Unfaithful Musicians....

[divinemusician]

Why are there so many unfaithful musicians. We as musicians should have standards and set standards in the music world. We have fought for so long to be on the "payroll" but yet we are slacking in the "do your job" roll. I know not all musicians are like this. But I personally think if you are the M.O.M or you play at your church you need to be faithful to the ministry. When the church has their doors open you need to be there. That is through the week, on the weekend, for engagements, etc. Even if you don't get paid, you vowed to be the musician(s) of the church. DO YOUR JOB. I don't like seeing musicians, esp. gifted musicians not take their job serious. You are first and formost playing for God, second you are doing a work for His kingdom. Also understand your roll. Be at choir rehearsals, praise team rehearsals, etc. Have your music together, teach parts, know parts (if you slacking or dont understand how to teach parts, ask God to help you) learn your theory. Give your best. I am so tired of us musicians slacking. Even if you play for a church with 5 people and you just starting out. BE FAITHFUL unto the ministry!! God will bless faithfulness!!!!!!!!!!!!

AM I WRONG??????????????????????

[under13]

Why are there so many unfaithful musicians.

Because churches tolerate them.

Why should the musican be there any time the church is open? You gonna have to pull my coat on that one.

As far as playing extra  services and funerals for free. That all depends on the agreements at the start of employment. Why should a musician do all those extra things for free, when he could be with his/her family? Or working another job so that he can feed his family. Food dont grow on trees... Bad anology, but you know what I'm sayin. To many musicians, this is thier job and livelihood, thier Business. The church has no problem paying the landscapers and the plumbers, but then they wanna cheap out on the ones who minister

Maybe when the church takes musicians seriously, then the musicans will step they game up. Some churches need to fire some of their musicians, but they cant "have church" without an organist

[divinemusician]

No disrespect but I don't recall saying Musicians Should Play For Free!! What I said is do your job. If you are getting paid, then do your job. How can a church take a musician seriously when he/she comes when they want too. I didn't say give up our life. (PLEASE READ CAREFULLY) I understand musicians have other jobs. Missing church because you are working is a reason for not being there but missing church because you want to catch up on a TV show to me is not. All I am saying is be faithful regardless if you get paid or not. who you playing for the church or The church that belongs to God!! There is clearly a difference. We got a lot of musicians just playing for the church. But a musician with a purpose understands that your playing is your praise unto God. And you can have church without a musician don't get it twisted. We just make it sound a little better. God does not need music to show up in service. Dont ever think you the only thing a church has. (No you didn't say that Under13, but it can be vary well implied.) My whole point was be faithful!! Playing for weddings and funerals are up to the people that are having the wedding or funeral....

[under13]

I'm Sorry, When you said "Even if you don't get paid, you vowed to be the musician(s) of the church. DO YOUR JOB"
I took that as playing extra things for free. Like I said before, its all about what the musician and the church agreed upon. If the musician agrees to play for extra engagements etc. for no pay, then you are correct, but If they dont then they should be paid what they initially agreed upon.

Maybe we are talking about two different kind of musicians. I'm talking from a professional standpoint. I guess you were talking about immature lazy musicians

All I am saying is be faithful regardless if you get paid or not. who you playing for the church or The church that belongs to God!!

Being a musician is hard work. Just because we play for God, doesnt mean we have to be taken advantage of, playing 4 days a week, on a 2 day a week salary.

Right now i'm playing at a church for just about nothing. I'm not gonna be running back and forth to evening services, youth service, prayer service, fish dinner service etc for no pay. If my home church needs me to play, them I'm taking a sunday off. if wanna sunday off to go something else, I'ma do so and not feel guilty.

[chevonee]

Because churches tolerate them.

There you have it!!!! I agree with you divinemusician but this wouldn't be happening if the leadership in the church would refuse to tolerate this foolishness. But because of the fact that folk can't get their praise without the "B3" going then that's why they sell out when it comes to the musicians. Musicians are held to a lower standard and everyone else has to be like mice walking on cotton. It's a dawg gone shame and it really ticks me off because "I AM REAL"....I live according to the word (to the best of my ability) but it took me nearly a year and a half to get the two churches that I have now. Not because these churches just became available but because the musicians that they had were pathetic and lived messed up lives. At any rate, I am thankful to have the chance that I have now so please don't get me wrong but I'm just saying it can be hard when you're struggling to do right by God but you continue to get passed over. Ok let me shet up

