Country Star Leaving Music Industry for Seminary

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dr. Huk-N-Duck
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"A lot of people will probably think, ‘Why don’t you just sing country music, but talk about God on the stage?’ Or, ‘Why don’t you sing a couple of hymns on the stage? And that fixes everything.’ I wrestled with that for a couple of years.… A lot of pastors and preachers told me, ‘Country music is your ministry, brother. You’re in a dark world. You’re bringing light to a dark world. You’re going into bars and stages where people might not have heard the message of Christ, and you get to speak it – that is your ministry.’"

"I believed it," he continued. "And part of me still does believe that. But here’s the deal – it wasn’t ever about that. It wasn’t ever about finding the best platform to tell people about Christ. The first thing that needed to happen was I needed to make myself smaller because I was exalting myself on the stage. I was glorifying myself. I was seeking praise from people. And by doing that, it doesn’t matter if I was proclaiming Christ, because I was doing it the wrong way. I was proclaiming Christ from a self-exalting platform. And that was the contradiction I finally had to come to terms with. I might have a stage down the road, but right now I need to completely surrender that and give it over to God."

Sounds legit to me. May God bless him. Seems he's making the right decision from the right heart.
 
abcaines said:
"A lot of people will probably think, ‘Why don’t you just sing country music, but talk about God on the stage?’ Or, ‘Why don’t you sing a couple of hymns on the stage? And that fixes everything.’ I wrestled with that for a couple of years.… A lot of pastors and preachers told me, ‘Country music is your ministry, brother. You’re in a dark world. You’re bringing light to a dark world. You’re going into bars and stages where people might not have heard the message of Christ, and you get to speak it – that is your ministry.’"

"I believed it," he continued. "And part of me still does believe that. But here’s the deal – it wasn’t ever about that. It wasn’t ever about finding the best platform to tell people about Christ. The first thing that needed to happen was I needed to make myself smaller because I was exalting myself on the stage. I was glorifying myself. I was seeking praise from people. And by doing that, it doesn’t matter if I was proclaiming Christ, because I was doing it the wrong way. I was proclaiming Christ from a self-exalting platform. And that was the contradiction I finally had to come to terms with. I might have a stage down the road, but right now I need to completely surrender that and give it over to God."

Sounds legit to me. May God bless him. Seems he's making the right decision from the right heart.
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I found it interesting that pastors were encouraging him to continue singing secular music in bars as a “ministry.” What does that say about the current condition of our American churches?
 
HukNduck said:
I found it interesting that pastors were encouraging him to continue singing secular music in bars as a “ministry.” What does that say about the current condition of our American churches?
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I'm not going to judge someone who genuinely senses the call to minister in dark environments. Members of Christian Motorcyclists Association (CMA) are often found ministering in such places. However, it takes a very specific kind of person to do this well. I'm not that kind of person and neither is this guy. I'm glad he has sense and wisdom plus a good dose of humility to see this.
 
HukNduck said:
Read the article and he’ll fully explain what’s wrong with it.
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I did. He said why it was wrong for him (seeking personal glory), but your statement (unless I'm misreading it) is more of a "wrong all the time for all people" type of statement.
 
voicecrying said:
I did. He said why it was wrong for him (seeking personal glory), but your statement (unless I'm misreading it) is more of a "wrong all the time for all people" type of statement.
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AverageJoe is the one who called it a “shame,” not me, but you decided pick me out, and I’m cool with that. 😎

I see a whole heck of a lot wrong with it. I see a difference between ministering to folks coming out from a bar versus entertaining those within it, and acting as part of their environment. Obviously, this young man did as well.
 
abcaines said:
I'm not going to judge someone who genuinely senses the call to minister in dark environments. Members of Christian Motorcyclists Association (CMA) are often found ministering in such places. However, it takes a very specific kind of person to do this well. I'm not that kind of person and neither is this guy. I'm glad he has sense and wisdom plus a good dose of humility to see this.
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I differentiate between ministering in a dark environment and participating in the activity in the dark environment…but that’s just me.
 
voicecrying said:
What is wrong with that?
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I was out singing in bars for a while but I could hardly call it a "Ministry!" At times I was so backslid that I did not want to speak a single word about God and even under better times (when I was trying to "live right," being faithful in Church, and walking with God), it always seemed quite inappropriate to speak overtly of Christ and just didn't feel right bringing up his name in such a setting.

In other words, I saw absolutely no opportunity for "ministry" while out playing bar gigs aside from being a good "Testimony" and not getting doped up or smashing drunk!

I have happily walked away and not looking back! "The world behind me - the cross before me!"

I asked my pastor about it a few years ago and he laughed because he knew I KNEW the answer already!

I guess at the "Professional" level, you are no longer playing in bars where your worth is in how much whiskey the bar can peddle while you are playing but it is still not the same as being in the GOSPEL MINISTRY where you are truly set apart and THE GOSPEL takes center-stage! Perhaps God allows other Christian performers (actors, athletes, other celebrities, Etc.) to continue their chosen profession but if God is CALLING YOU TO MINISTRY, you have to answer that call!
 
abcaines said:
I'm not going to judge someone who genuinely senses the call to minister in dark environments. Members of Christian Motorcyclists Association (CMA) are often found ministering in such places. However, it takes a very specific kind of person to do this well. I'm not that kind of person and neither is this guy. I'm glad he has sense and wisdom plus a good dose of humility to see this.
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I think I have seen "CMA Types" in biker bars among some of the other "MC" types. Interesting culture I always stayed an arm's distance from. Bandidos were the only "1%ers" we would encounter (being in Texas) and they were always cool towards us and quite enthusiastic about our blues-based music. Same went for all of the "supporting" clubs (not 1% or outlaw but required the Bandidos "blessing" to avoid trouble) we would often find at our gigs. I know that "HAC-kers" going in with their short-sleeved shirts and ties and gospel tracts would likely go over like a lead balloon and may even end up in the back of an ambulance if they "Mouthed off" to the wrong biker! If you are going to be a "witness" to the biker culture, I believe it needs to be relationship and friendship-based right? I also know that RESPECT is foundational to such relationships too. I am guessing most CMA groups are likely ministering overtly outside of such settings where alcohol and partying are not as prevalent?
 
I think everyone struggles with a certain thing it’s difficult to let go—some type of sin or vice or whatever God burdens a person’s conscience with. I respect this upcoming country star for following God’s leading and having more maturity in the matter than those pastors who were egging him on. To a degree, I envy that in him. He was also sacrificing a lot of money and fame for the ministry.

I know there are a few things in my life I just can’t seem to let go off, despite my conscience. One in particular is nicotine. Growing up in the South, I was surrounded by tobacco—quite literally, as we used to live across the street from a tobacco field! I’ve smoked it, chewed it, dipped it, etc. Thankfully, I never enjoyed the smoking part of it, but spent twenty years dipping it before I finally moved from tobacco to nicotine pouches a few years ago. I know it’s not as bad as the tobacco pouches, but just haven’t been able to kick it. I’ve struggled with other vices/sins in the past as well, some God helped me leave behind, but others seem to win. I’m thankful that drugs and alcohol were never an issue because with my personality, they would have won.
 
HukNduck said:
I differentiate between ministering in a dark environment and participating in the activity in the dark environment…but that’s just me.
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Trust me. CMA members don't do anything out of line. If someone is wearing a CMA patch, everyone knows why they're there. It's happened that someone with a CMA patch steps out of line and a 1%er has confronted them and reminded them of CMA's code of conduct.
 
HukNduck said:
AverageJoe is the one who called it a “shame,” not me, but you decided pick me out, and I’m cool with that. 😎

I see a whole heck of a lot wrong with it. I see a difference between ministering to folks coming out from a bar versus entertaining those within it, and acting as part of their environment. Obviously, this young man did as well.
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Deflection from the youngun! LOL The only reason I said it was a shame is because the pastor seemed to put himself in the place of the Holy Spirit. Not a good thing.
 
AverageJoe said:
Deflection from the youngun! LOL The only reason I said it was a shame is because the pastor seemed to put himself in the place of the Holy Spirit. Not a good thing.
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Not deflecting at all…he just seemed confused about which person said what, but I have no qualms about agreeing with the old man. 😎
 
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All this discussion about believers venturing into dark places to minister... we like to fixate on bars and honky-tonks but those places don't corner the market... one very dark place and one I've had to withdraw from similar to the way Granger is doing from the music industry, is the world of social media. I first joined up with farcebook in 09 thinking I could connect with many and make an impact for Christ. What ended up happening is I got caught up in politics and became a very nasty man. I haven't pulled up my FB account in nearly three years. Now, I know of folks, chapter and regional "webmasters" within CMA who have a gift for getting the message of Christ out and promoting CMA activities. God bless them for their abilities to do what I failed at. This forum and a blog is as close as I get to social media now.
 
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