", they're gonna have to get there and at least stay a little while. Isn't getting them there half the battle?"

When I first got saved I was going to a church with this great sound system amd a cranking band. That was very impressive for me at the time being a rock guitarist who was just being called out of the rock music world. Thank God that He was drawing me to Himself and thank God for His Word that was constantly revealing His will for my life. As for that church with the cranking music? I was there almost 1 1/2 years. When I left there I ended up in a very small church very strong in the Word with music that I would associate with Little House on the Prairie. Yeah, I missed that cranking music but would never have traded it for the great teaching that I got. btw I learned how to read Scripture in context and also learned how much error can be taught while still using the Word of God. I can still look at all the highlighting I did in my Bible that first 1 1/2 years and remember all the wrong teaching I was taught with Scripture. I listen to half the TV evangelist with the Mega Churches still using most of those same Scriptures in the same way.

So if you think it's important to have polished, professional music to get people into church, who am I to state otherwise.


5Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.

[popthree]

Originally Posted by playanotherchord

I find it kinda funny that so many people refuse to sing the newer choruses, saying that they have no content or are too loud, etc etc. If I remember correctly, when hymns were introduced people said the same things about them.

wow, you must be alot older than the age indicated on this forum. i'm 41 and i don't remember when hymns were first introduced.

[franchelB]

I realize that there is a civilized discussion going on here, but I also think this discussion is what's keeping some people from coming to "church".
Hopefully, we all understand that it's all a matter of "interpretation". But speaking as a music minister at MY church, and after reading most of the posts, I think I'd rather be in a congregation of a "Silent Mass"!

[BoB/335]

Actually I think you're half right. The unsaved are good at turning a conversation to the money that the church is after from you. It was refreshing to those I spoke with in the past that I was going to a church where NO ONE was paid anything. This church paid their bills and was supporting quite a few missionaries around the world. It was a great witness.

[teletype]

Here again, money seems to be the big corrupter. Sadly, all too often what starts out as a spirit filled church grows into a big business. All too often no longer driven not by the Holy Spirit but by the illusion of image.

"We need more lights on stage. We need another big screen. We need better sound equipment. We need fancy backdrops and visuals. We need paid professional musicians....."

Case in point. I witnessed/experienced the casual removal of all volunteer musicians (most quite good and well seasoned) and the replacement of such with paid pros. All for the sake of image!

Granted, the music is very good, very professional. However, it's very spiritually dry! In talking with, at one time or another, most of the "hired guns" I realized that to them it's just another job. Nothing more, nothing less.

[franchelB]

Originally Posted by teletype

Here again, money seems to be the big corrupter. Sadly, all too often what starts out as a spirit filled church grows into a big business. All too often no longer driven not by the Holy Spirit but by the illusion of image...

Case in point. I witnessed/experienced the casual removal of all volunteer musicians (most quite good and well seasoned) and the replacement of such with paid pros. All for the sake of image!

Granted, the music is very good, very professional. However, it's very spiritually dry! In talking with, at one time or another, most of the "hired guns" I realized that to them it's just another job. Nothing more, nothing less.

Well, I know how you feel. And others know how I feel. I can' t really state that many agree with me...
Funny, we "church" musicians seem to want to work for the same "goal"...