[divinemusician]

haha yea we talking about two different musicians. A Professional musician knows his/her role. But what I am saying is in all you do be faithful. If you play for two church just be faithful to your deepest ability. I understand playing for what you think is little of nothing can be hard, but the Bible says if you are faithful over the few... (thats in all you do) God will make you ruler over many. A lot of people think that scripture is for church membership, haha. But that is in all. Your faithfulness counts a lot with God. Thats why faith (FAITHfulness) is so pleasing in Gods eyes.

if you know any church that has a fish fry service hit me up, haha i love fish fry....naw but seriously just be faithful in life in general

Chevonee... girl you a bad musician and I wish you all the best in this world. God will bless your REALNESS!!!

Sometimes we musicians forget that we are God's Children before we are MUSICIANS... God's will and way should always come first. Be a Man/Woman of God first before you be a Musician and God will lead and guide you and most of all protect you and your "money" (in other words, you wont be lacking anything because He is your provider)

[chevonee]

haha yea we talking about two different musicians. A Professional musician knows his/her role. But what I am saying is in all you do be faithful. If you play for two church just be faithful to your deepest ability. There is a difference if you just a lazy person. You should not feel guilty from your stand point. I totally understand that...

if you know any church that has a fish fry service hit me up, haha i love fish fry....naw but seriously just be faithful in life in general

We have so many fish fries around here that it ain't even funny. We're going to turn into fish or chickens if we're not mo' careful-er (int)....LOL

[under13]

 At any rate, I am thankful to have the chance that I have now so please don't get me wrong

but I'm just saying it can be hard when you're struggling to do right by God but you continue to get passed over. Ok let me shet up

Me too. I'm not taking the opportunities I have for granted, even if I'm not geting paid. We gotta be patient. Our time will come.

We have so many fish fries around here that it ain't even funny. We're going to turn into fish or chickens if we're not mo' careful-er (int)....LOL

If yall start posting pictures of fried fish, I'ma go postal!

[divinemusician]

Chavonee... I am going to need some directions... what kind of fish we talkin... hahaha see what you you started Under13 now I want some fish and grits... haha

[betnich]

Why are there so many unfaithful musicians. We as musicians should have standards and set standards in the music world. We have fought for so long to be on the "payroll" but yet we are slacking in the "do your job" roll. I know not all musicians are like this. But I personally think if you are the M.O.M or you play at your church you need to be faithful to the ministry. When the church has their doors open you need to be there. That is through the week, on the weekend, for engagements, etc. Even if you don't get paid, you vowed to be the musician(s) of the church. DO YOUR JOB. I don't like seeing musicians, esp. gifted musicians not take their job serious. You are first and formost playing for God, second you are doing a work for His kingdom. Also understand your roll. Be at choir rehearsals, praise team rehearsals, etc. Have your music together, teach parts, know parts (if you slacking or dont understand how to teach parts, ask God to help you) learn your theory. Give your best. I am so tired of us musicians slacking. Even if you play for a church with 5 people and you just starting out. BE FAITHFUL unto the ministry!! God will bless faithfulness!!!!!!!!!!!!

AM I WRONG??????????????????????

I think you're talking about Flaky musicians (not to be confused with flaky catfish, LOL) The type who show up when it suits them, or, worse yet, blow off rehearsal and come in Sunday morning. The come in vocal as well as instrumental flavors.

Not all churches can pay, but those who do have that leverage to enforce responsibility. Unfortunately it's too often the clergy/people in churches that take advantage of a musician's willingness to serve...

[divinemusician]

thats it.. betnich you hit it on the head... flaky musicians... (like that cat fish comment. cat fish is good though, haha) those musicians that could careless they just doing it for the money or the show...i don't like those musicians because they give us real musicians a bad name... i guess in all professions like some pastors you have your FAKE ones!!

[chevonee]

All we bleeve (int) in eating around here is cat fish.... which I despise because I don't like bones in my fish. So I mostly eat talapia...TOO PROPER FAH YAH HUH!!! LOL.... I'm just kidding with ya...you know that dontcha....

[divinemusician]

Right now I have a freezer full of Talapia... but it is pre cut (the store bought version) nothing actually caught. but howbever it is still GOOD. I also have Perch and Grouper... hahaha wow and shrimp..

[chevonee]

Right now I have a freezer full of Talapia... but it is pre cut (the store bought version) nothing actually caught. but howbever it is still GOOD. I also have Perch and Grouper... hahaha wow and shrimp..

