UNDERSTANDING MINISTRY.
“Music is not ministry” I posted an excerpt from a teaching on the Dear Minstrel series on ARTISTRY VS MINISTRY which is aimed at trying to understand the difference and playing grounds.
Then I posted an excerpt that said “Music is not ministry” some persons are still fighting in the comments trying to prove how music is ministry;
Let’s do a Little discourse on what ministry is. Journey with me.
MINISTRY FROM A GENERIC SENSE: The defintion of ministry especially within a religious sense is a divine empowerment to carry out a divine purpose.
Every believer has been called to ministry. In the Gospel every believer by the spirit has been empowered for ministry. We are saved in christ for a purpose, that purpose is the good works which has been ordained for us in christ Jesus. Eph 2: 10.
On the account of salvation a believer entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation—which is to preach the Gospel and bring others to Christ. 2 Cor 5:18-20.
Verse 18b specifically captures that “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled all things to himself by Jesus Christ, AND HATH GIVEN UNTO US THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION.
This is the ministry bequeathed to every believer on the account of salvation. This is expected to be fulfilled by the empowering of the spirit of God using any ability or tool within our means.
MINISTRY AS A GIFT/OFFICE; On the ascension of Christ he gave Gifts unto men for the equipping of the body of Christ for the work of ministry which is captured in my assertions above.
Eph 4:8-13 Verse 11 reads specifically; And HE gave some, APOSTLE; and some, PROPHETS; and some EVANGELISTS; and some, PASTORS and TEACHERS.
My generation have added “Music minister” somewhere In the scripture and if you ask them, people who know better will say “Paul knew in parts, that the ministry gift is not limited to 5”
God abegggg ohhhh.
The duty of this offices is to teach and equip the Believer for the general work of ministry which is primarily to the world and not to the church. Again, We have been assigned with the ministry of reconciliation to the world not to the church.
The 5 fold ministry is to the Body of Christ for equipping and administration. The general commission of ministry to the Believer is to spread the Gospel to the world—ministry of reconciliation.
MINISTRY AS A DEPARTMENT: From a secular definition of ministry, ministry is simply a unit of service. A department in charge of a function.
You have in government the ministry of finance, the ministry of Education. Education is not the ministry. The ministry is the system incharge of overseeing the Educational affairs of the Nation or state.
This is the same thing in church like the Media department, the choir department, the ushering department etc. It is only in this sense that the term “Music ministry (department) can be inferred not from the perspective of a ministry Gift.
It is simply a unit of function created by the church to enhance its effectiveness. It is not a ministry gift given by our Lord Jesus Christ.
Our inability to properly understand this has led to many heartbreaking blunders and fights in the body of Christ.
We agree that every believer is called to the work of ministry which has been stated above. And every believer is expected to discharge that ministry call with whatever tool within their means.
This is to say while you are a medical doctor you are expected to represent Jesus through the Gospel. You are expected to reconcile men to Jesus, You are excepted to guide your moderation using your Faith as a template.
That is to say while administering medicine to a patient you can talk to them about Jesus.
We agree that every believer is called to ministry. But then we leave every other profession, art and skill and make ministry out of music in the sense of a ministry Gift from God.
We try as much as we can to hold down the artistry of music to the standards of ministry in the sense of a ministry Gift from God.
We do not have “Business ministers, Medical ministers, Fashion ministers, Banking ministers, writing ministers, political ministers but we have MUSIC MINISTERS.
Agreed that there is such a thing as the MUSIC MINISTRY from the sense of a department incharge of the music functions of a church, there is no such thing as MUSIC MINISTRY from the sense of a ministry office or ministry Gift from Jesus.
Music is an art with eternal relevance. Its eternal relevance does not stop it from being an Art and a skill.
Music is a profession people go to school for four years to study it just like an engineer goes to school too to study engineering. We do not hold the profession of an engineer who is a Christian to the standards of ministry why do we do this to CHRISTIAN MUSIC ARTISTS?
It’s a misconception that has lasted for Ages.
Music is a tool. You are either called into one of the 5 folds ministry Gift by our Lord Jesus and using music as a tool to discharge that ministry as is the case of Lawrence Oyor, Victoria orenze, Pst Nathaniel Bassey, Mr wealth etc. from this perspective the people can decide to moderate the operations of their artistry using ministry as a standard.
Or You are talented, skilled with music or studied music and engaging it as an art or profession under the guidance of your Faith—this is where ministry in the Generic sense comes into play—where every believer is expected to spread the Gospel with whatever tool within their means.
CHRISTIAN MUSIC CREATIVES are doing this hence the caving out of a unique niche called “GOSPEL MUSIC” which is simply an attempt to capture the message of reconciliation within the tool of music and leverage on it to spread the Faith.
This is ministry from the New Testament perspective. I honestly don’t know why this is so difficult for many to understand.
If you have anything contrary kindly make your rebuttal in the comments with all the respect and manners your training can afford.
I won’t take insulting and berating comments on my wall. Is My unfriend and block button a joke to you?
Oya na let’s engage 😁