L ast issue, in part one, I talked about the tensions between Christian musicians and church leadership. In part two I would like to offer some solutions for dealing with these disagreements.

There are certainly many godly pastors and musicians alike who do not experience the sort of splits and contention that I've been referring to. No question. But there are a fair number who think of their present situation much as I have outlined it.

What do we do about such scenarios? Pray. Communicate with those on the "other side of the fence." Have social contact out of the pulpit and off of the stage, opening your heart and home and taking the risk to actually ask questions in a less-than-threatening way. Get inside of the other person's mind and heart rather than making stereotypical judgments like "I already know . . . and they're all like that!" Both parties can become the closest friends and ministry associates in time, or can be flaming enemies and noticeable warts on the Body.

How many times have I heard the backhanded compliment about how "holy and wonderful" a minister thought I or someone else in Christian music was, only to hear from the same mouth how few other musicians are like us. Well, even if that judgment were true, is the speaker willing to take steps to rectify the situation? Does he not know that I am the product of a church where the pastoral team has made it a point to neither "second-class" nor "glorify" its musicians? The artists must be discipled like everyone else in the church.

If in fact the musicians don't attend church services when they're home or take advantage of classes offered, or if they aren't truly accountable to church leadership, that's another issue. Pastors cannot be judged neglectful by musicians who refuse to accept the invitation to sit at table and eat. If these musicians starve in the face of such offerings, the outcome will be that their ministries become as gaunt as their spiritual lives. We reap what we sow. This is a hard word, but it's a biblical reality and ultimately is God's mercy. He chastens those He loves that they may learn where and by whom they are truly fed!

There are musicians in and around the church who expect nothing but affirmation and "blessing" on their musical work. Any challenge toward holiness or commitment, any questioning about their daily devotional life, church attendance, and such, is met with dirty looks and contentious talk. "Accept me as I am! God does!!!" It is one thing to truly accept an artist as a person--perhaps even a genuine Christian. It is quite different for the church to approve, even applaud, the artist's musical offerings along with the attitudes and character they exhibit as they do music. Let the musicians within the body of Christ understand that the local and larger church have a mission--and that mission cannot be neglected or compromised for the sake of human ego.

Remember, the church's mission is to preach the gospel and to make disciples, teaching them to do all that Jesus commanded His disciples to do. What some musicians do relating to their music and lifestyle doesn't remotely look like the church's mission being accomplished. It looks rather like a vocation, hobby, or form of entertainment. And none of those are biblically mandated to be officially supported and affirmed by the church! I believe this is one of the key areas of conflict between musicians and church leaders.

Ignoring these issues--or ignoring each other--won't help either group of people. It won't help the church. Nor will it help the unbelievers who are in need of a solid gospel and unified local churches willing to sacrifice for Jesus Christ that others might be saved and discipled.

The reader may be thinking, Yeah, but is music a ministry or a vocation (occupation)? For some it is ministry. For others it is vocation. For others it is neither, but simply a hobby, a fun recreational "toy" of sorts. For still others, it is a tool that accompanies us in the worship of God. In actuality, music can encompass all of these things. Each musician must identify his or her specific place on this spectrum.

By the way, hobbies are fine. Just plunking a guitar is great fun. Unfortunately, a fair number of young musicians who have no real call of God on their lives to music ministry imagine they are to be the next Petra, Bride, Amy, or perhaps U2. People who don't totally encourage them right to the top are counted enemies and bums!

Let not the musicians demand affirmation of their vocation or hobby from the church. I say it again--it is not the job of the local church to underwrite or sponsor the personal whims of its members. Nowhere in Scripture do I find this to be part of the mission of the church. And I absolutely believe that the observed character of the musicians largely determines to what degree they will or will not be affirmed by each local church, denomination, mission board, etc., who has their ear to the Lord. The leaders are accountable to God and the congregation to see that those given such support truly mirror the Lord Jesus, demonstrate sound biblical ethics, and have a solid understanding of (and are reasonably applying) God's Word in their daily lives.

Is the church to be blamed for the lack of biblical accountability of its musicians? Only if the church neglects its responsibility to not only teach accountability but also offer the opportunity for the musicians to be accountable.

In our own fellowship, we now have established musicians' teaching sessions. Materials are being produced. Dialogue is encouraged. Prayer, Bible study, and practical advice are offered by those who have been in music ministry for many years. Younger musicians are encouraged to offer comments as they are beginning to experience more of the pitfalls and promise of music ministry. And everyone benefits from such sessions.

Perhaps there isn't anyone at the present time in your local fellowship who can lead such a gathering. But perhaps the pastors, youth pastors, Bible teachers, and others both in the local church and at denominational levels could start praying and thinking about how such opportunities for the discipling and growth of our young musicians could be developed.

I will tell you honestly, I have less and less time for the shouting prophets who verbally slap the ignorant and the immature young artists while never lifting a finger to love them, spend time with them, or teach and model for them the very biblical maturity that they, the prophets, are criticizing the musicians for not having!

These solutions have been slow in coming for most of us. I have been convicted to more regularly apply them in our own church here in Chicago--so don't get the idea I haven't blown it, too.

God help us to change, to think, to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. And may He be glorified as always--in the church!