Rich Mullins, Winds of Heaven, Stuff of Earth, And Creativity

words from Rich for Christian artists

Photo by Ben Pearson

The legacy singer-songwriter Rich Mullins left behind is a remarkable one. Contemporary Christian music has yet to know a better writer (and may never find a better one, I dare to add). The profound mark he has made continues to inspire people and bring them closer to God, extending beyond CCM spaces.

Even though I grew up with Rich’s music (thanks to my dad!), it wasn’t until a couple of years ago that I truly recognized the beauty behind it. Over these past few years, I’ve delved further into learning more about his life and what he stood for (I especially recommend my most recent read, An Arrow Pointing to Heaven), and I’ve found myself deeply connecting with him as an artist. While I have a couple more posts based on Rich Mullins’ life and music planned for the future, I thought I’d start out with a few things I’ve learned from his work—as a Christian, and as an artist—for an introduction.

Live for Something higher, point to Something higher.

There's a loyalty that's deeper
Than mere sentiments
And a music higher than the songs
That I can sing
The stuff of Earth competes
For the allegiance
I owe only to the Giver
Of all good things

(- “If I Stand”)

Although there are a variety of nuances that come with this statement, our beliefs should (and will) shape our art.

Rich stands out to me as a talented artist who never, under any circumstances, shoehorned his beliefs—specifically, his faith in God—into his music. It was the foundation for his entire life and career, so it organically made its way into his songs (and it was, probably 90% of the time, the very basis for his songs). He never compartmentalized it. There is a Biblical and theological depth permeated through his extremely well-crafted, high-quality work…this man was intentional about what he wrote. It still feels so simple and applicable; it would be very hard to find anything like it elsewhere, especially in the CCM world.

I believe what I believe
It's what makes me what I am
I did not make it, no, it is making me
It is the very truth of God, not the invention of any man

(- “Creed”)

One of the faith-based themes that runs through Rich’s life and music—as seen in the lyrics to “If I Stand”—is the battle between transient material things and the Truth that lasts. Time and time again, he reminded us that “the stuff of Earth” isn’t worth it in the end (he deeply struggled with this himself). It was clear that above all, he yearned for eternity; he often sang about this, too.

He reminded his listeners that we can be creative, Christian, and real, all at once.

Get real, resist conformity.

Rich was known to talk and sing about hard things. While many other Christian artists seemed to just scratch the surface of the depth and hardship true to life, he tackled it head-on. He used his creativity to speak on the complexities. Doubt. Fear. Loss. Death. The silence of God.

He wasn’t afraid to get real and resist conformity in a space that could feel pretty fake.

In general, though, Rich was someone you’d call offbeat. His typical on-stage outfit was a pair of ripped jeans, a t-shirt, and no shoes. Where CCM tended towards conventional pop and the “praise and worship” sound, he didn’t fit the mold at all—the vast majority of his music was too folky and quirky for the radio. He didn’t have a beautiful voice. He played the hammered dulcimer (which is an incredible instrument, by the way—my dad has one). He liked to compose extremely long and stylistically unique intros for his songs. He sang about the color green in a Celtic rock-worship song. He was weird like that. This guy was a master musician and songwriter, but he clearly did his own thing, all while avoiding the spotlight as much as possible.

On an even more serious note, as humble (and okay-with-being-weird) as he was, Rich wasn’t afraid to call out the hypocrisy of those around him.

Once in an interview, he said that “They’re not bad, they’re just wrong. Christianity is not about building an absolutely secure little niche in the world where you can live with your perfect little wife and your perfect little children in your beautiful little house where you have no gays or minority groups anywhere near you. Christianity is about learning to love like Jesus loved and Jesus loved the poor and Jesus loved the broken.”

For Rich, getting real about his faith meant getting real about how we as Christians are supposed to live out our faith first and foremost—by loving people like Jesus would, even when it’s hard or uncomfortable or just…different. Not exactly a popular message with conservative Evangelicals, but he said it anyways, and he lived it out with his unique mission work (probably best-known is the work he did for kids on Navajo Reservations). I deeply admire that and couldn’t agree more.

Live authentically, create authentically.

Anyone who knew Rich knew he was a messed-up guy, and he could be outwardly so. He struggled with anger issues, alcoholism, etc., and he’d be the first to admit it. Unlike other Christian artists (who generally kept up the squeaky-clean—and, if I may assume, fake—image during this time period) he wasn’t afraid to be honest—faith and flaws and all, all the way until the tragic accident that took his life in 1997.

But when I leave I want to go out like Elijah
With a whirlwind to fuel my chariot of fire
And when I look back on the stars
It'll be like a candlelight in Central Park
And it won't break my heart to say goodbye

There's people been friendly, but they'd never be your friends
Sometimes this has bent me to the ground
Now that this is all ending
I want to hear some music once again
'Cause it's the finest thing that I have ever found

(- “Elijah”)

I strongly believe that his authenticity in both his life and in his music inspired similarly messed-up people…because we’re all messed up.

Rich reminded his listeners that they don’t need to have it all together to approach God. We’re broken people in need of redemption, but Christ’s grace is sufficient when we bring our struggles to Him. That was his message—what a testimony to his own faith.

What if we realized that authenticity and honesty speak of Christ’s redemption in our lives more highly than any of our facades?
What if we weren’t afraid to challenge the status quo and truly speak the truth in love?
What if we were okay with being vulnerable—with being human, with being mere sinners who have encountered the grace of God?
What if we, as Christian artists, let the God who gave us our gifts be not just part of what we create, but the very reason for why we create?

Photo by Ben Pearson

“Be God’s!” - Rich Mullins

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Maybe you’ve heard “Awesome God”, but that’s as far as your knowledge of his work goes. (And if you don’t even like “Awesome God” …that’s okay, because Rich didn’t either! He thought it was one of the worst-crafted songs he ever wrote.) For an intro to his music, I highly recommend any of these songs:

• “Here in America”

• “Elijah” (I like this first version of the song from 1986, but it’s performed in a very raw, gritty way—the Songs version has a different feel. It’s slightly subdued, but it somehow sounds even more dated to me.)

• “Calling Out Your Name”

• “Growing Young”

• “Hatching of a Heart”

• “Verge of a Miracle”

• “Hold Me Jesus”

If it just isn’t your thing stylistically, I’d still recommend reading his lyrics. Or try the newly released covers of many of his songs by Bellsburg Sessions. They’re doing a great thing.

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Thanks so much for reading! I want to hear your thoughts. In the comments, let me know what you think of Rich Mullins and his music, and if you have any favorite songs.