Cash 4 Worship

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Came across a really interesting article regarding a new “VIP experience” that Hillsong music is offering for its tour. In short, Hillsong is offering an upgraded experience for ticket buyers willing to pay a premium that includes: 

  • An “intimate pre-show artist experience” on stage

  • A premium, early access, up front seat

  • Swag

  • Pre-show photo op

  • Etc.

 The author of the article Tom Read was not very sympathetic of this idea, and neither am I. The author writes, “How could anyone think that this is a good idea”. I’m honestly not sure. I’m all for people being paid fairly for what they do, and I think putting together a sweet experience is a great goal to aim for, fog machines, huge screens, and state of the art lighting included. But there has to be some kind of line between that and a shameless money grab based on celebrity and access. Those two items have no place in Christian worship much less as items to be peddled to make someone somewhere more money (and take it away from believers and the other places they could have spent it). 

Read offers a great alternative: instead of selling a premium VIP experience, why not just do something for free for local worship leaders? Not everything needs to be monetized, Read writes. 

I’d go a step further: Christian leaders need to question whether an event is ever needed. Greater numbers don’t always equal greater impact, and instead often expend the energy and spirit of volunteers in ways that obscure the true cost of doing such events. The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill podcast describes this extremely vividly when it recounts how the former Mars Hill Church in Seattle held its Easter service in an NFL stadium, a breaking point for many who served there. Sure, huge events look great and make everyone feel like they’re doing something, but I’d argue that they offer little in the way of true life change (supporters point to how many people get baptized, but then how many of those who were baptized truly had their lives changed, not to mention how many just got up and came forward for the 2nd, 3rd, 10th time?).

Oh, and one more thing about selling premium access that really should raise red flags for every follower of Christ: the foundation of our faith is about a God who paid it all to make sure that anyone, anyone, could have access to the Kingdom of Heaven. There are no tiers in God’s Kingdom, there are no VIPs.

Like I said earlier, I love a great show, and getting into a stadium to worship together is a lot of fun. But when organizers start selling premium access, it’s a sure sign we are careening in the wrong direction. Maybe it’s time for a moratorium on big events? If our ministries can’t do what they do without such things, then maybe they’re built on the wrong foundation.