Ten years ago last week, the noted Christian musician Rich Mullins was killed in a car accident. Jason Boyett has written an essay explaining why Christians should look back at Mullins as an inspiring and challenging voice for their faith. From the article:
Rich Mullins asked hard questions and didn’t always offer answers. He rebelled against the establishment. He was a quiet, humble prophet in a culture of screaming TV preachers and Christian musicians wearing glittery jumpsuits. He refused to clean up his act — or his wardrobe — for record labels. He wrote songs about the color green, preferring to record offbeat music with densely metaphorical lyrics played by a Ragamuffin Band of unkempt, scruffy, outcast musicians rather than release a polished, radio-friendly pop song. He made lots of money but never saw it. He loved Saint Francis of Assisi and “Adagio for Strings” by Samuel Barber. He grew up Quaker. He drove an old pickup truck and taught himself to play the cello. He talked of grace as often as possible.
Via In the Agora, which has some additional commentary and links.
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September 26, 2007 at 05:37
His music was as rich as his name.
September 26, 2007 at 15:35
Wow—has it already been ten years? His beautiful recording of “If I Stand” can still bring tears to my eyes.
September 26, 2007 at 19:05
I first heard rich’s music at a Christian Drug treatment ceter in Memphis it made me think and realize that to be a Christian does not mean starched shirts fancy dresses and that God loves us no matter our outward appearences, and that God is an Awsome God.
September 27, 2007 at 12:37
My wife was really into RM for a while. After he died, I think. She played his CDs (the lost songs-maybe) over and over when we traveled. It drove me nuts but I do recall that they were not the typical CCM pre-digested tripe. Now that I know he drove a Jeep, drank beer, and even huffed tar I may have to listen again. I have met a couple of scarey guys like this over my Christian journey. They had a pretty big impact, especially about grace and what it really means to be like Jesus. I am 45 now and try to be a scarey guy too. People look at you funny sometimes. Do I need to explain?
September 29, 2007 at 22:19
Ten years ago Songs was one of the car tapes my 3-year old and his two older brothers listened to on the way back and forth to school. I think they still can sing all the words to most of the songs. They now claim it was the only tape we owned but I deny it, they also learned songs from Don Francisco and Graceland, Hotel California and Dark Side of the Moon.
Rich was my favorite then. I was at a place in my life where his songs encouraged me to stretch spiritually. Someday I can thank him.