In a time when there was no Internet, and our phones were nailed to the wall at home, if a revival meeting or a Christian group was coming to town, the communication hub was the local Christian bookstore. They were the local Christian community nerve center, especially for the fresh wave of revival the Holy Spirit was pouring during the 1960s and 70s. Well, there were holdouts. Some Christian bookstores disdained the youth, but many embraced their expanded role. My (future) wife worked at one of those.
You see, when I was in my teens, a revival broke out in Southern California. It lasted years, and many of the old Christian musicians today, whom you know, know of, or your parents knew, had their first opportunities to minister in this revival. The name “the Jesus People” was given to these teenagers and young adults who were saved and revived through Christ’s ministry to the disenfranchised, disaffected, drugged, and “demonized.”
The Jesus People joined with others from revivals across America; I was one. We were often referred to as “Jesus Freaks,” a moniker we liked. Suddenly, singers, songwriters, and bands that young people could relate to sprang up everywhere. Musicians sang about the problems, hopes, loves, and questions that young people had, not the stilted, traditional proprieties of that time. Nearly all of these songs openly pointed the listeners to faith in Jesus.
Alongside the music, young evangelists rose up, preaching repentance, deliverance, and holiness. God was on the move, even as He is today. I remember being in many discussions with fellow believers about whether selling tickets to a Christian concert was even something Christians should do. Who were we to deny someone access to the Gospel? It wasn’t communism; it was the free gift of salvation.
There were national evangelical organizations that booked venues and professional Southern Gospel groups that were businesses. But few, if any, nascent Christian musicians sold tickets to their praise services, and the evangelists preached in churches, not venues.
During this time, I attended a concert by one of the “biggest names” in Christian music and heard him apologize to the audience for having sold tickets. I think he charged $1. He was sincere and explained that he needed to know how large the crowd would be.
I’m not saying none of the Christian groups sold tickets, but it was an active topic of discussion. It was good that we were being cautious about the intersection between ministry and money.
“So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.” – Ephesians 5:15-17 NLT
The Holy Spirit is telling us, in this passage, to be careful how we live. This is especially true when it comes to money and ministry, even more so during this time of mega-churches. When Jesus preached to 5,000 men, plus women and children (John 6:1-15), He didn’t have a sound system, a sound engineer, or a social media manager.
Jesus didn’t gather everyone into a dimly lit room. He didn’t have a stage full of expensive equipment. There were no stage lights, strobe lights, or lasers. What He did was a supernatural miracle so astonishing that it is recorded in all four Gospels. The currency in the kingdom of God is faith.
Let’s not forget Simon, who had been a sorcerer (Acts 8:9). He tried to buy the Holy Spirit! (Acts 8:18) It ended very badly for him. What people yearn for is truth. It is the message, not the trappings. Ed Sheeran, one of the world’s best-selling artists, does wildly successful two-hour concerts to packed houses with nothing more than his voice and an acoustic guitar. People can’t buy success. Churches can’t buy effective ministries. We can’t buy holiness.
So, getting back to the idea behind selling tickets for access to Christ’s Gospel, which is freely given. The ticket thing is not evil. People need incomes. A workman is worthy of his wages. Ministers deserve their wages. Christian artists should be paid. My concern is the ministry’s motive. Are Christians still uneasy setting a price on ministry? We should be, and I pray that we return to being that way.
Discover more from Rock Excavation Service
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
