What is a concert? A concert is a public musical performance in which a number of singers or instrumentalists or both participate.
It was a hot sunny afternoon, flags were waving, people were dancing, vendors were displaying there wares, while the artist did his best to entertained the crowd. After all it was about time the people got their monies worth and got up off the lawn chairs they brought to the picnic like event. The artist was doing a great job in my opinion, but you cannot please everyone, you see although we paid to get in the concert, the truth of the matter is we paid to see our favorite artist, and for some, this artist wasn’t a favorite, in a desperate attempt to persuade the crowd, the artist started singing a more lively tune, it was quite similar to the ones he was singing before but this one seemed to finally get the attention of the crowd, those who knew the words began to sing along, some began to dance, a friend of mine ran up to the front of the stage waving his flag, the celebration had began. Suddenly out of nowhere came a man running onto the stage and yelling these words, ”nuh sing mi song! Nuh sing mi song! At this point the crowd was confused, what was going on? I moved in closer at the front of the stage to see what the outcome of this commotion would be. By this time the people on stage had gathered around the rowdy fellow to try and pacify him, an elderly lady in white shouted “the original artist must sing the song!” The shaken artist came forward and announced, “I am sorry that I sang that song, I didn’t know the original artist was here. The MC then came forward to explain what had happen! The artist was singing a song that was not originally done by him; the original artist was at the show and disapproved.
The artist finished his act, that was by now ruined , the look on his faced spoke that his vibes had been crushed, later on as the show progressed, the Artists tried to make peace by performing the song together, twas a really nice gesture, but it was too late. The reality of what just happened had already left a stain, at least…… in my eyes and the others that witnessed what happened
What has gone wrong?
Concerts are becoming too much, too false and too regular. Too much because we are breeding a generation of competitors, a generation of seekers of fame and fortune, and a generation that have lost their joy and sense of purpose. The artist have become so desperate, that they would risk they’re integrity for absolutely nothing. I say absolutely nothing because they are underpaid or not paid at all, and most of them especially the local artists they are mostly used as baits, to catch a certain group of people or to test the sound system. The artist gain nothing from the concerts, the audience doesn’t even support their work, you have to beg and plead with them to go buy a CD, the overseas artist will get a plane ticket or get half of a plane ticket then they are told they are here for exposure, Some promoters even claim they will never pay a local artist. But yet they can pay the Americans thousands of dollars to come in and sing three songs. They are claiming there is no money in the industry, so where is the money coming from to pay these famous people, and why would you want to pay the famous Americans all this money, when your local artist is suffering. Why do you think your local artist should run around and sell your concert tickets and hand out your concert fliers when your famous foreign artist sits back does nothing and come here and get big bucks?
Concerts are becoming too false because you say it’s for the glory of God. Can you please show or tell me how when and where God gets the glory in your concert. If your concert is to raise funds for your ministry or organization please say so. There is nothing wrong with enjoying yourself in the Lord, even though some might oppose to the whole fund raising idea, but to each is own, but don’t tell me it’s for Gods glory when at the end of the night there is no souls being saved. Artists please do not try to force your audience to worship God, you get ten to twenty minutes to perform, the artist before you has just ask them to party in the lord! It’s hard for them to make the transition back to worship! And even if they try, the next artist will ask them to party again in the Lord they will have to transition again, face it! A concert setting is not a true environment for worship, only God himself can break through here, if the artist and audience allow him; please call the concert for what it is. Its people coming out to have a good time in a “godly environment” and Pastors why don’t you support the concerts? Its not fare for you not to be a supporter of concerts, until its your time to raise some funds for your church, and please its not ok to put people on your flier without asking that’s is definitely not of God! And its ok to encourage your members to support the concert, they will come back to church next Sunday. And if you do not want to work together with another pastor or have never spoken to that pastor I don’t think when you are having your concert will good be a great time to send him a letter, about your vision of saving souls together, it just doesn’t work. And the “Worship Conferences” the new strategy with the famous artists local and overseas, is just a concert that you paid over fifty bucks or more to go to, that by the way no one can teach you how to worship! Hello! People open up your eyes! We are being lured into this thing called “the blessing” they are using the concerts and worship conferences in a desperate attempt to gain the blessing and not miss the season. I thought the blessing was to reach more souls for the kingdom, tell me really how many unsaved people go to a concert, and why would an unsaved go to a worship conference?
Concerts are becoming too regular because you probably have more gospel artists in this world than secular artists everyone is releasing an album. It s good for albums to be released, it is good for dreams to become a reality for talents to finally emerge but can these things be considered also? Is the artist saved? Is the artist anointed to minister, Does the artist have integrity, and last but not least can the artist really sing? Or do what he is says he or she does? Everyone wants a peace of the pie but the reality of the matter is there is no pie, People are getting bored of your concerts, they are put on in every form shape and fashion, and lives are not being saved and changed. The people refuse to support the work of the artists, the Promoters are in it for the money, and the entire thing has become commercialized.
How can we find the joy of going or having a concert again? I say Lets not have concerts for money or fame and fortune, lets get back to saving, delivering and healings lives, lets get back to the ministry of reconciliation, Isaiah 61 “The spirit of the Lord is upon me because The Lord has anointed me to preach good tidings to the meek, to bind up the broken hearted, free the prisoners, to proclaim the coming of the Lord to give those who mourn beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for the spirit of mourning the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness………. read it for yourselves folks. It’s only when we get back to the ministry of Jesus Christ that he can turn our concert scenes around and make it into a ministry not a public musical performance in which a number of singers or instrumentalists or both participate.