Today, the 28th of July, is the 28th anniversary of the day Keith Green was killed in a plane crash at the young age of 28. Keith Green was one of those lights that burned bright and fast. In the brief years that he lived as a follower of Jesus, he wrote some of the best worship music of the 1970s, he influenced greats like Bob Dylan and Rich Mullins, and he inspired thousands of people to head out to the mission field. He also played a mean piano.

If you’re 40 or older, you will probably remember Keith as a zealous recording artist who wore his convictions on his sleeve. If you’re younger than 40 you may at least be aware that Keith wrote some of the songs we sing in church, classics like O Lord, You’re Beautiful and Create in Me a Clean Heart.

Keith Green was a firebrand for Jesus. People used to compare him to John the Baptist, and not just because of his passion. Keith had little time for hypocrites. Keith was very open and honest about his personal struggles, but if you weren’t on fire for Jesus, he was going to let you know what he thought about that! He was famous for saying things like this:

“If your heart takes more pleasure in reading novels, or watching TV, or going to the movies, or talking to friends, rather than just sitting alone with God and embracing him, sharing his cares and his burdens, weeping and rejoicing with him, then how are you going to handle forever and ever in his presence? You’d be bored to tears in heaven, if you’re not ecstatic about God now!”

Keith stepped on a few toes when he started holding concerts for free. He then proceeded to jump on those same toes by claiming that Christian musicians who charged for their concerts or Christian bookshops who sold records for profit were sinning. How could you put a price-tag on the gospel? Keith had strong convictions about things and those who didn’t share his convictions were likely to be judged guilty of compromising.

Of course Christian young people just loved it! Those who were too young to notice – myself included – got fired up about these things later when reading about Keith in the book No Compromise. We wanted to be as sold out and radical as he was.

But what many people don’t know was that Keith’s zeal often led to crushing disappointment with his own perceived failings. He’d promise God that he was going to pray for an hour or read five chapters of the Bible before breakfast and then, when he’d slept in late, he would be devastated at having let God down. Like many zealous Christians, Keith based his relationship with God on his own performance. If he didn’t “feel” right with God then he believed he wasn’t right. This self-centered view sometimes blinded him to the love of God. He once confided to a friend, “Sometimes I’m not sure if God loves me” (No Compromise, p.355).

Happily, in the final year of his life, Keith the Firebrand encountered the grace of a loving God who accepted him just the way he was. He met John Dawson, of YWAM fame, and through that relationship began to re-discover the love of Christ. As his wife Melody tells in The Keith Green Story, Keith softened and began to rethink his approach to ministry. He wrote letters apologizing to those he had offended, including those profiteering Christian book-sellers:

“My desire to not exclude anyone, has not decreased at all… I hope you can understand that I am a man of principle, and yet, like a pendulum, I have a tendency to go too far to make a point. I fear that in the past I have done just that.” (No Compromise, p.352)

Without compromising his beliefs, Keith became a giver of grace. Relationships were restored and he knew real peace. Having encountered the Father-heart of God, Keith released his final, and most worship-oriented album of all, Songs for the Shepherd. Remember, this was 1982, years before most Christian recording artists started releasing worship albums.

One of the songs on that album is There is a Redeemer. This song was originally written by Melody Green in the late 1970s. When she and Keith went to record Songs for the Shepherd, she introduced him to her song by singing these now-famous lyrics:

There is a Redeemer,
Jesus, God’s own Son,
Precious Lamb of God, Messiah,
Oh, Holy One!

Thank you O my Father,
For giving us Your Son,
And leaving Your Spirit,
‘Til the work on earth is done.

As Melody remembers in No Compromise (p.327), Keith loved the song but wanted to make it longer. Within a few minutes he had come up with the following verse:

When I stand in Glory,
I will see His face,
And there I’ll serve my King forever,
In that holy place.

Five short months later Keith was standing in Glory, seeing his Father face-to-face.

About 10 years ago I watched a film of Keith Green leading a Bible study. I guess it was recorded after his grace-awakening because he just shone with the peace of God. I recall he said something like this:

“When I was a new believer, people used to call me a prophet, and I liked that label. But after a while I began to realize that being a ‘prophet’ was just an excuse for being moody. I don’t want to be known as a prophet. I just want to be a Christian.”

