MAKING MELODY
by Ralph Carmichael, Musical Columnist An Open L e tter to A r tists
Y ou might like to endorse an open letter to our artists and ministers of music — they are wonderful people but not without fault or room for im provement. The artist is responsible for much more than the art. However, many Christian singers and instru mentalists that I know refuse to accept this responsibility. Does participation in the Lord’s work give us license for fraud and carelessness? This technical prowess need not fill one with false pride or cause him to think more highly of himself than he ought to think. But it follows quite naturally that God has a right to expect us to be approved workmen with sufficient study behind us so that we need not be ashamed.
was an opening for you and subse quently received an affirmative an swer). If at this time you do not dis cuss finance, you have absolutely no recourse. You don’t even have the right to criticize when you are sent away with a hearty handshake. Fur thermore you are duty bound, for the sake of the people, to return again. But at this first contact I suggest that you have some sort of “ an under standing” in matters as delicate as finance especially with a minister, chairman of the program committee, or head, of the official board. You make your first mistake by assuming that they are “all alike — penny- pinchers.” This is not only negative thinking but also it is completely untrue. At this point, please keep in mind that it is far better for your ministry that you sell this person on the fact that your attitude is whole some than it is that you drive a bar gain and get your price. The old quote — “ the laborer is worthy of his hire” has only recently been consid ered applicable to the Ch r i s t i an artist. You must be patient, tactful, and very considerate, for you are not dealing in fair trade commodities at competitive prices on the open mar ket. When you ask that your agree ment be put in writing, don’t make it sound as if you don’t trust the party, for there are many good reasons why a “ letter of confirmation” should be written giving time, place, program content and, incidentally, the finan cial agreement. Personally, I admit that we artists often bring financial misunderstanding on ourselves, but the problems are fewer today than they were a year ago. Many a preacher has failed because he has used the sanctuary as a locker room for pep talks or an auction house for raising funds. People are in the sanctuary to meet God and to receive something spiritual. It is all right to give pep talks and to raise money but not when people have come to be ministered to. Now the artist would do well to remember this when plug ging his latest record, his newest song, his forthcoming world tour, etc. First, he must minister to the people right here in front of him. They are the im portant ones now. Give them the songs that will be the most effective and will result in a real blessing. Well, we have run out of space so we will get to the “ministers of music” next month.
Th is will in te re st YOU . . . Our field representatives meet Christian men and women quite frequently who are looking for places to invest their money. Most o f them need a return on their savings. Some are considering investments in stocks. But, because o f their limited knowledge o f stocks and bonds, they are reluctant to buy. Others hesitate because o f market fluctuations, uncertainty o f dividends, etc. And some tell us o f disappointing ex periences on their investments. * * * W ithout exception, all are looking for security . . . a guarantee that they will be assured o f a generous income. Some thing they can count on as long as they live . . . in good times or bad . . . regard less o f whether the stock market is up or down. But they’re interested in something else, too. H |j n You should see their faces light up . . . when we tell them about the d o u b l e d iv id e n d s provided by M oody Annui ties. When we tell them that M oody Annuities assure them o f a generous, guaranteed income as long as they live (up to 8 H % depending on their age) . . . plus a share in the L ord’s work . . . they’re overjoyed! And when we tell them that every annuity is backed by all the resources o f M oody Bible Institute, and that M B I has never missed a single payment in almost 50 years . . . they are convinced that it’s the plan for them! W O U L D Y O U L IK E T O R EC EIV E DO U B LE D IV ID E N D S ON Y O U R MON EY? W e’ll be happy to send you the f r e e book let, d o u b l e d iv id e n d s , which explains the M oody Annuity Plan in detail. Contains a chart showing income rates for all ages, explains tax bene- I fits and tells you all about the iM'iiil Lman.y ministriesof Moody Bible Institute in which you’ll have a share. CLI P A N D M A I L C O U P O N T O D A Y ! II!PI----------------- JlJ I ! 1 Write: Dept. K-9-37-2 • Annuity Department j MOODY BIBLE INSTITUTE j 820 N. LaSalle Street * Chicago 10, Illinois | Please send me, without obligation, information I relating to: □ M oody Annuity Plan. □ Wills. i Name ____ ___ __________________ Age ___________ j AdArp.su ______________________ __________ j City.. . Zone ______ State ____________ L_________________________________________________________
Ralph Carmichael directing orchestra. Though it is important that our singers and instrumentalists have a good foundation in technique and that they keep musically fit with a constant flow of ideas and material, there is something more important. The Christian artist is responsible, under God, to minister spiritually to the people that come under the hear ing of his performance. He may cap ture with his radiant personality, he may entertain with his “ showy” in novations, he may dazzle with his dis play of technical facility . . . but if he doesn’t have a genuine love for the people and a concern for their spiritual well being, he is nothing. You probably guessed that sooner or later I would get around to talking money matters. Well, I am not going to impose any conduct rules govern ing monetary transactions, but I do have some suggestions regarding your attitude toward them. Your first point of contact, pertaining to finance, is with the person who extends the invi tation to you to come and to minister (or you may have asked him if there
28
THE KING'S BUSINESS
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker