Blog

Photo by Roger Harris on Unsplash

Last night the 65^th Annual GRAMMY Awards took place and caused quite the social media stir amongst Christians. Whatever your thoughts are on this topic you’re probably not fully going to get the answer you want from me, which is good. I want to challenge you a bit. Let me start out by putting all my cards on the table.

I deeply love Jesus, artists, music/the music industry (yes, secular music too, not just Christian), and I love the GRAMMYs. (Seriously, I get more excited about GRAMMY Sunday than my own birthday.)
I studied Music Industry in college, and if I did not work in Christian church/missions ministry and Christian music media as I do now, the mainstream music industry is the field I would choose. I make no apologies about any of those things. In fact, I think it gives me a unique perspective and makes me care about this topic even more. I am daily praying for and rooting for this little corner of the world.

This blog is a collection of reflections that were brought top of mind last night after observing the past several years of awards shows and some the common questions/reactions that come up amongst Christians online every time a big cultural event like this happens. I hope you find them helpful. Stick around to the end for some GRAMMY moments from last night that I loved.

How Should Christians Respond to Awards Show Moments That Conflict With Our Faith?

I’ve written a bunch about how the Bible does not teach that secular entertainment is inherently evil or sinful or that Christians need to totally abstain from it and about how recreation–even entertainment–can even be a gift of God’s goodness in our lives. I’ve written about what choosing purity in entertainment looks like, how I personally discern secular entertainment as a Christian, what Christians being separate from the world truly means, and how Christians need to mature in our ability to pray for and treat influential people like artists better. I don’t believe all entertainment is bad and should be rejected.

I don’t believe Christians should expect people who haven’t yet found faith in Jesus to think and live as if they are Christians. In fact, the Bible clearly teaches against this (1 Corinthians 5:9-13). And we know that sin and spiritual darkness will become more and more open and prevalent in the world the closer it gets to Jesus’ return (2 Timothy 3-4 and Matthew 24).

So, if Christians take the Bible seriously there’s nothing to be shocked by when we see sin and brokenness on display in the world. And while there may be times when it’s necessary for us to speak out about something as God leads us, we don’t necessarily need to freak out and make a spectacle on social media every single time some moment happens at an event or awards show that conflicts with our faith.

That being said, when I see anyone living apart from Christ and His ways it grieves me because I genuinely care about them as people and care about their spiritual condition and want them to experience the forgiveness, freedom, and friendship with God that’s found in Jesus. And I care because ideas and actions affect culture which affects people. I believe this is how my fellow Christians should feel too.

When Jesus saw searching, hurt, brokenness in people and in the culture, His response and His call to His disciples was compassion, prayer, and faithfully preaching the gospel, calling people to find salvation and true life in Him. Ours should be too. (Matthew 9:35-38)

Be mindful that there are real people whom Jesus valued enough to die for, whom He loves and wants to know Him behind the events and scenarios we are talking about. And they can hear and see the way Jesus followers are talking about them online.

Before we mindlessly jump on the bandwagon to condemn and criticize people who haven’t met Jesus yet simply for behaving as if they have not met Jesus yet (the same way you and I used to think and behave before Jesus graciously saved and changed us, I might add) we should ask ourselves if our response is impacting a person’s life to draw them closer to Christ or push them away from Him. We should ask ourselves if we have the fear of the Lord in how we’re treating and talking about someone Jesus created and loves.

Christians Should Pray More Than We Post

If you expressed your grief and disappointment about things that happened yesterday (or with other similar events) that didn’t align with the ways of God (which, again, is valid and necessary at times) let me ask, did you also pray? And not just did you pray once but are you committed to continue in a posture of prayer for artists, the industry, our culture today, those who don’t know Jesus…

Our post-sharing, comment-making, personal conversations with friends, and sermons, when done in a godly way, can be helpful as we speak God’s perspective into the issues of the culture. They can help call Christians to a biblical worldview and accountability and even help expose people who don’t follow Jesus to the Word of God.

But our words, reactions, and opinions do nothing to draw the heart of someone who doesn’t know Christ to repentance and saving faith in Christ and a life transformed by His Spirit if we don’t actually intercede with sincerity for God to help them and for the salvation of their souls as we are commanded by Scripture to do. (1 Timothy 2:1-4) We need the Spirit of God to be at work in people’s lives and hearts to bring the transformation only He can bring.

Should Christians and Christian Artists Attend Events Like the GRAMMYs?