Me too. Whatever your talent or field of expertise, whatever your ministry or platform, to be recognized by others as a follower of Christ is just about the greatest honor there is.

Someone once asked me, “Why do we have mood music in our church?” The reason for the question was clear. Aren’t we manipulating people’s emotions by playing this touchy-feely music? Isn’t this just another dumb idea the church has pinched from the world? Isn’t this a little New Agey?

While I agree the church has borrowed a lot of dumb ideas from the world, using worshipful music to minister to people is Biblical. There are at least 3 reasons why we do it…

1. Music calms the agitated soul. King Saul was a tormented man who found relief listening to David play his harp (1 Samuel 16:23). When I want to come into the presence of the King of kings I have to battle the agitations of my soul and the distractions of mind. Having worshipful music playing in the background helps me get my thoughts off myself and onto Him.

2. When we worship demons flee. Saul’s black moods were demonic in origin. 1 Samuel 16:23 tells us that the evil spirit would leave Saul when David played. It’s significant that the Bible in this passage emphasizes David’s playing and doesn’t mention his singing. We know David wrote some awesome psalms but even without lyrics an anointed musician is a menace to the enemy. Saul was under the influence of a demonic spirit, but David was under the influence of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the ruling spirit in any place where He is welcomed. Actually He’s the ruling spirit everywhere, but you know what I mean. As David worshipped, the spiritual atmosphere in the room changed. Saul’s demon had to flee. Worshipful music is more than mood music. It’s spiritual warfare. But it’s warfare on God’s terms not the enemy’s.

3. Worshipful music prepares us to hear from the Lord. The prophet Elisha was once summoned by the king and asked to prophesy. But Elisha was in a foul mood. It’s hard to hear from God when you’re steaming with fury. Elisha’s classic response was: “bring me a harpist” (2 Kings 3:15). As the harpist played, the “hand of the Lord came upon Elisha” and he prophesied.

I’m not advocating formulas. But the fact is we live such busy lives that the voice of God is often lost in the hubbub. The reason many Christians don’t hear from God is they are not listening. Worshipful music certainly does not compel God to talk so much as it helps us to listen. Worshipful music doesn’t bring God’s presence into our lives. Rather, it helps us enter into His presence.

Music is just a tool. We need to take responsibility to calm the agitations of our soul and fix our thoughts on Jesus. Think lofty thoughts of Jesus! And don’t hold back on the outer. Don’t settle for being a mere spectator. Remember that He justifies you, qualifies you, heals you, sanctifies you and invites you into the throne room.

But the version I really like – but can’t show in church because it has scenes from the R-rated movie The Passion - is this one…

The late Dr. Shadrach Meshach Lockridge, a preacher from San Diego, California said these words in a sermon in Detroit in 1976:

“My King was born King. The Bible says He’s a Seven Way King. He’s the King of the Jews – that’s an Ethnic King. He’s the King of Israel – that’s a National King. He’s the King of righteousness. He’s the King of the ages. He’s the King of Heaven. He’s the King of glory. He’s the King of kings and He is the Lord of lords. Now that’s my King.

Well, I wonder if you know Him. Do you know Him? Don’t try to mislead me. Do you know my King? David said the Heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows His handiwork. My King is the only one of whom there are no means of measure that can define His limitless love. No far seeing telescope can bring into visibility the coastline of the shore of His supplies. No barriers can hinder Him from pouring out His blessing. He’s enduringly strong. He’s entirely sincere. He’s eternally steadfast. He’s immortally graceful. He’s imperially powerful. He’s impartially merciful. That’s my King.

He’s God’s Son. He’s the sinner’s saviour. He’s the centrepiece of civilization. He stands alone in Himself. He’s honest. He’s unique. He’s unparalleled. He’s unprecedented. He’s supreme. He’s pre-eminent. He’s the grandest idea in literature. He’s the highest personality in philosophy. He’s the supreme problem in higher criticism. He’s the fundamental doctrine of historic theology. He’s the carnal necessity of spiritual religion. That’s my King.

He’s the miracle of the age. He’s the superlative of everything good that you choose to call Him. He’s the only one able to supply all our needs simultaneously. He supplies strength for the weak. He’s available for the tempted and the tried. He sympathizes and He saves. He’s the Almighty God who guides and keeps all his people. He heals the sick. He cleanses the lepers. He forgives sinners. He discharged debtors. He delivers the captives. He defends the feeble. He blesses the young. He serves the unfortunate. He regards the aged. He rewards the diligent and He beautifies the meek. That’s my King.

