Add this entry to Your Favorites | [0] Favorites [5] Comments

Please wait...

I’ve spent the last few days perusing the messages boards for fan opinions on the state of Gospel Music today. Everything from group changes to new projects to NQC on the net has been featured on the various websites. And opinions there is no shortage of those, from the ridiculous to the cruel, all attempting to show that their comments are brought on by concern, either for a group, the SGM industry or some other abstract of SGM life.

What I have found is a large number of people who are so absolutely sure THEY know what is best for and God’s will for others. Now many of these folks are little known people who have very little contact with groups – 2-4 concerts a year by their favorite groups. Others have years of experience behind them either in SGM or some business connected with it. Still others use 'nicknames' that keep you from knowing their knowledge base or lack of it. That's ok, but you don't know who they are so you don't how much they may know or not know.

It doesn't matter the subject, the internet has made us all experts and we don't hesitate to share our vast knowledge! It is actually funny if it weren't so sad, people who have never traveled on a bus or sang a song on stage know exactly what it takes to make a group 'click'. People who have never been away from home for long periods doubt that staying home would be a reason to quit a group. And if you stayed at home for a while and found that your goal really is to be on the road, it couldn't have been a mistake in judgment, you had to have deceived people.

What are we thinking? Or better yet, are we thinking? I don't think so, we see 'Harry Whosit' and he is good looking, has a beautiful voice and smiles at all the right times and we just know that any group should be willing to do anything to get him. The fact is, his smile comes from his inability to take anything seriously and in the mornings his breath would make everyone within a hundred yards puke but we are sure he is the next 'star'. So if a group doesn't hire him or even worse they let him 'get away' when he was with them, we just know their world is going to come to an end. Or if someone dares leave your favorite group, they have to have a problem; it has to be them that are wrong.

So many see a group a lot (several times in a month) and just know who the next great member is for their group. They were terrific with 'the dowackers' and even better with 'the thingabos' and they have sang for several other groups and been a soloist. Man, what more could you ask for? All that experience at the tender age of 23?

Then there are the naysayers, 'no one will EVER replace' BillyBob, he is the best thing since sliced bread. Now he says that God has called him into a church ministry but “I know that God would have revealed that to me if He had; so I know that group just fired him and he is trying to save face!” How dare they treat him that way! For heaven's sake, I know that he didn't help set up or tear down. He sure wouldn't strain his voice to give a full sound but what do they expect of him anyway? Or if he left our favorite group we know 'it had to be his ego, he thinks way too much of himself'.

It is never your favorite singer's fault if something happens or your favorite group – someone else must have been the cause. They were done wrong, they were abused, and the group will be ruined without them! Or they will regret leaving THAT group.

Now let's just take a time out here and think about this logically. There groups are in SGM just because they want to sing, they don't want ministry and entertainment to mix and they are entertainment at its best. I'm not promoting or condemning this, but we have to realize that is a fact. There are groups that have no business savvy, they are ministry minded but will never reach the pinnacle because they don't follow some practical business guidelines. Again, not promoting or condemning but most of you could name at least 1 group in each of those categories.

But I'd like to focus on the other groups, those that believe SGM should be used to reach the lost, encourage the Christian and bring joy to our souls while at the same time have the business smarts to be good stewards of what God gives them. They are the groups that are surviving when others are not.

Those groups make their decisions considering all sides of the issue when it comes to changes in musical styles and personnel. They look at what a person or song has to offer, they look at what their fan base will support and they spend time in prayer seeking God's direction. Or these are the individuals that leave groups when everyone says they are crazy, because they know it is the right thing for them to do.

There are varying opinions as to what should be the deciding factor and just as you do, I have mine. But you know what I've learned over the years, my opinion doesn't matter and neither does yours. God's direction is the only 'opinion' the group and/or individual should be looking at. If they follow man's leading, they will end up in a ditch almost every time. But if they wait on the Lord, seek His direction and then follow it, whether they are a success in man's eyes or not, they will have reached the ultimate in success.
"Well done, thou good and faithful servant."

Reader Comments

Amen & amen! Very well said & very true! God is the only one that matters!

God is good all the time & all the time God is good. 

Elaine Harcourt

Oh, man! Great article! The truth is (in MY expert opinion) there have always been revolving-door line-ups in SG and there always WILL be. Even those groups who have made a decent living (Blackwood Brothers, Statesmen, Stamps, Imperials, Cathedrals, GVB) have had a lot of personnel changes.

Change can be a good thing. It means that a lot of singers get a chance to show us what they can do. Plus, it give us "experts" a chance to argue over which tenor or bass for our favorite group was the best!

Chris J. Becker
Cedar Rapids, IA

Add Comments

If you are seeing this form you are not a Member or have not logged in. Why not consider becoming a Member?

Membership allows you to have a prepared signature of your choice applied to every comment you make, as well as the ability to choose an avatar to display next to your name to help identify your posts. Members are also given opportunity to vote weekly in our Weekly Chart as well as special Members Only contests, polls and giveaways during the year. If you are already a member, login here, otherwise please register here.

**Note: Forums membership is a seperate membership.

By posting you agree to our Comments Policy

Name:
Email:
Location:
URL:
Comment:
	Remember my personal information
	Notify me of follow-up comments?
Please enter the word you see in the image below: