I just finished No Compromise by Melody Green, which is the biography of her husband, Keith Green. Even after reading the last page of that book, there’s so much spinning in my brain. For those of you who don’t know, Keith was a very talented musician who became very famous (in the Christian music scene) in his 20’s which was in the 1970’s.
This is straight from No Compromise:
Keith didn’t talk to anyone after his concerts because he was so upset by the hero-worship he saw in people’s eyes. Not wanting to encourage anyone in idolatry, or be stumbled himself, Keith simply slipped backstage. He was so concerned over this issue that a few years earlier he’d even written an article called “Music or Missions,” about churches full of “star-struck” Christians and what that did to the Lord and the ministers themselves:
Can’t you see that you are hurting these ministers? They try desperately to tell you that they don’t deserve to be praised, and because of this, you squeal with delight and praise them all the more.
How come no one idolizes or praises missionaries who give up everything and live in poverty, endangering their lives and their families lives with every danger that the American dream has almost completely eliminated? How come no one lifts up and exalts the ghetto and prison ministers and preachers? Because we are taught early on 1) that comfort is our goal and security and 2) that we should always seek for a lot of people to like us.
Quit trying to make gods out of music ministers, and quit trying to become like those gods. …
The only music ministers to whom the Lord will say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant,” are the ones whose lives prove that their lyrics are saying and the ones to whom music is the least important part of their life. Glorifying the only worthy One should be most important!
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