Turn on the lights, turn on the Spirit

Several years ago, I published a letter a young man had sent to the Gospel Music Times. As I read it I could almost feel the discouragement flowing through the words. With each paragraph I could almost see this young man typing with a little more fervor, a little more hurt, maybe even a little more anger.

In his letter, he wrote about the Southern Gospel Music industry, "I just hate it is a business. I want to touch peoples'' lives with my music." That line brought an old memory to my mind.

The year was sometime in the early 90''s. The PTL scandals were still fresh in everyone''s mind. Stories of this evangelist and that evangelist permeated the newspapers. The "in" thing to do was to bash anyone who had any kind of television ministry.

It was during this time that I went to the old Heritage USA grounds with some dear friends of mine, Steve and Mary Alice Pittman. You see, Steve and Mary Alice had been part of the background singers who appeared on the PTL show behind Tammy Faye and Jim Bakker. Steve and Mary Alice were two of the finest people I ever met, strong in their faith and beliefs and dedicated to living what they preached and sang about.

We went to Heritage, USA to handle the praise and worship sevice that was to be held in the old PTL studio building. I don''t remember who the organizers of this event were, but I do remember that it was an annual event normally held elsewhere; but this particular year it was being held at Heritage.

I went there as a young, naive guy who was looking forward to meeting some of the top Southern Gospel performers of that time. I hoped to "network" there and possibly land a position in one of their bands. I was so excited. I can''t begin to tell you how much I looked forward to it.

Unfortunately, what I saw and experienced was not what I expected. I thought I would be experiencing this wonderful spiritual event and that these people were going to be "red hot" for the Lord. Instead, I saw a number of performers who were just that - performers.

I have no issue with a group that entertains; I enjoy entertainment as much as the next guy. But I watched as these folks took absolutely no part in the service. No worship, no praise; all they did was stand around backstage and talk... that is, until it was their turn on stage. At that point it was as if a switch had been flipped and they were instantly "on". Praising and worshiping, or at least going through the motions of it, they did everything they could to really put on the show.

I left that service very discouraged. And I must say through the years I have felt that same discouragement time and time again.

I''m concerned about all of those people who may feel the same way I did years ago. Those who put artists on a high pedestal. It''s not realistic to think that artists are super-human in their spiritual lives; we''re all human and we all face weaknesses and failures at times. That''s why Grace was put into effect. Should we hold our Southern Gospel artists to a higher standard than ourselves? That''s a subject for a future column.

I firmly believe that there are many, many artists out there, full-time, part-time, or even every now and then artists who truly live what they preach and sing about. For every dishonest studio, radio promotion company, producer or even artist, I believe there are at lease two who are not. The good people far outweigh the bad people in our industry, of that I am sure.

So take heart, all you fans and aspiring artists. If you do what you do for the right reason you will receive your reward; if not here, then over there. Which reward would you rather have?

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