by Johnny The Baptist
To me it seems in the Churches that not Preaching but Singing has become the number one draw to get people into the churches. Now days if a Preacher cannot sing he is not much in demand.
Now days Preachers have learned to sing before they Preach or while Preaching break into a song,then the crowd will jump and squeal like they got fire ants in their pants. Now I love Gospel singing don’t get me wrong,but I have observed how singing crazy we have become and I am convinced that singing in bringing in the homosexuals into the Church and these effenimate
fellas that sing like a tenor. You can have an all nite singing and they will sit through mosquitoes and hail storms or a singing and buy every cd or dvd they have. Well anyway this is a thought I read in 1982 seeing the Church was turning to singing more than preaching,and Please read this from a singer.
My dearest family in Jesus…why are we so star struck? Why do we idolize Christian singers and speakers? We go from glorifying musicians in the world, to glorifying Christian musicians. It’s all idolatry! Can’t you see that? It’s true that there are many men and women of God who are greatly anointed to call down the Spirit of God on His people and the unsaved. But Satan is getting a great victory as we seem to worship these ministers on tapes and records, and clamor to get their autographs in churches and concert halls from coast to coast.
Can’t you see that you are hurting these ministers? They try desperately to tell you that they don’t deserve to be praised, and because of this you squeal with delight and praise them all the more. You’re smothering them, making it almost impossible for them to see that it’s really Jesus. They keep telling themselves that, but you keep telling them it’s really them, crushing their humility and grieving the Spirit that is trying to keep their eyes on Jesus.
Ultimately, what we idolize we ourselves desire to become, sometimes with our whole heart. So a lot of people who want to become just like their favorite Gospel singer or minister, seek after it with the same fervor that the Lord demands we seek after Him! And again, we insult the Spirit of Grace and try to make a place for ourselves, rather than a place for Jesus.
His Conclusion
I repent of ever having recorded one single song, and ever having performed one concert, if my music, and more importantly, my life has not provoked you into Godly jealousy (Romans 11:11) or to sell out more completely to Jesus!
The Worlds greatest blind Gospel singer in her life time only made $4.00 never had a bus or a advertizing company.
I say thank GOD for the Fanny Crosbys.
I know your not gonna drop your idols, but I did tell the Truth.
by Johnny The Baptist
Original article can be found at http://jtb.fundamental.org/?p=105
we are star struck because being impressed is part of our innate human nature, an element of the flesh awakened in us as a result of the fall in the garden. regarding the above statement about insulting the spirit of grace, that isnt possible, if it were, then it wouldnt be grace. tho the singer (mentioned above) may be sincere and have correct motive for singing, those two factors do not draw anyone to god, as no man comes to the father lest the spirit draw him, and god will do such regardless of what is in the singers heart. gods word, be it sung or preached, is not empowered or negated by man. if the worlds worst sinner quotes john 3:16 to his buddies, his blatant sinfulness will not stop gods word, as gods word does not return to him void. idolatry is one of the 10 commandments, but god says the commandments cant save us. if god tells us to do, or not to do, something, and then he makes it clear that it cant save us, then he must want us to comply with it for reasons other than salvation. /// listening to a sermon vs singing- the latter is active participation, its more fun, and our flesh likes fun, thank god the blood of jesus covers such behavior.