My brothers listened to his music in high school and I inherited many of their Keith Green albums and eight-tracks. I memorized them and wanted to be a musician and play the piano like Keith. I was a radical zealot, although it would be when I was 12 that I actually became a follower of Jesus. Until then, I was soaking in good music and being entertained. I wanted the glory of being a powerful influence and I saw music as that avenue. It was about 1986 when I found out that Keith had died. I remember that I was very sad that I never got to go to one of his concerts. But I also got to thinking about the mortality of someone that I had great respect for. I never thought about him dying, but he did, and I could too.
Keith wanted to be radical because Jesus was radical. He hated how Christianity had become an industry where it was something you could get if you had the money. He wanted what he did to be a ministry, not entertainment. He hated the idea of selling tickets to his ministry events (concerts). I remember a story where he was giving away his albums, only to be brokenhearted to hear that people were turning right around and selling them unopened.
I respected his zeal and how he took it to action. Maybe most Christians start off their journey as Keith did, full of ways to fulfill the debt of love owed to a God that saved us. There were many times I would sin, and then I would think that I'm not a Christian because how could I sin and still be changed, a new creation? I would rededicate my life at the steps in front of the podium many times a year because I felt like I was a disappointment to God. He saved me, and then I let Him down. Fearing that I was on the brink of losing my salvation I would study the Bible even harder, and try to pray a little bit longer. I was a tortured soul, thinking I was the worst Christian ever. I hate to say it, but it was all about me.
I was a Christian, but I didn't understand who saved me or why. I knew it was God that saved me, but I didn't understand Him or His great love for me. I still don't understand much, but I learned it was He who called me, He who chose me in His eclectic way, and it was He who loved me while I was still a sinner.
Through Keith I heard a song that would influence me so much, I even named one of my sons Josiah. I learned God wants us, not just a donation. I learned that Christians are on a journey, and even Keith struggled with legalism and acceptance. I never met him, but I see him as an early spiritual mentor and teacher.
I want everyone to remember that out of all of Keith's songs, it was the praise songs in "Songs for the Shepherd" that he loved the most. He was growing closer to the Lord, Abba Father when he was taken. Now many Christians do not even know who Keith was or the huge impact his legacy is still having today, but I think Keith would want it that way. It's not about Keith, but about Jesus and the Father and the family of adoptees like Keith and me. When I get to heaven I know we will finally meet, but I am confident that we will both be consumed with praising the One who saved us. It will be family.
-Johnie
