Comments on: Stop Paying Church Musicians!

By: Tonny Angella

Tonny Angella — Thu, 23 Apr 2020 05:59:37 +0000

This is how corrupt & plastic men of God talk.

By: John

John — Sat, 22 Feb 2020 08:38:33 +0000

Bring a sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord. If God gave you the talent why not invest it in His eternal kingdom. God wants us….He doesn’t need our skills ,He gave them to us. We can choose to invest them eternally or decide to use it for personal gain. Glory for us or Him. I have been leading worship for years and was never paid. My soul, my family gained so much more than receiving money. Love is a sacrifice. Christ gave it all for every soul. If the blind could only see that the greatest gift is love.

I am a father of 5. My oldest is 18 now. I started leading worship before my oldest was born. And all 5 are musicians. My youngest 2 kids are 11. Im sure the investments God gives won’t return empty. Money can’t buy anything lasting. I manage a restaurant and some how God takes care of our earthly needs. For me I will not take money for worshiping our Saviour who gave it all. I love Him and will give back freely in any way I can.

By: Mark

Mark — Sat, 09 Mar 2019 14:22:13 +0000

The musicians that YHWH chose to lead His praises in the Temple were fully supported, When they decided not to pay them, they all went home and there was no more praise. YHWH was very angry about this. The workman is worthy of his hire. Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain. Do not mock God. Treat people fairly and ministry will prosper. Cheat people and you will lose the ministry. How can a musician eat if you are unwilling to help support them and their work? The musician is commanded to be skillful. This takes a lot of work. Don’t send them away empty handed.

By: Jordane

Jordane — Thu, 29 Nov 2018 08:31:53 +0000

I’m 50+ in age- been a church musician since I was in 7th grade. My mother would not allow me to receive a fee for playing for the church. It taught me how to be humble& appreciate whatever the church gave. I was always there for the little churches or the family needing help with weddings or funerals.
I remember attending a music workshop where they laughed at my pay. I had never been paid therefore I had no clue. But even now I only receive $200 per Sunday. I sat there listening to them boast “…nothing under $500…thats my minimum….” I couldn’t get them to understand the reason why I do it. Money was never on my list. When a song moves me I know it will move someone else. And to see my first lady stand or cry out lets me know what moves the congregation. Where is the passion? The inspiration….the true love for this ministry?

By: Brian

Brian — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 16:13:51 +0000

As someone who has been a church musician for decades, and also is able to perform at a professional level, I am getting a little burned out by people who think that since I have a “gift”, I need to just give it away. My time is no longer mine to give, I’m required to give it. I’m not allowed to say “no” without a reason they just cant overcome.

At some point, there is a real issue with respect and the value of a person. No, it’s not all about money. Would I appreciate a love gift of some kind on occasion? You bet I would. A stipend of some sort for a lot of long and very regular hours? Maybe.

I can tell you that I get very burned out when it is EXPECTED that I just WILL do whatever their whim generates. “We’re having our church harvest party this weekend, and we want you there!” Translation, I get to haul my keyboard and sound system to someone’s house, play music for 3 or 4 hours outside in the cold while other people have a wonderful evening around the campfire. And then I hear how wonderful the music was and if I’m lucky, someone will help me load up my car to head home. The end. Who paid for that $3k worth of equipment I’m hauling around that doesn’t last forever? Who pays for the gas, insurance, car payments, to get me there and back home? “And oh, there is a funeral day after tomorrow, we need you to be there to play. The service starts at 2.” Again, not even a whimper of remuneration. No gesture of substance. Not even a tip jar!

I’m getting tired. And I’m not going to lie, when I am treated like I describe above, I start to feel very conflicted… irreplaceable… and somehow worthless at the same time. There has to be somewhere in the middle that works.

This is my perspective, someone who gives and gives and gives and gives and gives, without being paid. People like me often come to the point where they eventually just say, “God, I don’t want your gift anymore, take it back.” And they walk out the door never to return. I don’t want to get there. But this attitude that anyone can just walk all over me anytime they want to because I’m a “musician”, and for heaven’s sake, don’t ever give me money for anything, ever, that just needs to end.

By: Kurt Kelley

Kurt Kelley — Sun, 05 Aug 2018 04:26:06 +0000

I have the same question as Valencia Jackson. If God-gifted musicians should not be paid for their services, than why stop there? Why do we pay pastors? After all, shouldnt they be sacrificing to serve their God, like the musicians? Oh, and comparing the two, the Old Testament temple considered the Worship musicians of far more importance than a preacher/teacher.

Moreover, as another comment mentioned, what about us VOCATIONAL musicians? You see, not EVERY musician is a hobbyist, with a professional, traditional 9 to 5 occupation, who doesnt need extra income on the weekends. For some of us, music is the main gift, talent, and calling God gave us. My best positions have all involved music as my main duty. Such as playing bass full time aboard cruise ships. This is what I am best at. And God gifted me, because I never had a lesson in my life. Who else but God gave me the ability to play at a professional level, despite no formal training, no theory, cant read a note, etc…

By: Sibusiso Dlungwana

Sibusiso Dlungwana — Thu, 15 Feb 2018 16:29:52 +0000

Some people are musicians, it’s not a hobbie. How do you expect them to live when you encourage that they don’t get paid while the same church prohibits them from playing in clubs and so forth. If I don’t get money in the house of God for my “occupation” then I will go elsewhere for survival then I’ll be labeled as “worldly”, statements like this are responsible for the backsliding of 90% of musicians that the church took advantage off and when they made their grievances known they were said to have demonic influences.

By: Truthbetold

Truthbetold — Sun, 12 Mar 2017 06:36:36 +0000

Musician can play anywhere
And get paid if people want there services so when we are at church playing we could be somewhere else working or playing whatever you see it as.I see it as working and supplying a service.

So If musicians didn’t get paid you will have a lot of churches with musicians that can’t play and can’t work anywhere else but a place for free..

By: Steve

Steve — Sun, 11 Dec 2016 03:51:44 +0000

@Worship Pastor:
I can sense your passion on this topic in your question. I understand that sometimes a ministry IS facilitating the spiritual needs of a person by being attentive to their physical and practical needs. There are many ministries that have found that balance. Traffic does travel both ways in my critique because there are some ministries that still only value a musician for what he or she can do during praise and worship. In these situations there is little if any effort made towards their continued spiritual development. This is a problem as well. I agree with you that the balance has to be made, going forward, to both edify and support church musicians. I’m simply saying that it doesn’t always HAVE to be a financial arrangement. This does not apply, in my opinion, to an on-staff minister of music who is required to work full-time. As far as those members of the body that possess your pedigree, I’m glad that there seems to be a shift in mentality. To me, that shift is not happening fast enough, resulting in a large out-migration of the younger generation. Lastly, what statement about musicians did I make that seemed outside of the pale of orthodoxy?

By: worship pastor

worship pastor — Sun, 11 Dec 2016 02:58:16 +0000

No, I don’t receive any funds from the church or church(s) that I render services for. The reason being is that, I have a career with our school district. It seems to me that, you are very well established in your career field. Of course, that’s irrelevant at this point. My question is, how come we are not focusing on a persons spiritual life and their relationship with the Lord rather than meeting their natural needs if needed. By the way, I was wondering if you sought the Lord about your statement towards musicians, especially those that are saved and with degrees like myself. Just asking.