Professional musicians earn their living playing music. If you can't put food on the table and a roof over your family's head, what good are you? Think of it like this... if your minister needs a new transmission in his car, does he get it for free? If your church needs a new roof, do they get it for free. As a professional, you deserve to get paid. It's what you've trained for most of your life. Does your minister paid? I mean if all he does is minister his flock, and has no other source of revenue, should he get paid, or should he do it for free. Now if you're a weekend musician with a day job, sure, go ahead. But they get what they get.

Charge him double lol

Lol

Now the volunteer will earn you more Treasures Weldone ma ❤

​@@The_Christian_Influence Seriously!!! It's almost double the work!!! First Lady and Minister of Music!!! 😂😂😂The only difference now is that Pastor never questions my musical choices. There is way less scrutiny and judgement for VOLUNTEER services. LOL!!! From my experience, the more a church pays you for your services, the more control they try to have over your gifts.

@@prhollisbutler 😂😂 Actually you’re totally right about that. Once they pay you they think they own you but I guess you get what you pay for.

Just asking, uh....for a friend............since our brother is a musician, is it truly unbiased?

@haroldyarborough4719 To say the least, he offers a lot of useful tips for fellow musicians. I've watched several of his videos, and he has a no-nonsense approach to relevant issues we face. He nailed a few hot topics, and I'm sure everyone won't agree with him. He tries to give a balanced perspective, nonetheless.

@@therealphantombeats7171well said!!!!!!!!

That’s your choice!! Doesn’t negate what other musicians demand.

God bless you for your faithfulness!!

Wow, you pastor and lead the music? Maybe that’s why your ministry isn’t growing? You don’t have a team to help you? If you’re doing everything, you may be over exerting yourself and being ineffective. This doesn’t sound like a flex or something to be proud of. Seems like you want all the glory in stead of training folks up with you.

It’s because you are now pastoring they pay you not for playing..😂

fr.

Well this video isn't for you, then

I’m close to 64. When we started as youngsters we all were happy to get a plate of food. Church in general has become big business. So very distasteful. There’s nothing wrong with getting paid for sharing your gifts but I caution that one day we all will have to stand before a Holy God who will ask us why we asked such absurd prices to share the gifts he blessed us with. Food for thought from the Old Man.

”For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.”“ ‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭5‬:‭18‬ ‭ESV‬‬ Ie it’s not bad to get paid for this at least sometimes. That’s your conviction to not be paid, oh and this verse is in a pastoral epistle so it’s instructions on how to in fact do church. I say this as a musician on the church team who is a volunteer and does not get paid too.

@@matthw633In LA, rent on average is $2500 a month. Churches want the musicianship of someone who is a professional musician while only paying hobby prices. How does one provide for basic necessities like food, gas, rent, and maintenance on $500 or less? If churches are ok with musicians that are lesser skilled, then they should have a music dept of volunteers. If they want highly skilled musicians who’ve dedicated their lives to perfecting their craft, then they should compensate fairly for that.

I think majority of medium size churches don’t pay their musicians and they prefer it that way. If they had a choice between an average free musician versus a professional paid musician we know what they would choose. Either way it doesn’t matter to me but I’m done giving my talent for free anymore and now I feel less stressed and more happy. Playing at a church from week to week, playing at special services and rehearsals for free is a huge commitment and it’s stressful when you also work a full time job. Since I stopped playing the game I can focus on my relationship with God.

I understand personal convictions… but I’m interested to know the Biblical reference for an Evangelist refusing to teach if the church doesn’t have enough money. Or an Apostle refusing to lead if the church can’t afford to pay them. I’ve played for years, so I understand the commitment… but is the commitment to the kingdom (God’s people), or the money? If I ask for prayer, should I have to pay the prayer team first? If I want to be saved, will you not show me John 3:16 if I didn’t have enough money to pay? The heart of the issue is not receiving money for playing, it’s the total refusal to use your gift unless you get paid. That’s not Biblical. Our whole objective in life as a Christian is to be like Christ. Which person did he charge to heal? Which person did he charge to minister to? Which disciple did he charge when he washed their feet?… but we’re refusing to serve unless ‘the money right’? People gave to Jesus, but he didn’t refuse to go to the cross because the money wasn’t right. Let’s be Christ like.