And if it bothers you that Christians or Christian artists would even attend these kinds of events or be present in similar contexts, consider this:

Are we not called to be lights in darkness? Certainly we’re never called to participate in the deeds of darkness and always called with the purpose of pointing others to the light of Jesus and His gospel, but called to be lights in the darkness nonetheless? (Ephesians 5:1-14; 2 Corinthians 4:3-6; Matthew 5:14-16)

Are we not called to love others and be witnesses of Jesus to those who don’t know Him? And how can we do that if we are never where they are? (Acts 1:8; Romans 10:5-17; Matthew 9:9-13)

Of course, Jesus never compromised the message of the Word and He never participated in sinful activities with those in His life and ministry He was trying to reach, and He preached repentance and salvation. (Luke 7:31-35; Luke 15)

So, I recognize there’s nuanced, prayerful conversation and discernment to be had with God and godly counsel about what environments we step into, and how we engage while we’re there, and what moments we stay for or leave the room for, etc. I would never make light of that or suggest that Christians should approach such decisions without much wisdom and discretion. Much of this a personal conviction issue, which is why it’s hard for Christians to see eye-to-eye on it, as Gospel artist Kirk Franklin acknowledged in an Instagram live.

But totally abdicating our privilege and responsibility to exist in this world as representatives of Jesus who partner with Him as He spreads the gospel message and reconciles the world to Himself is not an option for followers of Jesus. (2 Corinthians 5:18-21)

What encouraged me yesterday (and has in past years as well) at the GRAMMYs Premiere Ceremony (the pre-telecast ceremony where the majority of the 91 GRAMMY awards are given out) was how Jesus-focused the Christian awards acceptance speeches were. To be fair, over the years I’ve watched Christian artists use that 45 seconds well to clearly honor Christ and the gospel and others not.

Still, it’s not insignificant that a Christian who wins an award would use their speech to say the name of Jesus and to encourage others to turn to Him like Maverick City Music’s Brandon Lake did–especially in a room full of people who likely don’t know Him personally and whose musical content and lifestyle choices may not even be something He would approve of. Who knows what seed God may have planted in someone’s heart through that or how the atmosphere of the room may have changed, if even just for a moment?

Christian – If you’re going to speak up about the darkness and less than ideal things that exist in ceremonies and other contexts like the GRAMMMYs then have integrity. Be truthful and consistent and speak up about the cool Jesus moments that break into those environments too. Speak up about Jesus is working in the industry too.

Should Christian Artists Receive Awards?

There’s nothing wrong with Christians giving or receiving awards or compliments or recognition for their work, talents, accomplishments, or how they give their lives to serve Jesus and people, etc. (Romans 15:15-20; Philippians 2:25-30; Romans 12:9-10)

Showing honor, value, and appreciation to others is a biblical practice. And our culture recognizes people (even those who happen to be Christian) for their talent and contributions in every other field all the time, on big platforms and small ones, and Christians have absolutely no issue with it. Neither do we have issue with honoring those who serve well in Church/ministry contexts.

Do you get upset when your job or school wants to honor you for excellence in academics or in the workplace? Do you get upset when your favorite athlete who happens to be a Christian receives a trophy for excellent performance in their sport? We don’t get to change the rules all of a sudden when we’re talking about arts and entertainment.

The practice of giving and receiving awards in and of itself is not contradictory to our faith. It only becomes a problem when our heart motivations become wrong, when we fail to be humble, when we fail to keep relationship with Jesus as our primary goal and pursuit, or when we fail to use the platform He’s given us to glorify Him and lead others to Christ. (1 John 2:15-17)

There’s Still So Much Good in the Music Industry Too

If I’m honest, it bothers me when my fellow Christians only focus on negative things in entertainment. It’s just not an honest representation of the full picture and I believe we’re called to a higher standard than that.

For all the things out there that might be sinful or trouble us because of our faith and convictions as Christians, there are SO MANY “secular” artists (many of them Christians) creating clean, positive, fun, meaningful music and performances. Pray for these artists and support them however is fitting based on your personal conviction from God on engaging with mainstream music.

Here are some GRAMMY Moments I LOVED Last Night!

To wrap things up on a fun note, here are some moments from the 65^th GRAMMYs that I absolutely LOVED last night:

• Seeing my girls Kelsea Ballerini and Maren Morris on the red carpet (I’m so sad they didn’t take home a win!)
• Seeing Carly Pearce win her first GRAMMY
• Luke Combs’ performance
• Brandon Lake encouraging people to turn to Jesus during his acceptance speech
• Samara Joy winning Best New Artist and her graciousness and elegance. I’m excited to learn more about her music.
• Bonnie Raitt’s reaction to winning Song of the Year was so precious
• Adele winning Pop Solo Performance
• Viola Davis getting her EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony)
• Trevor Noah’s opening monologue was hilarious 😂
• Watching some of my fave entertainment journalists do red carpet interviews. The carpet is always my favorite.

Let’s Talk: Did any of these ideas affirm, challenge, or change your perspective? How so? Discuss this post in the comments below.