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On Friday, a documentary titled “The Jesus Music” was released in theaters. It tells the story of contemporary Christian music, the beginnings of which are rooted in the “Jesus People Movement” which began in California in the late 1960s.
One of the most significant Christian revivals in modern American history, this phenomenon occurred with the Holy Spirit working in the hearts of thousands of young people who had been left behind by the turmoil of the 1960s causing the disillusionment with establishment thinking and materialism.
Many were hippies who sought love and peace but could not find satisfaction in drugs or free love.
One of these researchers was Keith Green, a talented musician. Although Green had the support of his experienced and wise parents, his dreams of fame as a young teenager were shattered from setback to setback.
He continued to pursue a career in music, sometimes struggling to attract the crowds required by the clubs where he performed. Green met Melody Steiner, another musician and spiritual seeker, when he was 19. They got married a year later.
Green asked deep questions about almost everything and was intense in his desire to find answers to the meaning of life. Eastern mysticism, assorted religions and drug use failed to fill the void for him. Of all the spiritual leaders he studied, Green kept coming back to Jesus, even though he was not convinced that Jesus was God.
Yet Green was impressed with the way Christ lived and decided to become a disciple. Melody joined him in this. After countless nocturnal spiritual discussions with other musicians, one who had become a Christian pointed out to them the claims of Christ’s divinity in the Bible. A passage from the Hebrews finally helped to convince them.
“In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets on several occasions and in various ways, but in these latter days he spoke to us through his Son, whom he called heir of all things, and by whom also he made the universe. . The Son is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact representation of his being, upholding all things with his mighty word. After providing cleansing from sins, he sat down at the right hand of the majesty in heaven. He therefore became as much superior to the angels as the name he inherited is superior to theirs. For to what angel did God ever say, “You are my Son; Today I have become your Father. ‘ “But of the Son he said: ‘Your throne, O God, shall last forever and ever; a scepter of righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom. “(Hebrews 1: 1-5, 8)
Like everything Green did, he went all-in for Jesus. He and Melody started collaborating on worship songs. Often he sang the songs she wrote. One song in particular is found in hymns and songbooks around the world. “There is a Redeemer, Jesus, God’s own Son, precious Lamb of God, Messiah, Holy. Jesus, my Redeemer, name above all names, precious Lamb of God, Messiah, O for sinners slain. Thank you, O my Father, for giving us your Son and for leaving your Spirit until the work on earth is completed.
Green released five best-selling albums before the age of 29, but was convicted that anyone who couldn’t afford their music should get it for free. People could order an album or get one at a concert and just pay what they could. He shipped over 200,000 “So You Wanna Go Back to Egypt” albums, and 61,000 of them were free. He and Melody mortgaged their house to finance this album.
Green took Christ’s call to hospitality very seriously, so he and his wife opened their tiny home to strangers in need. Eventually, they bought the house next door and rented five more in the neighborhood. They offered food, Bible studies, prayer, and friendship.
Often a polarizing figure, Green could not understand Christians who were not “sold†for Jesus. In his mind, the call of Christ was a call to no compromise. A few years after starting his ministry, Green realized that he was often too hard on growing believers and too hard on Christian musicians who charged money for their albums.
In the summer of 1982, Keith Green and two of his young children were killed in a plane crash. He was 29 years old. Melody was pregnant with their fourth child. She continues to oversee the ministries of the last days.
Celia Stone is the children’s minister at Farmville Presbyterian Church.
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