​@GideonTheVoice there isn't one. God has freely gifted us. How dare anyone charge to use what God has freely given

missionaries: do they work for free?@@GideonTheVoice

You're so spot on with this remark​@@GideonTheVoice

In L.A. I know church cats getting $1500 a week for a big church. So for a mid size church you are doing good.

@@1masterfader True, the most I’ve gotten here for a large church was $1200/week, but maaan, they worked me like a Hebrew slave Lol

This comment section is disappointing. Most of these folks don't know the struggle. 😅

lol Chicago IS in a class by itself. HIgh crime, homelessness but churches falling over each other to pay musicians 500.... Misplaced priorities.

I'm curious, where do you live?@@d4rrylexmachina

Exactly!

The Bible talks about using your gift.. and a man’s labour ought to be compensated.. you think the levites worked for free? Have you ever seen a Jew do anything for free? Western mind trying to interpret the Jewish Bible.. Unfortunately you all have embraces a poverty doctrine started by, perpetuated and glorified by the Catholic Church and continued it in whatever form of Christian tradition you now are part of. Ripping off musicians and those who serve in the church is no different than priest who fleeced congregants out of land and wealth which was meant to be family inheritances. All because of greed from the top and agreed upon by ignorance blind followers. Talent is what the e church needs.. David’s army trained for battle.. skilled soldiers that were just as strong with their left hands as their right hand. If that’s not the standard for worship you need to reconsider what excellence is.. no wonder our children flock to secular concerts and admire rock stars because the church has nothing to look up to. No standards means no discipline. But you do you ❤️

There are small to medium churches that have already fallen into this trap. I've seen it with my own eyes. As a former church musician, I've experienced it all

@@MandyGee000 I think the entire modern Christian world has forgotten (or has never really known) what “worship” really means.

@@waynv1835 I think that leadership thinks that making it loud will appeal to a younger demographic or some other crazy line of reasoning. I had one Worship Team member tell me that he likes it loud so that he doesn’t have to hear the bad singer next to him. Were have fallen into the “rock concert” mentality. I challenge these churches to try putting away all the loud instruments and worship to simple instrumentation.

I agree!

Thank you. I totally agree. People are conflating the role of pastor and worship leader. They are very different. One is clearly defined in for the NT, the other .... you have to twist Mosaic law into a few pretzels to make it apply. I'm not against churches, that can afford to recognizing and honoring their people, once its focused outwards, and most of that money is going to help people, or spread the gospel to the lost (not fattening spoilt, hot-footted sheep)

I understand your viewpoint however I would love to see if you changed your mind if the church had to worship on Sundays with no musicians. I’m sure it wouldn’t feel the same then. Money shouldn’t be the goal and I agree with you on that but it doesn’t mean people shouldn’t be compensated. Remember the Levites in the temple partook of the offerings. In modern church culture there are more salaries in the church than in a business lol but when it comes to paying a musician everyone gets a heart attack lol 😂 just because you play for free at your local church doesn’t make it your worship. You can worship God the same at home and not have to play at the church for free. Both paying and not paying have its consequences but what’s right is right.

Many believers worship around the world with nothing but their voices and a heart set on glorifying God. Some of the most powerful worship experiences I have encountered were with no musicians or just an acoustic guitar or piano. Sometimes I wonder if people ever worship God outside on Sundays when see comments like this. No offense, not an insult. Just thinking about the state of those who call themselves Christians in the US

@@nickferchau3013 I agree with you 100%

I’m glad I’m not the only one who felt stress lol I feel better after I quit

@@The_Christian_Influence the culture of church and being a musician in one is too much the money not even worth your health and then you barely get what you need spiritual smh

Just curious, what size and kind of churches are typically able to pay this much?

Good question, I think it doesn't always work out that larger churches pay more vs the smaller ones. It depends on how the music is perceived. Is the music valued, or is it just taken for granted? I played in a small African church here in the US and I never asked to be paid, (the keys player my friend asked for me), but after a short time they let me play drums & not just percussion, and I did get paid a small amount. It was a small church so they did what they could to honor me as I honored the Lord & their church. It was a positive experience for me, and I'm glad I played there for a season. The people were from Ghana mostly. @@versusdrums​

That’s ridiculous.

