It is said that music is food for the soul and when good music hits you, you can never resist tapping your feet or nodding your head to the rhythm. Aside from the entertainment factor, music serves as a means of education as well. Everyone be it Christian or not has a particular genre of music that jams his or her world, be it rhythm and blues, pop music, gospel, etc.
For lovers of gospel music, the feeling that Gospel music resonates is inexplicable. The rhythm alone brings us closer while the lyrics take us to the altar where we commune with our maker.
A day without music is not a complete day, especially in the life of a Christian.
This is because, early in the morning, during our morning devotions, we sing. We also sing when praying.
In some cases, our praises and worship could be equated as our supplication. What I mean is, at times we sing to ask God for forgiveness, ask for healing, make other petitions or tell Him what we want Him to do for us.
Music is one of the art dears to God and as Christians, we owe it to Him to always praise Him through music. In Heaven, Angels sing to praise His Holy name.
The Bible also admonishes believers to sing songs of praise to glorify our King – the Almighty God. (Psalms 149:1 KJV) “Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints.”
Since such songs are sung to praise God, they must follow biblical principles! It should be Bible-based and must edify listeners.
Gospel Music simply talks about the “good news, and or direct people to Christ”. If any gospel music lacks these two qualities, it cannot be called gospel music. The foundation of such music is the “Word”. They carry power, just as a man of God preaches. It heals, it causes one to repent, it counsels, it promotes the Kingdom of God, etc.
One powerful tool to propagate the word of God is through Gospel Music. Unfortunately, some gospel songs lack value and the spiritual mandate to edify. The factors for this sad truth could be many, but I have put down a few:
1. It has shifted from its core mandate of praising God, adoring Him, directing people to Him, etc. Some gospel musicians concentrate much on the devil, the enemies preventing them from being prosperous and entertainment contents, etc. This is not what gospel music is meant for!
2. Lack of biblical knowledge. Gospel Musicians are like Evangelists. They are meant to propagate the word of God to the ends of the world, they are to preach the word through their music. Unfortunately, some of them are ‘biblically illiterate!’ This makes it difficult to write or sing songs based on the bible.
3. Some gospel musicians no more wait upon the Lord. Again, I must emphasize that Gospel Musicians are Ministers of God, so as a minister of God waits upon the Lord for Rhema before he preaches to his congregation, Gospel Musicians must equally wait upon the Lord for spiritually uplifting lyrics before they sing to their followers but this is lacking in our present-day gospel musicians.
4. Unnecessary and unhealthy competition. Comparisons are killing some Gospel Musicians. Remember, in 1st Corinthians 12:12-30, the Bible teaches us that God in His own wisdom gives us unique talent for the unique assignments. Unhealthy competition may divert one’s attention from the will of God.
5. Lack of mentorship. Most powerful men of God were mentored. Most powerful musicians were also mentored. Most musicians today do not want to be mentored, probably due to their haste to have a taste of fame. This is not bringing the best out of them.
6. Negligence on the part of our Christian community. The Christian community has unfortunately accepted every music by gospel music as a piece of gospel music without scrutiny. That is wrong! (Acts 17:11). The community must have a standard to measure which music qualifies as gospel music. This will bring sanity to the industry. It is true that “bad” gospel music can corrupt a good Christian lifestyle.
7. Too much worldly influence. The world is influencing most of our gospel musicians so much, and you can see that from their music; video clips, lyrics, dressing, etc. God is spirit and must be worshipped in spirit and truth. To excel in gospel music, one must avoid worldly things and concentrate on the word!
8. Infiltration of fake gospel musicians who use foul spirits. (2 Corinthians 11:14 KJV) And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. They are also in the industry, beware!
9. Desperation for fame. Some of the gospel musicians are too desperate to be known. Due to this, most of them use all means to achieve this, these means are usually not Godly.
10. Porous music industry also contributing to this. I think the regulatory body is also not helping, not only the gospel musicians but the music industry as a whole. If well regulated, we can have beautiful sanitized music for the world market that will positively sell Ghana.
In all, I believe we have beautiful talents which can be nurtured purposefully to the glory of God.
Gospel Musicians must therefore pay attention to their music and ask themselves whether it serves the purpose for which they are described as gospel music.
Credit: Teacher Nkrumah, Journalist (Atinka Tv)
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