[Worship] Sound men & musicians pay

["Bowen, PW" <pwbowen@mdbe.com>]

Hello: 

Just a couple of more cents worth. 

I Ti. 5:18: For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that
treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward. 

Payment is due, or should be, when the person has to sacrifice time that
would cause him to lose the support for 
him/herself and/or his/her family.  If he/she has the time to give freely
without affecting their regular income or their family, and they believe God
wants them to, so be it.  (Notice, I didn't say "feel" God wants them to -
very big difference.)  If the family of that person (i.e., wife, children or
dependents of some kind) have to suffer loss because that person is losing
income while doing that work, then either they should have a decree from God
that He will supply their need for that time, be paid by those he/she is
ministering for (and this includes free will/love offerings) or just not do
it and not feel guilty about it.  Many pastors of small churches can tell
you the sad tales of how their families suffered and their children were
lost to God because they were expected to do the Lord's work voluntarily
because it is the Lord's work. 

When I wrote a few weeks (months?) ago about needing to disciple young
musicians and the fact that we lose so many of them to the world, this very
point figured in highly.  I remember one church where I was at the church in
some kind of rehearsal four nights a week (often till 11p or 12 midnight and
in some cases later), plus full rehearsals for choir and playing for the
church on Sunday.  Needless to say, the work that supported me suffered.
And, eventually, I did to; I ended up in the hospital near death.  God made
it very plain that the tendency to say that "we don't pay our musicians
because they are playing for the Lord" is the other side of the coin, "where
you treasure is, there will be your heart also."  Many young
musicians/Christians suffer from this same obstacle, being asked to
sacrifice long hours that cuts into personal time with family, work, God,
etc. 

The base rule of thumb is don't ask them to make a sacrifice you wouldn't if
you knew your family or you were going to suffer. 

Note:  The God who owns a cattle on a thousand hills usually cuts off the
source of income first when someone is volunteering for something they
shouldn't. 

There is another verse that is not appropriate here, so please don't
misquote it.  The fact that false prophets ask to be paid does not speak of
musicians who are asked to sacrifice long hours and income and personal
well-being with only a pat on the back and a thank you in return.  Too many
people have a tendency to say, "God will provide" when in actuality God is
asking them to provide so that person can do the work they are being asked
to do. 

Sorry if this sounds harsh, but I have had to pick up too many pieces of
both my life and other peoples lives who were put through this. 

One of the greatest churchs I attended had a pastor who would talk to you,
ask you what you were involved in, and if he felt you were "spread too
thin," he would immediately ask you to cut back on some activity rather than
see you run yourself ragged for his church.  Strange, he now is the senior
pastor of a church of 3,000 in Texas that God blesses mightily. 

Bro. P-W


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