Jesus Paid It All: Should Gospel Music Be Free…?

By: Shawon Canady

A recent Facebook live post from JG posed a serious question that many have had in reference to the Gospel music industry—shouldn’t Gospel artists perform and share their music for free because they are doing it for The Lord.

JG’s immediate response was a simple apology on behalf of the church and its misrepresentation, more so on behalf of recent Christian or Christian inspired television and reality network shows.  While he did not specify which programs he was referring to, I am pretty sure we can all take a gander at which direction those shots were fired.

I believe two important topics were brought to the forefront.  People can mistake the work of the ministry as a mandatory volunteer service.  Some of these concepts are understandable in the fact that we, as believers, should be willing to do whatever The Lord commands no matter the sacrifice, even financially.  What many subsequently fail to realize is that there are ministers, despite, as JG noted, how popular reality shows have portrayed it, that do not get substantially compensated for the amount of work they do.  The same is true with Gospel artists, and I believe it is because of two assumptions: 1) people believe it should be done for free, and 2) people believe church and its affiliates use the church for financial gain.

In either case, I think the perspectives are twisted and simply unrealistic.  Even Apostle Paul asks in 1 Corinthians 9:7-8, “Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its grapes?  Who tends a flock and does not drink the milk?” He again asks in verse 11, “If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you?”

Gospel music is what we praise God to, where we get our tracks from for praise and worship, and many of these songs help us to deal with our poor reflections—they offer deliverance.  It encourages us to wake up in the morning.

I don’t think any of us would enjoy going to work and not getting paid.  I think it is important that we support Gospel artists.  Not only are they trying to be obedient, but they also need to eat and feed their families as well.