MusicScribe BLOG

There’s a discussion going on at the Singing News forum over whether a group should “research doctrine before singing somewhere.” More fundamentally, the discussion has centered on whether singing for a particular church is tantamount to endorsing all the doctrines that particular church endorses?

Comments have ranged from the topic starter’s:
“…like it or not, if a group sings at a church, they ARE endorsing that church, just by being there.
This may not be intentional, but it is true.“

To:
“I’ll sing the message of love and salvation through Jesus Christ every single chance I get.“

My view leans toward the latter. Sure, there are some specific and/or extreme situations where I’d opt out if invited, but as a general rule, I don’t think I have to agree with everything a United Methodist believes, to use one example, before I can sing at a United Methodist church. (I’m Southern Baptist.) I’d certainly do a concert event at a Catholic church if asked, although I have significant disagreements with some of their doctrine. I’d focus on performing music to the best of my ability rather than getting into controversial doctrines like “once saved, always saved.” Of course, I’d do the same in a Protestant church as well.

I think it’s best when singers stick to the basics and leave the teaching of specific and/or controversial doctrines to preachers.

I performed a couple of weekends ago at an outdoor festival where secular groups were on the same stage. I view that as a ministry opportunity, not an endorsement of what any other artist did on the same event. A week before that, I played at a prison, though I have no idea how the prison’s policies line up with my beliefs. How is it that singing in a secular venue like a fair or a prison is generally viewed as an outreach event where the Gospel message can be proclaimed to those who need to hear it, yet singing in a church where the prevailing doctrines don’t match mine 100% isn’t?

What do you think?