What is Wrong with Professionalism?

In the music ministry we always have to balance our abilities and talents with the right attitude for serving God. Sometimes the least talented person would do the best in sharing with others an important message from God. And sometimes the best musicians are not the appropriate people to serve in the music ministry because they would only be doing it for themselves. I have gotten used to working with musicians of various caliber: encouraging some who are talented but shy and deflating the egos of others who may or may not be good musicians.

What is often most frustrating to me, however, is the attitude of many in the church concerning the music ministry. My former pastor was the worst about telling me who I should have sing or play and who he thought should not be used. He often threw the “professional” phrase around. “The sound was not very professional today” or “That soloists/instrumentalist is not very professional”. He once told me that a certain lady was so “fat” that it grossed him out to see her up there singing. But he later asked his son to bring a soloist just as large from his church because she sounded very “professional.”

So what is wrong with professionalism in church? The main problem is in what people expect from their church. The average church member thinks that their church music ministry should sound like what they hear on the radio. How can a church ensemble or group of volunteers even begin to compare to professional bands or singers. Professionals work full-time to prepare a dozen or so songs for a concert that is performed all around the country for six months to a year? Church musicians must prepare half a dozen different songs every week with only a few hours of practice time together as a group.

The same is true of choirs. Most church choirs practice one hour a week to prepare fifty-two weeks worth of music. This must also include special programs such as Christmas, Easter, Fourth of July and choral festivals. Compare that to the collegiate choir that practices three to five hours a week to perform one (maybe two) special programs a semester. And almost 100% of collegiate choir members can actually read music compared to the average church choir where less than 50% of the choir actually reads music.

Another big problem with professionalism is in the area of personal taste. Just look at how popular Miley Cyrus is. I know that many will disagree with me, but Miley cannot sing. Her singing has gotten better over the years, but her voice still grates on my nerves every time I hear her. Yet millions of little girls and their parents think that her voice is a good example for singers. Another example was the performance of The Who at this year’s Super Bowl. They proved that they are well past their prime, yet thousands of screaming fans pushed and shoved each other to get close enough to feel their sweat. Are these the people who should decide what music we have in our churches?

I would prefer brokenness over professionalism any time. Lord, please give me a church full of musicians (and other volunteers) totally sold out to Jesus with moderate talent instead of great musicians who only moderately love Jesus.