Called To Worship

Biblical reflections and resources for thoughtful worshipers and worship leaders

Top Ten Reasons Every Pastor Needs To Befriend Artists

Top Ten Reasons Every Pastor Needs To Befriend Artists
By Phil Mershon

See this link to read a list of reasons I created for why artists and pastors need each other. Some of it is tongue and cheek, but its all meant to encourage us to relate with each other.

Let me know what you think!

Top Ten Reasons

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  1. Rich says

    I’d be interested to hear more about #6.
    I can see an Artist who can and will say things a pastor ‘might not’ say, but you list it as an Artist can/will say things a pastor ‘should not’ say.

    Can you be a bit more specific than your description. Maybe provide some examples?

    Thanks

    • pmershon says

      Rich,
      Thanks for your comment. The words “should not” might be extreme (but that was sort of the point in writing this–to shock a little bit), but there are things that a pastor might not want to say for fear of his job (hate to say it).

      I think it would depend on your context with how forthright your pastor can be in his sermons and exhortations. My point also is that people will hear things through a song or a work of art (even a story) that they might not hear through a direct rebuke.

      Let me give some examples:
      1) The prophet Nathan used a story to confront David over his sin with Bathsheba;
      2) A missionary friend of mine in Pakistan found that preaching the gospel on street corners was very ineffective and even forbidden, but when he invited artists to put his message into poems and songs, people begged for more.
      3) A pastor may get weary confronting a congregation over sins of lying, pornography or greed. There are times when a song, video or piece of art could serve better.