The debate on wealth in Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) is a significant one. It stems from the early association between some CCM artists, the Word of Faith Movement, and prosperity preachers. This debate is less about music, and more about the potential manipulation of young members with a false gospel. It starkly contrasts the legacy of great Christian music writers like Charles Wesley and John Newton.
In his article titled “Top 20 American Hymn Writers,” David West lists the best of the best in America. But there is a problem with the list that plagues today’s church. Mr. West includes some English writers like Wesley, Watts, Newton, and Havergal. Some of these writers and composers were active as early as 1674, and the latest was George Coles Stebbins, who died in 1945. We would guess that there have been no great traditional hymn writers in the last 79 years or that the music has shifted with the times. Unfortunately, none of us will be here to know which, if any, contemporary songs stand the test of time.
Earning a Living Within Christianity
In every denomination my wife and I have been associated with, there has always been a progression for ministers with unusual gifts for prophecy (preaching). If a minister and denomination want to reach the widest possible audience, then it is logical that preachers progress to larger congregations as their skills evolve. This is logical and smart on everyone’s part and can be good for congregants, as it brings fresh thinking and wider experiences to the pulpit, hopefully inspiring a sense of optimism and progress.
In our experience, exceptional ministers often possess other traits and skills that bring value to their congregation. Management, interpersonal, and outreach skills are often embodied in the same person, highlighting the importance of diverse skills in ministry. This is no different from the business world, where some master multiple skills and become more effective managers. Ministers that take on more responsibility, in larger churches, almost always command a higher salary, as they should.
We like to think of our churches as divorced from secular or business pressures. But if you join a church with poor financial or poor personnel management, you will see how it becomes overwhelmed with internal struggles that divert its core mission.
The internet and other electronic media make some difference because an excellent preacher can reach a wider audience without relocating. However, for some job requirements, face-to-face interaction is a necessity, and it seems unlikely to us that the relocation paradigm will completely change in traditional denominations.
The lack of personal interaction is a valid criticism of all televangelists and can lead to lapses in accountability by either congregants or church administration. Being an actor in a televised service is easier than a full-time pastor ministering to the needs of his or her congregation.
Earning a Living Within CCM
This might be the primary criticism of CCM among those who do not like the popularity of the most recognizable music figures. Genre critics often voice this criticism, but is it fair? The responsibilities of ministers, music directors, and singers are very different.
Those involved with CCM face a decision that closely parallels their predecessors. Should I quit my day job and work to earn a living through my music, or should I keep my day job and continue to sing as a hobby, gift, or just for enjoyment? There is no right answer, only answers that fit the individual and their circumstances.
CCM as a business is no different than any other music genre; some choose to sing karaoke, some sing in bars, and others go on to reach national or international audiences. For most, a balance between skills and life choices determines their path. But there is the added responsibility of earning a living for those with the talent and desire to sing full-time.
There is a distinction between CCM and other music genres, the underlying goal. With classical, country, or contemporary music, the goal is entertainment; with CCM, there is the additional responsibility that comes with faith and influence. CCM has both a faith and an entertainment component which makes some uncomfortable.
When CCM is coupled with a church or denomination purely for profit, it is a fundamental problem. When CCM stands on its own, has cross-denominational appeal, or has a wider audience, it is not a problem. None of us can judge the singers and know what is in their hearts or their specific motivation for seeking this career path. Success often brings contempt, jealousy, and criticism; many CCM critics seem to fall within this area.
I have seen disapproval by some critics where a single word within a song was considered heretical and, therefore, the singer and song should be banned from all churches. We all hope our lives are never placed under this microscope. Among churches, congregants, and critics, one church’s doctrine can be another’s heresy.
CCM Wealth
I had an interesting time researching the wealth of the CCM superstars. Many “clickbait” headlines appear to expose something sinister, but I found something entirely different.
