MONDAY THOUGHTS: THE WORTH OF MUSIC

Congregations have long been tired of folks practicing on them. 

One of the best things about television programs like "American Idol", was that it brought honesty back, even though, on occasion it was brutal. 

"I'm sorry. That wasn't good. Music is not your strong suit. Go study some more, and maybe we'll see you next year, but you will NOT be on the show." 

We lie when we equate incompetence with humility. 

"At least he tried."; 

"God knows his heart." 

We just can't bring ourselves to say, "That's horrible!" 

Why should a congregation be subject to an ear-splitting recital each week? 

In a non-profit organization, it's okay to have reserves, but can't some of it ever be used to enrich the music ministry? 

I can't say it enough--places where leaders understand the critical role that music, and music-makers play, have outstanding music ministries, with skilled participants, and have no qualms about investing heavily to maintain them.

Congregations have ears. 

People want their money back if they go to a concert and the music is bad, or the sound is inconsistent. Why then, do church-goers make excuses, post bloopers on YouTube, applaud mediocrity, and make a mockery of weekly convocations, instead of endeavoring to employ competent Levites? 

We shouldn't shun, nor discourage people for having the audacity to know what they're doing. 

"They're too professional". 

What? Huh? 

Why shouldn't the church be the place where a standard of excellence is found? 

That's why, in many places, tracks are played while dance ministries perform. There's no confidence that the band and singers can nail the nuances of the recorded music in time, or at all--and it's especially tragic when sitting in the pit, or in the choir loft, are some of the very people who played their instruments on the recordings.

Each musician or singer has to decide: 

"Am I serving in a ministry out of the kindness of my heart, because I love it, and have the time to spare, or am I endeavoring to make a living? 

Anyone who takes on any task has to know, "Am I a volunteer or an employee?" 

People can only do what you allow. 

When you dare to point out inappropriate or unfair business practices, isn't it amazing how clueless people can be? 

When you have to remind people that you don't work for free, don't ignore their response. Notice whether they agree, or are offended.

 African Americans should be the last people trying to make slaves of others, and expecting them to silently enjoy it. 

When anyone expects others to use their skills to keep an enterprise thriving, and see no need to fairly compensate workers, they have become no better then slave masters. 

Let their check be short or late, and see what happens. 

If someone can get something good for nothing, they'll keep trying.

Biblical Levites didn't barter or beg. 

We have to be careful when we use Biblical Levites to support our apparent desire to keep musicians and singers broke. 

Biblical Levites did not have an on-the-job-training program. 

If they strayed from the script and did their own thing, death was a very real consequence. 

Their unique duties demanded a grown man's strength, so, if someone was under 30 years-old, they wouldn't have been serving in the temple at all. 

They were taken care of WHEN THEY SERVED, because EVERYONE understood, and THE LORD established their all-consuming role. 

Deuteronomy 14:27 reads: "...And do not neglect the Levites living in your towns, for they have no allotment or inheritance of their own". 

However, Levites weren't lazy bums who sponged off of everyone else. 

David set up a division of labor. 

The eighteenth chapters of Numbers and Deuteronomy are often trotted out to defend the notion of paying leaders/musicians for their services. 

It really was okay for temple workers to eat what the people brought as sacrifices, but ONLY if and when they were actually SERVING. 

In 1 Chronicles 23 and 24, David divided everyone into groups, which really meant that the SAME priests weren't in place serving year-round like modern Levites do. 

Since the congregation's offerings were only gathered when there were sacrificial requirements and feast days, it's unreasonable to think that the Levites were just chilling and sponging off of the other tribes during the other weeks of the year. 

Numbers 35 and Joshua 20 lets us know that the Levites lived in cities, too, just like the other tribes. 

They didn't have an inheritance, but they did have land. 

They weren't just wandering around looking for everyone else to plant their crops or foot their bills. 

The "get a real job" argument would fly if modern day Levites only worked in the church for the same duration of time as Biblical Levites. 

The Levites must have had some other means of employment when they weren't on their two week-or so assignment in Jerusalem.

In the New Testament, like today, however, the Levites were in the temple ALL of the time! They literally LIVED there. 

Jesus wasn't exactly complementary to some of them in Matthew 23 and Luke 20. 

Just like today, some Levites were getting wealthy off of the congregation's offerings and thought they were entitled to them. According to 1 Peter 2:9, however, everyone is "chosen for the high calling of priestly work".

Hebrews 8 reminds us that we only have ONE high priest, and even he is a cheerful giver. 

If we literally look to the Levites, as the standard, then churches should have 24 groups of Levites (priests, musicians, and anyone else who does any necessary temple work) and each group takes turns serving. When you work your two weeks or so, you're compensated. The rest of the year, you work on something else to sustain yourself.
The same band and singers did not have to serve at choir and musicians rehearsal every week, and fifty-eleven services on the sabbath, Bible Study every Wednesday, Prayer meeting every Tuesday, and anniversaries and revivals, and explosions and extravaganzas, and any time the priest was invited to serve at another temple in, or out of town, and wanted the singers and musicians to accompany him (on THEIR dime).

The younger the exploitation begins, the more difficult it will be to re-educate a person. There is someone who will not hesitate to show a singer or musician just how much their skills are worth, and their humility will not suffer. 

We have a bad habit of deeming evil and worldly, anyone who actually sees value in what we neglect or minimize. 

Imagine the grand orchestras that could be in place in every church, if music was really a priority? 

Sometimes people try to make you feel as if you should be grateful just to be in their company, or a part of their organization. 

Where is the privilege, in being able to say that you play at so-and-so's church, if you're ALWAYS broke and can't pay your bills? 

We can't get mad when people realize that things like food, clothing, shelter, and time with their families are important, and they earn a living elsewhere.

We advise people in abusive, manipulative relationships to get out and never look back. We tell them that they deserve better. When they choose to stay, we don't admire and celebrate their patience and dedication. We see their bruises and shake our heads. If they do manage to get out and see the light, the abuser often begins to demonize them, ("Oh, they weren't that good anyway") wonder why they left, ("Didn't we make sure they had water and store bought donuts in the choir room?) or try to get them to come back by promising that things will get better (Lets give them coffee and Krispy Kreme donuts).

We live in a country that prospered off of the free labor and skill of others, and used the word of God to justify and perpetuate it. 

What did Harriet Tubman say? "I freed a thousand slaves. I could have freed a thousand more, if only they knew they were slaves."

 Many singers and musicians have seen the light. 

They're discerning when to sow; when to volunteer, but they are no longer allowing themselves to be manipulated. 

They don't need any more "exposure". 

They're going where they are appreciated and valued. 

Pastor Susie Owens said it, and I didn't understand at the time, but I do now: "Celebrate those who celebrate you".

I didn't always feel the way I do today. 

I've added to many bus driver collection envelopes. 

I've paid to play. I've come home empty handed, because the check wasn't ready, or there was no check to be had. 

I've gone to banks to cash checks that were drawn on closed accounts, or accounts that had insufficient funds. 

I've incurred expenses that were greater than the compensation I received, and was never reimbursed. 

I also boldly acknowledge that I couldn't have paid for the Music education I didn't realize I was receiving in church. 

Albert Walker Webb, Willie B. Allen, Thomas Reeves, Judge Williams, Sr., Juanita Mitchell, Lucille Warren Thornton, Louise Awkard, Crevante Proctor, Macaiah, Dale Talbert, Pat Barnes, Freddie Washington, Danny McCrimmon, Charlene Nelson, Kenny Spears, and Richard Smallwood were among the first musicians/singers I ever heard live. 

I don't know if they were paid or not back then, but they were faithful and skilled. They taught and sacrificed and--sounded just like the famous people on the records. The other thing is, unless there was some anniversary celebration, there was only ONE morning service...lol...

I was an adult before I understood the way musicians are used, and the way the Bible is used to oppress the volunteer armies of our churches.

Because of my upbringing, to this day, I still feel some kind of way when someone hands me a check for doing something I would do for the sheer joy of it. Every time I would go to sing when I was a teenager, my father would say, "Your time is worth something". 

I finally get it, and know how to say, "Thank You". 

PEPCO, Washington Gas, Giant, and AT&T want cash, not flowers, bookmarks, or Swedish meatballs. 

Some people will use you until there's nothing left, and will expect--even demand something for nothing as long as they can get it. 

They'll even act as if they own you, and hold your working future in the palms of their hands. 

Everyone needs a recommendation every now and then. 

When people have power and authority, and they know it is respected or feared, that's when uneven, oppressive relationships form where musicians may feel they have no recourse except to continue being mistreated.
I believe with all my heart that God has and will continue to sustain me. He has never failed. I believe the Lord will lead you concerning when you should give of your time, talent and resources with no expectation of getting something in return. 

I've found that when I'm obedient in those times, the subsequent blessings are tremendous. However, people who are always expected to enrich a thing that benefits someone else, but with little or no return for their own labor, are called slaves, and the last time I checked, slavery was a no-no in America. 

Decide what you want to do with what you have been given, and by all means, know your worth.