As one of many musicians who got their start in the church, I’ve come across the challenging dynamic of being a musician in the church while being a musician in the secular music industry. While I can’t say that I’ve completely figured out the balancing dynamic, my faith in God keeps me grounded across both platforms - in and outside of church.
My name is Ezemdi Chikwendu and I’m a Jesus follower, husband, father, worship director, singer-songwriter, and music producer. I’ve spent years cultivating these different areas of musical giftedness with one goal in mind: to maximize all the gifts that God has trusted me with while representing him. I think about the parable in Matthew 25:14-30, that talks about the master and the servants and how the master was not happy with the one servant who did nothing with what the master gave him. “To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.” (Matthew 25:29, NLT). I have always been motivated by that scripture to make sure that I’m maximizing and expanding on the gifts and talents God has trusted me with.
However, for me, the often controversial aspect has been the use of those talents outside the church. While I cannot say that I’m completely comfortable moving between the two platforms, I do see that there is an opportunity to reach people who feel far from God - people who don’t normally step into the church building. One of my former mentors taught me that,
“You, the Jesus follower, will be the only Bible some people will ever read.”
I have seen first-hand the impact of representing Christ by my example as I’ve stepped into the music industry. I’m blessed to see and be a part of the faith journey for musicians, singers, girlfriends of singers, etc. Even with that, I do get asked questions from some church folks. Questions like, “don’t you get tired of being in the world?” or “when are you going to fully commit to Christ?”
The truth is that we are all in the world. The teacher, the doctor, the politician, the janitor to name a few, are all in the world. Jesus was in the world, but he was not of the world. If you look at each industry, they will all have their good and their bad. I believe that as a Jesus follower, you go where He sends you and represent Him well. This is how I navigate the two platforms.
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