Do you know Him? Well, my King is a King of knowledge. He’s the wellspring of wisdom. He’s the doorway of deliverance. He’s the pathway of peace. He’s the roadway of righteousness. He’s the highway of holiness. He’s the gateway of glory. He’s the master of the mighty. He’s the captain of the conquerors. He’s the head of the heroes. He’s the leader of the legislatures. He’s the overseer of the overcomers. He’s the governor of governors. He’s the prince of princes. He’s the King of kings and He’s the Lord of lords. That’s my King.

His office is manifold. His promise is sure. His light is matchless. His goodness is limitless. His mercy is everlasting. His love never changes. His Word is enough. His grace is sufficient. His reign is righteous. His yoke is easy and His burden is light. I wish I could describe Him to you . . .but He’s indescribable. He’s indescribable. That’s my King.

He’s incomprehensible. He’s invincible. He’s irresistible. I’m coming to tell you this, that the heavens of heavens can’t contain Him, let alone some man explain Him. You can’t get Him out of your mind. You can’t get Him off of your hands. You can’t outlive Him and you can’t live without Him. The Pharisees couldn’t stand Him, but they found out they couldn’t stop Him. Pilate couldn’t find any fault in Him. The witnesses couldn’t get their testimonies to agree about Him. Herod couldn’t kill Him. Death couldn’t handle Him and the grave couldn’t hold Him. That’s my King.

He always has been and He always will be. I’m talking about the fact that He had no predecessor and He’ll have no successor. There’s nobody before Him and there’ll be nobody after Him. You can’t impeach Him and He’s not going to resign. That’s my King! That’s my King!

Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory. Well, all the power belongs to my King. We’re around here talking about black power and white power and green power, but in the end all that matters is God’s power. Thine is the power. Yeah. And the glory. We try to get prestige and honour and glory for ourselves, but the glory is all His. Yes. Thine is the Kingdom and the power and glory, forever and ever and ever and ever. How long is that? And ever and ever and ever and ever. And when you get through with all of the ‘forever’s, then . . .Amen.”

Awesome words! You can download the entire sermon from here.

Like many Biblical terms, our notion of worship has become shaped by our cultural heritage. Some people view worship as a mystical and emotional experience characterized by the presence of hysteria and the absence of intellect. Others see worship as a religious ceremony imbued with ritual but devoid of any lasting spiritual significance. Both views are distinct from the real thing.

Archbishop William Temple has said:

“Worship is the submission of all of our nature to God. It is the quickening of conscience by His holiness, nourishment of mind by His truth, purifying of imagination by His beauty, opening of the heart to His love, and submission of will to His purpose. All this gathered up in adoration is the greatest of all expressions of which we are capable.”

Worship is not just some religious activity that occurs in a church. Worship is what we do with our life after we have submitted our wills to God’s will. It follows, then, that a great many things may be considered “worship”!

The film Chariots of Fire provides a classic illustration of the way in which true worship can bring a unifying perspective to the conflicting demands in a person’s life. The film records the feats of two British athletes at the 1924 Paris Olympics.

Harold Abrahams, the 100m gold medallist, ran for his own personal glory and triumph. But in choosing to devote his entire existence to the pursuit of success he found emptiness rather than fulfillment:

“You know, I used to be afraid to lose. But now I am afraid to win. I have ten seconds in which to prove the reason for my existence, and even then, I am not sure I will.”

In contrast, Eric Liddell, the 400m gold medallist, devoted his life to God. As he explained to his sister:

“God has made me for a purpose – for China. But He has also made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure.”

After their races Abrahams began the downward slide into despondency that comes from climbing to the top and finding nothing there, whereas Liddell packed his bags and got on with his life in China. The peace Liddell had came from the unifying focus of a life grounded in the adoration of Jesus Christ.

To sum up, Christ recognised the desire in all of us to pursue the spiritual and the sacred but He also recognised the need to anchor our worship in truth. The act of worshipping in spirit and truth brings order to our otherwise busy lives. Worship brings peace, and peace and unity within enables us to deal with diversity in our community. As Thomas Merton put it:

“Man is not at peace with his fellow man because he is not at peace with himself. He is not at peace with himself because he is not at peace with God.”