Christ Community Church of Franklin, Tennessee, is in a strategic position to influence the contemporary Christian music industry, centered in nearby Nashville. Of the ten-year-old congregation of 3,000, about 20 percent are musicians, songwriters, record company executives, or music publishers. When crisis and controversy have rocked Christian music, Smith has often been called in to help bring resolution. And since his own conversion in 1968–a product of the Jesus movement–Scotty Smith has watched the Christian music industry with concern.
IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, THE CHRISTIAN MUSIC INDUSTRY HAS BEEN ROCKED BY CONTROVERSY OVER MORAL FAILURES. AS A PASTOR WHO HAS TRIED TO BE INVOLVED REDEMPTIVELY, WHAT ARE YOUR OBSERVATIONS?
In the 17 years I’ve been in Nashville, there have only been a few huge, painful disappointments as intense as the recent Michael English incident, for example. But what encouraged me about that situation was not only that there was concern, but also that there was swift and deliberate action. Neal Joseph, the head of Warner Alliance, immediately wrestled with the question “What do you do if you are the president of a label and you have an artist who falls into adultery–an artist who has just won six Dove Awards, and whose record is climbing right off the charts?” As a man of God and of responsibility, he was faced with a difficult choice. And despite the losses, he stopped distribution of the records.
At the same time, we must acknowledge that one of the curses of contemporary Christian music is “celebrity-ism.” This has created an enviornment that feeds the very things against which the Scriptures warn us.
ARE THERE STRUCTURES OF ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE CHURCH THAT ARE PREVENTIVE, NOT JUST REMEDIAL, FOR THESE ARTISTS?
One of the things we are doing at Christ Community Church is helping our artists set up boards of accountability. Some are doing an incredible job with this–like Steve Green, Michael Card, and Steven Curtis Chapman. These boards meet regularly, and in these groups, we open the books and ask hard questions: How are you relating to the economics of your calling? What about your family? What are you doing to nurture your marriage? What about guarding against the temptations on the road? How is your progress in the spiritual disciplines?
Another encouraging sign is that some of these artists are working on a new paradigm called Covenant Artist Communities. These artists have felt the need to gather in smaller groups of two or three, across record labels, to pray for one other, to hold one another accountable, to encourage one another in their calling. These artists are “policing themselves,” rethinking their values, and refocusing their mission.
HOW DO YOU SEE THE CHURCH WORKING WITH AND SUPPORTING THE CHRISTIAN MUSIC INDUSTRY?
We need more theological reflection on the nature of culture and the nature of Christ and his people in culture. To those caught up in the “celebrity-ism” of the Christian music industry, the church must hold up another model: servanthood. We must constantly point to Philippians 2:1-11 and urge those who perform to have the mind of Christ. Christ came to serve, not to be served. At Christ Church, those Christian artists serve their term helping in the nursery just like everyone else. The church must also be willing to raise a prophetic voice against “celebrityism.”
IS BEING A CHRISTIAN ROCK STAR FUNDAMENTALLY INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE KIND OF RADICAL FAITH YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT?
It is similar to Jesus’ statement that “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.” The CCM arena is a place where that’s really hard because of the enormous temptations.
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Part One: Can’t Buy Me Ministry