I played guitar for a large church, sometimes accompanying a FULL orchestra plus a 30 person choir, for 10 years. Never got a dime. Even paid for my own coffee at the "latte bar" in the atrium. Only person that got paid was the worship leader who was one of the pastoral staff. Nobody complained. 3 morning services and one evening service every Sunday, plus a midweek rehearsal. Paying all those people would be a hefty chunk of money every week. Being an old rock and roll hack, I count my time with that "gig", for lack of a better term, as probably the best musical experience of my life. Strange transition from cowboy bars and casinos to playing with more classical musicians, quite a few of whom were formally educated musicians, strings, brass and woodwinds. To be honest, I would be satisfied to be compensated for gas to get to and from church. On the other hand, I wouldn't object to a few extra $$$!!! Covid restrictions totally ruined the whole setup, and now the music at that church is a mere shadow of its former self! I will forever treasure those years. Now, I'm back to secular gigs! I never expected nor even wanted to be a star or to get rich being a musician. In this day and age when music can be artificially created on a computer, the days of arena rock and multi-million dollar record deals are pretty much long gone. I watched an interview recently with a legendary jazz bassist who still performs in his 80s. He said to young and up and coming players that you're going to be playing mostly for love of the art, NOT to make a pile of money. Anyhow, hope it all works out for you all!! Jesus is Lord. He paid it ALL. HE IS RISEN! MAGA. MAMIE.

@@m.loughlin1915You should’ve still been paid for your craft! The church would have to pay a plumber, electrician, painter or carpenter when they render a service..a musician is no different! It’s not really the amount, that’s important..it’s important for churches to realize that musicians have spent years honing a craft, purchasing equipment and should be compensated. Even if it’s only $25/week it shows that they appreciate you and your gift and it allows you to maintain your equipment. No church would ever dream of never paying a pastor.

But God wants you to eat, doesn’t he?

True but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be paid. Remember, you can also worship with your talent in your home and there would be nothing wrong with that.

Yes but if you still wanna.get paid be will still bless you sir

@@victoryfortune5796 that’s right

Ah the classic, Serve for free and starve if you want to go to heaven. Yeah that's not biblical. Paying your wages is biblical, it goes back to Leviticus.

So? The church loves to collect tithes & offering and disguises it as "giving to God", when it's really used to pay bills and other expenses.

Ask those pastors that are getting paid.

Lol the apostle Paul wasn't a musician. 😔 hate when church people use this as an argument, to rob God's people

Can you use someone else as an excuse when you stand before God?

The apostle Paul also said he and the other apostles had a right to demand pay of the Corinthian church but CHOSE not to. It was his personal choice, not a mandate.

Well said!!!

Well said but… 😂.. why does no one see how this falls on poor leadership? Where are the pastors in this scenario? Insecure creative people will never want to even pave the road for another to take his place and take away his income. If musicians were also taught how to invest money and make money work for them, which is highly biblical, it wouldn’t be an issue and watch how the church musician would grow and have time not only for the ministry but family too. Get smarter and do better.

real talk

Soo im guessing your pastors don’t get paid too huh??

Whether the Pastor gets paid or not is none of my business. That is between the pastor, the church, and the Lord. I've been blessed with a full-time job and it serves my family and me very well. I give my time and talents to the Lord with no request for extra payment beyond my regular job. @@mjdrummer5378

Little, do you know just like you go to school to be a nurse you go to school to become a doctor you go to school to become a veterinarian you go to school to study lol police officer, chef a lot of these people are going to school from Music. And I’m not stating that musicians only rely on the church to pay their bills. I’m not saying that because they are several ways in addition to make money and music but when it comes to church alone, I have to tell you if you’re out of church and it’s a busy church, and let’s say they can only afford one organist one drummer etc. etc. and they have five choirs and each choir has their own designated night of rehearsal and I have to be at each rehearsal every night. That’s about 2 to 3 hours for rehearsals then engagements and services on Sunday. It would be hard for me to get a secular job during the week I’ve experienced that so it’s not about just paying musicians but it’s because of our time of me, being a Church is taking more out of my time, and if I was to get lucky and find a secular job like in retail or sales or something like that a lot of the jobs with that give me a lot of hours because my availability was really really bad Some people look at it as a hobby, and sometimes it can be a hobby. But some people look at this and is a job and their craft. And being a Minstrel, it’s not just about going to a rehearsal and playing there’s a lot more that goes with it.

Wow

You can stick with your one-dimensional thought process

How long did you play for your church?

Me too

Go with secular music, you will get paid well

@@jerryKJose oh I’ve been doing that! You get paid!

