This is one interesting topic to discuss which I feel is something that is creating a lot of discussions and arguments as such.
First Should We Call Our Gospel “A Gospel Industry” or “A Gospel Ministry” ?
Some Christians (singers and ministers) would be too careful and modest in which name they use when being interviewed or when having a discussions. Some will just take the term as just a literal term especially when it comes to music
So what does an Industry mean?
An industry is the production of an economic good or service within an economy. So the main factor of an industry is making “money”. Some One said “One cannot be in an industry without a focus of making profit or money” that means he will be out of business. That means being an industry has a main focus which is more of the physical needs
What Does a Ministry mean?
“Ministry” is from the Greek word diakoneo, meaning “to serve” or douleuo, meaning “to serve as a slave.” In the New Testament, ministry is seen as service to God and to other people in His name. Jesus provided the pattern for Christian ministry—He came, not to receive service, but to give it (Matthew 20:28;Mark 10:45;John 13:1-17). Its focus its more of the spiritual
Now to compare this too with the gospel it seems spreading the gospel of Jesus will be more centered in “ministry” which is related to serving people. That means the needs of others before and yours later.
Industry on the other hand is more centered on satisfying our physical needs first and others later. The question is at what point did gospel change to be called an industry?
The problem that follows is that every one has a talent and we need to earn to cater for our daily needs. Does that merit for us to call it an industry? Like a gospel singer/deejay will need to be paid to perform, a gospel producer will need money to do production , gospel events will need to charge to cater for their services. Does that make it an industry?
If every one is there to make some money does that qualify to be called an industry. Is it time we accept and say it’s actually an industry as everyone has to earn? or we stick with ministry knowing that still we will have to get paid.
If there is money involved then its an industry? and if theirs no money involved then its a ministry?
Think on these things because if we tend to focus more on the “physical needs” then ministry in itself dies.
I find the strict dichotomy unnecessary: "It's either industry or ministry." I suggest that it is both, it just depends on whom you're addressing. My work (in a mainstream company) is both ministry and industry. It is ministry because I do it for the glory of God and the good of man, I do it with a Christian work ethic and I make decisions guided by a Biblical conscience. Yet, my work (in the same company) is industry because it is a business, there's money involved, there are profits to be made.
My motives do not have to be EITHER/OR, they can be both. The only distinction that needs to be made is a hierarchical one, which comes first/top? Ministry. Which is primary/foundational? Ministry. In mainstream media, people (non-believers) may only see the industry part of it. But it takes the Holy Spirit sometimes to see the ministry. I do not have to justify my motives to the world, but I pray that they will at least see the image of God (the ministry) in HOW I do my "industry".
My 2 cents.
coz of ka thin line its hard to separate from industry.