In the late 80s, I got into a bit of trouble with my parents over music. Now, my parents were fairly tolerant about music choices, so long as it was played at a reasonable volume. My parents accepted my punk rock music as easily as they accepted American folk. They even coped when I showed up at home with the remnants of a mohawk, a pierced ear, and tapes from the punk band of which I was a member.
So getting in trouble with my parents over music was a rare situation. Then again, it is safe to say that respect was more the issue than the actual music.
Our church has a tree farm where members frequently camp. While in high school, it was common for many of us to bike or drive there several times a month. And many families camped there over long weekends. Some of them, one in particular, were far less tolerant of alternative music, or any secular music, for that matter. My parents had voiced that concern to me and asked that I be respectful when playing music while camping.
After that, I always picked contemporary Christian music if this family was around. Apparently, that wasn't sufficient, as they continued to object about my music. Finally, I lost my patience and broke out my copy of Larry Norman's Only Visiting This Planet. The song I selected was picked for maximum impact. "Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music." Lost patience was catching, as my parents realized what I was doing and got fairly tense. Not about the music, but about the disrespect being shown to another adult.
Larry Norman was often called the father of Christian rock. Through his music, he reached a lot of people otherwise shunned by the church. He was, himself, shunned by those who believe any "rock" music is bad. Others frowned upon his appearance. After all, the "hippie" look wasn't widely accepted by the more conservative factions of the church.
Those who looked beyond the person found a wonderful singer and songwriter. Often considered the Christian version of artists like the Beatles, Elvis, and Bob Dylan, Norman touched on subjects such as war, addiction, and faith in ways nobody else did. His influence on Christian music extended well beyond his career. Still today, many consider him to be one of the biggest influences on their music.
Sadly, Larry Norman passed away on Sunday, February 24. After battling heart problems for many years, he died peacefully with his family at his Oregon home. He was 60 years old.
He will be missed by his family and friends. He will be remembered by those who loved his music and ministry. And the contemporary church will always be better for his willingness to worship God in new and unconventional ways.
Rest, Larry. The trip is over, and we know you're home, now.
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