You can’t serve 2 masters brother. Choose 1.

your way out of touch then. most churches today pay their musicians well in the 'black church they do

​@CHASECOM3 May just be out of touch regarding black church protocols. There are far more white churches with larger congregations and budgets, and yet the musicians look at it as an honor to play for God and receive no compensation. I'm talking about good musicians who can play every bit of what we're used to hearing in our churches. They just look at it differently.

I’ve been a musician for over 20 years. It has always been an honor to play for God but that doesn’t mean playing at the church for free especially when there are people getting paid salaries. My greatest worship is not the one I do at church it’s the one I do when the crowd is gone and I’m left alone with God.

Exactly… 💯👍🏼 same here

News Flash. The church doesn't NEED anyone except a pastor. Go check your bible

​@@d4rrylexmachinaoh they do need people, especially when the tithe money runs out.....

My point exactly. Why the great emphasis on musicians? There are a lot more people who are doing far more than just bringing melody to a service. If musicians get paid then everyone should get paid , making the church a businesss.

@@d4rrylexmachina ever heard of Levites? it already existed before tho

I've been playing for a little over 2 years and never even considered pay It's part of my tithe giving of my gifts and talents

That's why I quit years ago 😞

@@LifeInLandscaping Your pastor will not accept your talents as tithe..😂 rather it has to be always in bills…

@jerryKJose I never mentioned my pastor I said I as in me considered it my way of giving to the lord

@@jerryKJose and I never said I don't tithe monetarily

lol

So receiving something from the church equates as treating it as business and private enterprise to profit from? What if you studied church music for 5 years at a university and you are a certified church musician? Does that equate using church for profit? Do you really understand the time and effort to develop the "skill" in making "art" we all need to pay rent/eat/medical expense etc.... lol

@@angeliquehougton1872 The video is not about “receiving something”, but charging commercial rate for playing music in worship.

I want to be like you lol

legend

Same here! My primary instrument is the piano. I can only "fake" a little organ on my keys by changing the tone or voice. If I had to play an organ, it wouldn't sound great.

same here - never been paid, sometimes serving 4-5 times a week - and im not hurting

😂😂😂 exactly

Same I’ve been doing all this for free… 15+ since i was 12.. ive been pimped out… i still wonder if its ok though upon the eyes of God

Same here…!! This is indeed a curse that musicians are called for poverty… because of their time, efforts and money they spend

This kind of exposition is really a temptation from the devil -- to become dissatisfied, covetous, resentful, etc. Don't give in to it.

You are being taken advantage of.. what’s family life like? You able to buy shoes when you needed them? Bills always paid on time? Eat healthy? Present well? If you answered no to any of these.. let’s see if your pastor answered no to any of these too.

@@seandaly3983 actually yes, I'm a full time software developer, family life is fine, bills always paid on time, I eat and exercise well. So none of that is in question, I love doing it, I'm just saying that it's NEVER been a paid gig for me.

You are supposed to get paid. It's your choice if you choose not to get paid.

I’m curious what’s your narrative regarding this. Because Paul’s point wasn’t that people shouldn’t be paid, it’s that he chose to not enforce what was his right. I do believe that’s in that same 2 Cor passage you quoted.

@@wesleywallace101 Well, to be honest, I used to be a church musician when I 1st got saved. I would sub for the bassist in the regular worship band when he was out sick. I never got paid nor did he. It was a small church. Several years ago I was given the opportunity to play at a large church, to be part of the worship team. But when it came down to actually interviewing for the gig, it did not feel right. To be paid, that is. Maybe it's just my own comfort zone that was being messed with, maybe it was just feeling that those monies should go elsewhere (the poor, homeless, etc). It just didn't feel right to me to take money for worshiping. It all goes back to that 1st church where I was being weened of the "milk and unto the meat" of the gospels. That small church was mission minded and I went on a few, helping out in Mexico building a flood wall at an orphanage, helping a pastor build a church and distribute clothes to poor communities in La Paz. It was an experience that I would later relive while I spent a summer in Chicago with Jesus People USA. We fed the homeless, cared for single mothers, AIDs victims, put on a music festival. We all worked at a roofing company, t-shirt screen print shop, recording studio, print press..all which funded the soup kitchens and outreaches. So I suppose that the burden of being paid for being a worship musician feels off to me for those reasons. It's my own conviction but I do not feel that I am alone in this.

@@meshica7 well let me ask, are you a full time musician? Or is your career path something else but you have the ability to play an instrument as well?

@@wesleywallace101 I work full time as a craftsman/artist and I am signed to a progressive rock label with a project I started in 2020. Until about 6 months ago I was with a band for about 17 yrs playing all original music on the instrumental prog rock ticket. I now mainly compose for my new project as well as release solo material. I also performed on solo Native American flute. My solo performances were always paid gigs and my ensemble work was hit or miss. I guess that's where my perspective is coming from. Since I have a steady income I do not feel the need to be paid as a worship musician. It just doesn't register with me that I should be paid for something that should come from a place of meditative prayer and introspection. Joy from the mere act of worship should be pure. These our my convictions in my situation. It could be different if my only option for an income would be to receive payment being a worship musician. That being stated, I can honestly say that I probably would still feel uncomfortable with that notion. BTW, I have never really had a conversation regarding this topic and I welcome the exchange!

@@meshica7 Aah I understand Well I guess I'll share my experience then. I'm a full-time Christian musician in Jamaica. I do play at weddings and events like that if I get called, but if I play at 100 different "events" for the year (including Sunday morning worship), around 75-80 of them (approximately) are worship events. The entirety of my craft as a musician is dedicated to the Lord and while there is a pretty active secular music scene in Jamaica, I have no interest to be a part of it (especially because of what it typically promotes). That means that the time I spend learning songs, practicing, rehearsing etc are pretty much exclusively linked to serving the church. I didn't always expect pay and sometimes I still do work for far less than I'd charge typically, but where I am right now in life, if I don't charge for the work I do, I severely limit my ability to do what I believe I'm called to (by the way, no church actually pays me my rate - which is fine and I understand because the church is not meant to a business). Of course I could get a regular 9-5 as well, and I've considered it, but I'm also very aware that I won't be able to do all of what I should do in worship music while trying to pursue a conventional job path as well. Scripturally as well, the Bible does set the premise of one who serves in the temple and in the church is entitled to fair compensation from that work he does. This is a lot, but I hope it gives another perspective to consider. Ps. I do other stuff in music, recording and teaching in particular, but they make up maybe 50% of my monthly income with everything else being from playing at "events".

That’s right but that’s the part of the Bible many stay away from because they don’t want to pay lol 😂

You should have had learned Nehemiah and about levi….

If you dig in to Nehemiah you will see that these singers were in the Temple singing every day. This was their vocation. As I stated before if this is all that you do and you are there every day doing service then I believe you should be paid. If you have another job that the Lord has supplied for you and you only play for services and practice then I believe this should be your sacrifice of Praise to your Lord.@@jerryKJose

Nice, I asked for $450 a week at a Church and they never called me back, so I'm lookin' for a gig. Can't find any other churches in the DFW area that will pay a bass player, yet...still looking.

Here

Amen, better yet give an offering.. pay to play Lol

Hahaha I didn’t saw it like that, but I also pay and play and I’m super proud and happy because I know God have my back.

@@ZadielMFishing God doesn’t have your back because you play music for free. He has your back because he loves you and sent his son to die for you. Don’t mix your talent with your purpose. Churches use this mindset to get you to play for free and not complain about it.

@@The_Christian_Influence amen to that. and that is super clear to me.

My dayssss that I woke up is only playing for the kingdom because that is what the giver of the gift has says sooo if I work I am to be paid.. because i am not lazy to work.. and best know that many are call but few are chosen . Harvest is great but labour are few. Because you and other similar unreasonable humanity .. have scared the labours away with this sinful statement. Wait do You know that we was given his talent to go and make aboundant trade on it but but instead it been hidden and stays wasted... Look the creator of the universe only want first fruit and first fruit is also money. For even the gift of wisdom knowledge and understanding have the benefits of given aboundant of wealth. And so am sure that Elohim say his will.. wait you know we call it will also right ... Ok so yes it is his will that we should be prosper and in good health.. yes ... Elohim also given us his approval to get wealth so that the covenant is fulfilled.

Needs to change

your kidding with the $2 raise right.....

No, not kidding. I was surprised and didn't expect one. My thought though was why even bother, really $2? Maybe hold off until you think $10 is a worthwhile raise.@@CHASECOM3

The $2 raise is the only insulting part here! Haha like what?

That’s better than playing at a church for 16 years and getting a $50 bonus at the end of the year as a thank you even though there’s a lot of people on salaries that do absolutely nothing at the church lol

I think every church struggles with people on salary and doing just enough to try and justify paying them.@@The_Christian_Influence