Forrest, You're Not Moses, You Can Come Down From the Mountain

To preface this post, I'd like to say that every Christian artist has battled through this question before even beginning to release their art for others to hear. Don't think because Forrest makes his conviction known to the world that others haven't asked this question before. Forrest's actions in the way he presents himself sometimes speaks louder than his words.

Honour Isn’t Idolatry: Why Community Awards Can Be Biblical

When Christian artist Forrest Frank shared that he wouldn’t attend award shows or accept trophies for music “from Jesus and for Jesus,” it sparked a passionate conversation about recognition, reward, and the heart behind both. His conviction is sincere and worth respecting. But we believe awards aren’t about an ego pump. They’re about publicly honouring good work that serves people, strengthening a culture of excellence, and encouraging people in their craft.

The Bible Doesn’t Forbid Recognition - It Redirects It

Scripture is suspicious of self-promotion, but not of honouring others:

• “Outdo one another in showing honour.” (Romans 12:10)

• “Pay to all what is owed… honour to whom honour is owed.” (Romans 13:7)

• “Let another praise you, and not your own mouth.” (Proverbs 27:2)

• “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due.” (Proverbs 3:27)

• “Respect those who labour among you… esteem them very highly in love because of their work.” (1 Thessalonians 5:12–13)

• “Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honour.” (1 Timothy 5:17)

None of these verses celebrate vanity; they command communities to recognize faithful labour. In other words: honour is something we give, not something we grasp.

Paul’s athletic metaphors acknowledge awards imagery. A perishable wreath vs. an imperishable one (1 Corinthians 9:24–25). The problem isn’t the existence of a trophy; it’s what the trophy represents and where the glory lands.

Recognition Is a Public Act of Gratitude

Healthy awards are community gratitude made visible. They say, “We see the hours you poured into songs that helped us pray, the volunteers you trained, the young artists you mentored, the shows you built so our city could worship without distraction.” That kind of recognition:

1. Encourages the faithful. Hebrews 10:24 calls us to “stir one another to love and good works.” Public honour stirs courage in weary servants.

2. Teaches the next generation what we value. Awards are catechesis in disguise: they tell young writers and techs, “We celebrate integrity, craft, teamwork, service.”

3. Builds standards of excellence. Philippians 4:8 urges us to dwell on what is excellent; highlighting exemplary work gives everyone a target to aim at.

4. Strengthens the body. 1 Corinthians 12 pictures a church where the “less presentable” parts receive greater honour. Awards can correct our spotlight by celebrating unseen contributors—engineers, stagehands, songwriters, hospitality teams.

   
   

“But Isn’t This Worldly?” Only If We Make It So

Jesus warned about doing works “to be seen by others” (Matthew 6:1–4). That’s a warning about motive, not a ban on saying “thank you” in public. The line between honour and hype is crossed when we:

• Reward celebrity over character (James 2’s warning about partiality).

• Tie recognition to sales, clout, or clicks.

• Treat the stage as a mirror instead of a window to God’s goodness.

So let’s fix those problems at the design level rather than scrapping recognition altogether.

A Better Way to Do Awards (So They Form, Not Deform)

Here’s how awards can serve people and glorify God:

• Publish criteria rooted in virtue, not virality: theological faithfulness, congregational usefulness, collaboration, craftsmanship, generosity, and community impact.

• Require testimonies, not victory laps. Each acceptance moment includes a 60-second story: Who was served? How did the team work? What did God do?

• Direct the spotlight outward. Winners name the volunteers, churches, and partners who carried the weight, then invite the room to applaud them.

• Guard the heart. Leaders and nominees commit to a simple rule: Receive honour as intercession, return it as praise. Pray, “Lord, use this to build Your people.”

  
  

What About Forrest Frank?

We can applaud Forrest’s desire to avoid vanity and keep Jesus at the centre. Amen to that. He’s expressed a personal conviction to abstain from award shows and trophies for spiritual work; we can respect his conscience and still disagree about the application.

The Heart Check We All Need

The goal is not bigger egos; it’s bigger faithfulness to servant hood and discipleship. In a world where cynicism is loud and burnout is real, public gratitude is a holy rebellion. Let’s keep it, but re-direct the praise to the One that allows us the ability to create in the first place.

By Joel Ivey