I have observed something over the years. To start with before I got saved which was in April 1977 I had my favorite singers. Of course, I only listened to secular music at that point in my life. One of my very favorite singers was Vikki Carr. Now I still love to hear her sing. I have been listening to her singing on YouTube. She is in her 80s now and has said that she wants to resume her singing career and sing gospel music. So I searched on YouTube for gospel songs sung by her. I found some and listened to them. As good as a singer as she is her gospel songs didn’t begin to measure up to her secular songs. The same thing is true of Whitney Houston and many other singing artists. Why is this? How can things change while singing secular vs gospel?
The answer is simply God’s anointing makes all the difference. These singers may have great voices and have obtained great fame and popularity, but something happens when they sing gospel. When someone who knows God and has a right relationship with Him thru Jesus Christ sings songs unto Him He places a special touch and enablement on them. His anointing is missing when someone who does not know Him sings gospel songs. That is what I have observed. The anointing makes a big difference.
Just everyday people with God’s anointing upon them sound much better than these secular singers. My wife and I have some CDs of the choir and orchestra of a local church which I won’t name. It is beautiful music. It sounds as good as any music out there. It is hard to believe it is just everyday people … some of whom we know. God’s anointing makes all the difference. Listen to this medley of songs below. Does it not sound very professional? It is hard to believe it is just everyday people who make up this church.
And this doesn’t just apply to singing or playing musical instruments or acting. Preaching and teaching is also subject to this. Sadly there are many people preaching that God never called to preach. They do so in their own will, strength and ability … totally missing God in what they do. But when God calls a man (God never calls a woman to pastor a church. They can serve in other positions, but not as pastor) and that man is obeying and seeking God for what he should share with God’s people God’s anointing is empowering him and God can and will use him mightily to minister His Word.
I don’t have scripture to back this up, but I think God’s anointing is not only upon the person who is singing, playing an instrument, acting, or preaching/teaching but it is also upon the ears and eyes of the listener/viewer.
BTW, what I am saying is not just my opinion or something I have observed, but it is exactly what God has said in His Word. Many don’t want to receive it, but we all have to answer to God. When we rebel and do our own thing God is very displeased. Our lives are supposed to line up with God’s Word. If they don’t then we are in sin … rebelling against God … and need to repent.