The Christian music industry has evolved since the 1980s, and many transformations have changed the agenda and goals of songwriters and singers. The difference between late 20th-century songs and those of the 21st century is the perception of the composition and the target audience. Before the current era, Christianity had started changing regarding the domain and areas it covered in society. As a result, many gospel singers have been producing tracks that tally with the period in which they release the records. A comparison of music in different decades shows an evident difference between a desire to worship and connect with the Lord and the expression of gratitude following modern spiritual fulfillment by works of the almighty God.
Awesome God by Rich Mullins
The 1980s decade was described as ‘flashy’ and dangerous due to the fashion-centric elements that had been embraced by people. Mullin’s Awesome God communicates perfectly due to the global changes that had started taking root hence, changing people’s lives positively (Mullins 3:04). As a result of significant revolutions, the credit was given to God, and that is where the element of ‘awesomeness’ was evident. Therefore, the song can be directly related to the decade’s evident major paraphernalia.
Lovin’ On Jesus by Lim, Swee-Hong, and Lester Ruth
The songwriter fills an important gap in the study of contemporary worship. The writer provides a comprehensive history of worship today. By giving the reader specific details on the development and origin of current praise songs, one gets to understand and explore Christian songs. The authors include ancient recordings and interviews of individuals who had the chance to directly engage with the songs in this genre released earlier (Lim 1).
Change My Heart, God by Eddie Espinosa
The song was a prayer to God to change people’s ways due to new life that had begun separating them from the Creator. The songwriters of the 1980s portray major developments in science and technology, and people have started getting possessed by the two phenomena leaving godly ways and concentrating on what benefited them personally (Espinosa 5). The traditional morality was lowering, and Espinosa, the lyricist, prayed for true worship that would be enabled by a heart that desired spiritual changes.
Draw Me Close by Kelly Carpenter
In the 1990s, people had embarked on leading and ministering in churches, and there was pressure to balance the perspectives of Christianity and public life in contemporary settings. Drawing closer matched the people’s desire to know God more as they multitasked between leading the biblical and everyday life (Karpenter 1:00; “Draw Me Closer” para. 3). The song was an application of surrender that people had admitted to due to the observed changes.
Great Is Lord by Deborah D. Smith & Michael Smith
The song was produced in 1982 and related well to the 1980-1990 era. The decade was known for its new culture characterized by advanced clothing, fashion and modernism. As depicted in the first part, the positive alterations allowed people to learn more about their God through watching Christian movies (“Great Is the Lord” para. 2). Hence, they perceived that as a major revolution that showed God’s greatness in application to the world.
He Is Exalted by Twila Paris
The song “He Is Exalted” referred to Jesus’s mighty works, which meant there was a need to exalt God as one way of showing religious affiliation to the Maker of the world. During the 1980s, when the song was produced, the world had started embracing equality in gender, less taxation for people, and global leadership with democracy (“He Is Exalted” para. 5). Therefore, God was the critical gamechanger in those events and was supposed to be glorified.
How Majestic is Your Name by Michael W. Smith
The song was written as one way to appreciate the fulfillment of promises to Smith and his wife. The track was composed in 1981 when powerful transformations from God characterized the decade. In the same way, the world then owed thanksgiving and praises to God due to His mighty works for the people (Hawn para. 7). The period then marked a crucial change in how people perceived God’s word.
I Will Call upon the Lord by Michael O’Shields
Dated in 1981, the musical record relates to the decade by symbolling the need to wait for God to save mankind from issues that faced them, such as political moves that catalyzed the start of world wars, among other problems (Lim and Ruth 1:12). It was the time when diseases such as HIV had started getting into human life, and there was a need to call God’s name for salvation.
Lord, I Lift Your Name on High by Rick Founds
The track was composed during the end of the 1980s decade when the writer was mourning. There were remarkable events in 1989 that can relate to this song. One of the significant occasions that would make people want to live in a godly way was the economic boost after communism in Europe (Abeamacan para. 8). Due to these matters, people praised God and lifted his name high.
You’re Worthy of My Praise by David Ruis
David Ruis released his song in 1986, expressing his sincere thanks to the Lord and how he intends to express his loyalties to the supreme being. The song features how the author Ruis wants to worship God as told through the first stanza “I will worship (I will worship), With all of my heart (with all of my heart)” (0:01).
Celebrate Jesus by Gary Oliver
The song relates to the decade since the world celebrated a landmark 1980 years after the ascension of Jesus Christ and the beginning of new transformations in science, theology, and other disciplines. The song was produced in the 1980s at Easter time and was sung mostly by children during Sunday teen presentations (Christensen and MacDonald para. 6). The celebration would also be linked to the liberal structure of the world.
Works Cited
Carpenter, Kelly. “Draw Me Close.” Tumblr, 1994, Web.
Espinosa, Eddie, and Steve Dunn. Change My Heart, O God. Allegis Publications, 1982.
“Good Good Father” Hymnary.Org, Web.
“Change My Heart, O God” Sdunnmusic.Com, Web.
“Christian Church Worship Today” Crosswalk.Com, Web.
“Draw Me Closer” Tumblr, 2022, Web.
“Great Is the Lord” Hymnary.Org, Web.
“He Is Exalted”. Hymnary.Org, Web.
“I Will Call Upon the Lord” Hymnary.Org, 2022, Web.
“Brian Johnson – Forever (We Sing Hallelujah)” Lyrics.Com, Web.
Abeamacan. “Lord, I Lift Your Name on High Meaning” Christian Song Meaning, 2017, Web.
Cain, David. Song Scoops. Web.
Christensen, Phil, and Shari MacDonald. “Song Story: “Celebrate Jesus” By Gary Oliver” Crosswalk.Com, 2018, Web.
Hawn, Michael. “History Of Hymns: “Great Is the Lord” And “How Majestic Is Your Name”” Discipleship Ministries, 2018, Web.
Lim, Swee-Hong, and Lester Ruth. Lovin’ On Jesus. Abingdon Press, 2017.
Mullins, Rich. Winds of Heaven, Stuff of Earth. 1993.