Daaaang I have Talapia, Mullette (sp?) for my hubby, jumbo shrimp, and some crab that I'm going to stuff later today...LOL!!!

[under13]

Daaaang I have Talapia, Mullette (sp?) for my hubby, jumbo shrimp, and some crab that I'm going to stuff later today...LOL!!!

Did Somebawdy say Scrimps?

[divinemusician]

haha gurrr.... you got some crabs  ... oh Goodness I love those things. with garlic and butter... haha under13 crazy talkin about them scrimps.. haha

[cdgraham]

Churchs tolerate musician because the musician knows that we live in music driven society this includes the church.  I am a pastor of a small ministry. I have had a tough time dealing with musicians (pianist, organist, drummer) I have fired two maybe three musician because they repeatedly arrive late and leave early.  The church can not be held hostage by musicians.  If God has planted you in a ministry.  Be committed or don't play.  I believe that musicians should get paid but if that is the only goal than perhaps one should just call him/herself a hirling and spell it out on a contract. 

[musallio]

Churchs tolerate musician because the musician knows that we live in music driven society this includes the church.  I am a pastor of a small ministry. I have had a tough time dealing with musicians (pianist, organist, drummer) I have fired two maybe three musician because they repeatedly arrive late and leave early.  The church can not be held hostage by musicians.  If God has planted you in a ministry.  Be committed or don't play.  I believe that musicians should get paid but if that is the only goal than perhaps one should just call him/herself a hirling and spell it out on a contract. 

Not that I'm against hiring musicians (all my friends here need to be hired ), but I would strongly advise that you identify all the people in your church who are 1stly, committed/ show some committment, 2ndly, who will be in the church for some time to come (in most probability).
See that they also have the desire/ passion to learn music/ to play an instrument.

Invest in them...take them to music workshops/ lessons.
They might be slow learners, but you must not lose heart.
Live by God's principles (God sticks to His Word, no matter what--hence Let God be True & every man a liar)..ie, by developing the little He has given you, you will reap abundantly more.

When do you do all this?

---NOW!! In the next board meeting, bring the issue up & put finances aside for this.
 it doesn't matter that you might have 2 or more players now...there is a season for everything, so be ready in & out of season.

& who knows, You might be blessed & have some1 offer to teach/ mentor your people for free or at discounted rates (because the God I (we) serve works in mysterious ways.)

Sometimes we musicians forget that we are God's Children before we are MUSICIANS... God's will and way should always come first. Be a Man/Woman of God first before you be a Musician and God will lead and guide you and most of all protect you and your "money" (in other words, you wont be lacking anything because He is your provider)

The funny thing is that I don't even consider myself a musician yet because naturally, I'm not musically gifted, all I have now has been through sheer determination, passion & of course God's favor..

The only 2 reasons I ever took up playing was so that I could worship God anytime I wanted with the added effects of instruments without having to call on a musician ..& to fill in the gap at church if there was ever a time when all the players were not there..

But it looks like God is leading to pastures never envisaged before, & I vow to be FAITHFUL DivineMusician

[docjohn]

I see a lot of good info in a lot of these posts.To me,it comes down to "come let us reason together on both sides-clergy and musicians.WORD says to study to be approved workmen,diligent with your hands, not slackers,not weary in doing good.The clergy many times need to be realastic in their expectations;the effort to play;time ,gear costs,etc.,time away from family should be considered and evaluated on a 6-12 month basis.Too often the clergy gets so wrapped up in "their vision,ministry,goals,vanity,being served etc." they lose sight of people and start to treat them like chattel.They need big collections,big cars,good stuff and forget   to love others( sort of like one of the TWO commandments JESUS left us with). Musicians need to remember what we are doing is FIRST unto LORD.If LORD has blessed you with abilities-GALATIANS says"to whom a gift has been given,use it to minister". We need to hear that we will "all stand before the judgement seat of CHRIST and give an accounting for things done in the body-good or bad". If that verse doesn't get (and keep) your attention;a 20 page diatribe wont either! Here's a novel idea-why don't we all-clergy or lay ministers return to our first love-JESUS CHRIST;get the sin out of our lives.If your in a situation that isn't good,pray about it,speak to those involved,seek REASON,if you have grace and liberty to stay-do so;or leave. ACTS 3;esp 19+42-5

[musallio]

well said Doc