CCM has superstars who make significant money, but you will be disappointed if you are looking for billionaires and hundred-millionaires. Most reporting organizations seem to be inconsistent in the selection of the wealthiest and most popular. The internet helps because artists can control their own destiny and exposure. But the money widely available to POP, ROCK, and RAP stars is not there.
After examining several sources, I found that Kari Jobe, from Waco, Texas, is listed as the wealthiest CCM singer, with an estimated net worth of $116 million. She is popular in North, Central, and South America, England, and Spain. Perhaps her international appeal propels her to this level of wealth, but the drop off from there is precipitous.
Several artists have net worths in the $5 to $10 million range. These include popular singers and groups like Tobymac, Lauren Daigle, Kirk Franklin, Mary Mary, Jesus Adrian Romero, Casting Clowns, Katy Nichole, Michael W. Smith, Third Heaven, For King & Country, Zach Williams, Skillet, and Natalie Grant. For some other singers, wealth seems to come from age and hard work, not superstardom.
A big issue with this genre is that many popular singers seek support from religious organizations rather than professional music promoters. This leaves them dependent on organizations with less money or promotional skills. Organizations like Hillsong, Bethel, and Elevation are probably filling that gap in the support structure. Larger churches that are supportive of the genre may also provide financial help. My gut feeling is that the artists are doing okay but not great financially because they are often responsible for all travel and production costs. Events like the Passion Conferences could not occur without support from multiple organizations.
If there is a scandal here, I could not find it. I am always cautious about internet estimates of a person’s net worth because the source can be rumor and innuendo. If you want to see how wild it is, look up yourself, and you will find the estimates vary from one-tenth to ten times the real figure. There is no reliable source for this data; few people would sit down and reveal their real net worth. For certain, I would not take a figure from a critic of CCM because they have a product to sell.
The Missed Opportunity
In my opinion, mainline denominations like Methodist, Presbyterian, Baptist, Catholic, and others are missing the opportunity to rekindle the faith in our youth. These organizations have the resources to sponsor and create great CCM.
But these organizations have repeatedly shown that they work to hold on to power and control so tightly that there is little room for new ideas. They are the guardians of the faith and its important traditions, but there must be a way to engage the next generation of Christians within these boundaries, or there will be no next generation. Just as in business, you have to let go of some responsibility to make progress, and this is not in the DNA of many denominations.
As I was winding down this discussion, I considered the need for a new Great Awakening and the Billy Graham youth concerts. The description of his concerts and the raucous display by the band came to mind as I did one more dive into the music on YouTube. I ran into a decade-old video from the Hillsong-associated group of artists at the “Young and Free” concert. This is reminiscent of the Rave era, and they did a good job of capturing what I think the Billy Graham youth concerts must have been like before his insurance companies calmed them down.
This song, titled Wake, is performed by Taya Smith as the lead singer. She is a familiar face at many of the other events we referenced. The “Young and Free” name is associated with yet another group with many of the same performers. Like it or not, this appeals to our younger worshipers. Every generation rebels against the old and ushers in the new, usually with some controversy and gnashing of teeth.
“Each of these ‘Great Awakenings’ was characterized by widespread revivals led by evangelical Protestant ministers, a sharp increase of interest in religion, a profound sense of conviction and redemption on the part of those affected, an increase in evangelical church membership, and the formation of new religious movements and denominations.”
We will never know if Charles Wesley would have been the CCM superstar of his era. But he was a bridge from the old to the new, stirring up some controversy with his hymns. If the church is to survive by having our youth embrace the church and CCM, or go to pop concerts glorifying drugs, sex, heresy, and denigration of religion, our nation and its leaders, I choose CCM as a bridge from the old to the new.
In my opinion, our current path is unsustainable for our nation and for people of faith.
This series has required considerable reading and study, and the list of references grew so long that adding them to the end of each article proved distracting. I will link to them at the bottom of each article so that they stay handy.
You Can View All Articles in This Series with This Link
