By Ndulue Kosisochukwu Divine
The church is supposed to be a place where people find spiritual nourishment, healing and guidance. Ministers of the gospel are called to serve, just as Jesus Christ did, without seeking personal gain.
However, in today’s world, many ministers have turned their ministries into profit-making ventures. Instead of focusing on singing for salvation, repentance and love, they focus on money, material wealth and personal prosperity.
The gospel music industry in Nigeria has grown beyond expectations and has improved over the years, moving from a purely ministry driven endeavor to a structured industry with financial and commercial interest. Initially, gospel musicians focused on spreading the messages of Christ through their songs, sounds and ministrations, they often minister in churches, crusades, concerts and night vigils without expecting any financial gain.
However, in recent times, we tend to see that there is a shift in the order of things, most gospel ministers now use their God given crafts to extort the followers of Christ and even charge exorbitantly for ministrations and invitations to various Christian events, making it difficult for smaller churches and pastors to invite them.
This shift has sparked debates among Christians, church leaders and industry stakeholders. While many of them have different perspective to this issue, many of them have come to complain about the commercialisation of the gospel such as the general overseer of Christ Embassy, Pastor Chris Oyakelome.
He expressed his disappointment on how Nigerian gospel artist have abused the craft and made a shift from the actual goal of spreading the gospel to a money making scheme.
Pastor Femi Lazarus of Light Nation Global also expressed his grievance stating that many worship meetings in Nigeria have become mere performances, “someone has charged us 5 million to come here and sing. He will come, act drama and cry but he is only doing his business, you would be amazed at how ruthless they are when they charge”.
The above statement was made in a video which he posted on his page on Instagram, he went on to call out gospel musicians in Nigeria to look back at their bibles and follow the word of God citing examples of legendary pioneers and gospel ministers of the older generation like Pastor Idahosa,Panam Percy Paul, Sammie and Okposi, who have made tremendous impact on the christian gospel ministry by singing evangelical ministrations obviously for financial gains.
Pastor Femi Lazarus also critiqued the lyrics, sounds and inspiration of contemporary songs. He solidified his stance with a bible verse, 1 Corinthians 9:18, saying:
“What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge and so not make full use of my rights as a preacher of the gospel.” This shows that Paul, a great minister of God, did not preach for money but he wanted to spread the message of Christ freely without turning it into a business.
If Jesus, the Son of God, lived humbly, why do some ministers today focus more on wealth than on serving God’s people?
While some argue that gospel artists deserve to be compensated for their talent and hard work, Timi Darkolo, a Nigerian contemporary musician opposed Pastor Femi’s claim, stating that gospel artists need to be appreciated more and their craft is not only spiritual but also an art that should not be devalued.
He states that Pastors invite foreign gospel artists, sponsor their transportation and pay them in dollars. How do Pastors expect them to maintain their craft and responsibilities without funding and maintenance, as they themselves produce these songs which entails a lot of finances. He continues by saying that we like to undervalue our own and treat them small. He made a wake up call for the general clergy to value the Nigerian people and their craft as our industry is no lesser than others abroad.
Pastor Johnson Suleman, the general overseer of Omega Fire Ministries Worldwide commented in one of his teachings that pastors should book or invite gospel artists based on their capacity and affordability, he also mentioned that some churches want to invite gospel musicians above their means and be in debt just to attract a lot of people and to put up a show. He mentioned that life is in phases and men are in sizes,choose your own size and work with it rather than ridicule Christian artists’ image because they are simply bigger than your budget.
This shift has not only created a drift in the church but also in gospel artistry and the record labels, they operate as though they are not under the body of Christ. They have turned the gospel into a profit making venture.
Some gospel musicians sign contracts with record labels that prioritize financial success over spiritual impact. This often results in higher performance fees and a focus on album sales, mostly at the expense of true ministry reading to rivalry amongst themselves.
Recently, Min. Mercy Chinwo had a public fallout with her former record label, EeZee Conceptz and its founder, Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu. The disagreements centered around financial matters and alleged restrictive practices. The situation escalated to legal proceedings, with both sides presenting differing accounts of the events.
We also now have Concert-Like Performances in Churches Instead of genuine worship experiences, some gospel ministrations have turned into full-scale concerts with ticket sales, VIP sections and expensive sponsorship deals. This commercialization is speedily turning worship into mere entertainment. The body of Christ is suffering from true revelation and this can hinder the future of the Christian music industry in Nigeria.
Balancing the gospel music industry in Nigeria would go a long way as both artists,pastors, evangelists and even record labels would know what to prioritize. It is important to strike a balance between ministry and financial sustainability.
Here are some things they should consider while striking a balance, Gospel music should prioritize winning souls over financial gain. Musicians should seek ways to serve, especially when financial incentives are not the primary motivation. Artists can upload their songs on various social media and streaming platforms which can go very far and they can get paid if there songs go viral, that’s one way to earn financially.
Furthermore, churches and christian organizations can create structured financial support systems for gospel artists so that ministry can continue without excessive financial burdens.
The Nigerian gospel music industry has grown tremendously, offering great opportunities for artists. There is a need for balance, to create an atmosphere where artists are supported but not at the expense of ministry.
The question remains and I dare to ask, is gospel music still about spreading the message of Christ or has it become just another business?
