For the most part, twenty-first century evangelicals have refrained from using music to engage the lost world. Now, certainly we have “Christian” music that communicates the gospel, but that genre is usually played on radio stations and at venues primarily developed for believers.
We need to be a people that encourages our musicians to write extraordinary music to serve as a platform for sharing the gospel in the highways and hedges of the lost world. Instead, we encourage them to write extraordinary music to serve us. We have developed our Christian subculture and must have our music to match. This is similar to training preachers to preach the gospel only in a safe worship setting where the majority of people are believers.
What if we equip and encourage musicians to enter into venues where the majority of the listeners are unbelievers? Such musicians would be required to play amazing music–and not be known as the group that plays “Amazing Grace.” The world of music needs artists living lives that honor the Lord and crafting music that connects with dying generations.
We have encouraged our own to make a difference for Jesus in the worlds of medicine, business, law, science, and education. Why not in the world of music–one of the most influential worlds of all worlds? Why not teach and equip people to live radical lives for Jesus in one of the darkest realms? Why not develop networks and accountability structures for artists living and working in the music scene? Why not partner with such musicians and assist them to let their lights shine so that others may praise our Father who is in heaven?
Are we encouraging and empowering them to get out into the hedges and highways of lostness in our cities and across the world and play their music unto the Lord as they entertain the crowds? Are we encouraging them to befriend other musicians and share Jesus with them?
While I am certain a few churches and artists are already doing these things, their numbers are far too small.