29. The Great Communicator

This is used in the various workshops to explain how we can honor Christ more effectively in our music or our art. We begin by asking ourselves what business are we in? Are we basically an artist or do we use our art to communicate? There is a big difference.

First, let’s see what Scripture says about communication from the greatest Communicator who ever lived.

Matthew’s 28:19: “therefore, go and make disciples in all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit; then teach them to obey all the commandments I have given you, and be sure of this: I am with you always, even until the end of the world.”

Mark 16:15: “You are to go into all the world and preach the good news to everyone.”

This is known as “the great communicator” from Jesus to His disciples.

II Corinthians 5:20 “We are Christ’s ambassadors.”

II Corinthians 5:21 “God made Him who had no sin (Christ) to be sin for us (poured into Him our sins) so that in Him we might become the righteous of God” (in exchange, He poured God’s goodness into us.)

God’s goodness means God’s spirit; His love is poured into us because He knew that Jesus made it very clear that no one is good except our Father in Heaven.

We must be great communicators for Christ with whatever talent God has blessed us. A good example of those who could have been great communicators, but found that they were just great artist could be Mozart.

Mozart was a child prodigy, the pride of Salzburg. He was a performer par excellence. At the age of five, he wrote an advanced concerto for the harpsichord. Before he was ten, he composed and published several violin sonatas, and played from memory the best of Bach and Handel.

He composed numerous opera cantatas, hymns and oratorios, as well as 48 symphonies, 47 arias, duets and quartets with orchestral accompaniments, and over a dozen operas. In fact, he had accomplished some 600 works by the time he died at age 35.

At the time he died, he was living in poverty and died in obscurity. His sick widow was indifferent at his burial. A few friends went as far as the church for his funeral but found it impossible to find his unmarked grave. Mozart, perhaps the most gifted composer of all time, became lost forever.

The tragedy of his life was that it was empty and unfulfilled. Why? Mozart’s life ended in tragedy because he never lived in accordance with God’s purpose. Mozart didn’t know God as Lord of his life. He didn’t know what business he was in; therefore, he limited his life and development of his talents because he because he rejected God’s rule or reign. His premature and tragic death was a great loss to all mankind.

How many of us are like Mozart? Are we going to be great performers or great communicators? There are other great performers that did not follow God’s plan for their lives:

(A) Bias
(B) Rogers
(C) Perhaps even Teddy Pendergras.

We should know the business we are in. For example, the railroad industry is struggling today because through the years it has seen itself as being in the railroad business rather than the transportation business.

Similarly, the churches are struggling today because they are in the sheep-tending business rather than the sheep-herding business. In other words, they only take care of those who are in their midst, instead of getting out and involved in the community.

You should know what business you are in. If you are in the performance business, you sometimes are limited to a certain kind of music. As a result, abilities are limited.

When an artist sees their ability as gifts from God, they use those abilities to communicate the truth and the light’ the realness of Jesus whenever the opportunity arises. They will discover new ways of using their talents for God.

A great communicator will always have a vision and will go for that vision. He will strategically organize the steps to reach his dreams and accomplish his goals and his mission for God.

Know this: A Christian artist’s business is communication, not performance. Society’s definition of success is based on accumulation of wealth, power and prestige. For instance, success means doing music, making a living from gaining a reputation, an album, an art show, etc.

The Bible’s view of success is a person who identifies himself as a servant, a person who communicates, a person who is able to fulfill the void with a positive attitude.

“You can perform without communicating, but it is difficult to communicate without giving a good performance.” Focus on being a servant, a communicator, and God will honor your performance.

God will be able to work in our hearts and will turn us into servant-communicators. All along the way, we will be available for God to use us even more in accomplishing His plans in our lives by spreading the Good News of the Gospel through the talent He gave us. At the same time, He will give you the desires of your heart!