Rich Mullins was a talented, insightful, courageous musician for Jesus. He wrote several songs recorded by Amy Grant. One of his best-known songs that many of us sing is “Awesome God”. Rich Mullins had great respect for the life and ministry of St. Francis of Assisi. Along with several friends, Rich took a vow of poverty and was never really aware of how well his records sold. The profits from his tours and album sales went to his church, which divided it up, paid Mullins a small salary and gave the rest to charity.
After graduating with a degree in Music Education from Friends University in Wichita, Kansas, he moved to New Mexico and lived on a reservation, teaching music to Navajo children. Almost ten years ago, September 1997, Rich Mullins was killed in an automobile accident on his way to a benefit concert. Listed below are several statements he made during his ministry, worthy of our consideration and imitation.
Never forget what Jesus did for you. Never take lightly what it cost Him. And never assume that if it cost Him his very life, that it won’t also cost you yours.
I think if we were given the Scriptures, it was not so that we could prove that we were right about everything. If we were given the Scriptures, it was to humble us into realizing that God is right, and the rest of us are just guessing.
We never understand what we’re praying, and God, in His mercy, does not answer our prayers according to our understanding, but according to His wisdom.
Yes, it’s embarrassing to be born again, but imagine how embarrassing it must have been the first time. At least this time you get to wear clothes.
We do not find happiness by being assertive. We don’t find happiness by running over people because we see what we want and they are in the way of that happiness, so we either abandon them or we smash them. The Scriptures don’t teach us to be assertive. The Scriptures teach us to be submissive. This is not a popular idea.
I am a Christian, not because someone explained the nuts and bolts of Christianity to me, but because there were people willing to be nuts and bolts.
We are not saved because we’re good. We’re good because we’re saved. Never forget what Jesus did for you.
If you want a religion that makes sense, go somewhere else. But if you want a religion that makes life, choose Christianity.
Dennis Lynn
Redwood Church
