Romans 12:1,2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove (manifest) what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
I didn’t really know much about Rich Mullins, but my husband did and Rich’s songs helped him through some very dark times in his early walk in the Lord. When Ron saw that “Rich Mullins: A Ragamuffin’s Legacy “was on Netflix, he was pumped! We watched it that night and I have to say that when it ended, my heart was full.
One of the things that really struck me about Rich was how real he was. He didn’t put on the “church face”. What you saw was who he was. He loved the Lord with all his heart, yet struggled to surrender all of himself. He wanted to but didn’t know how.
People tried to press him into their molds, or the mold they thought he should fit: you need to cut your hair, wear a suit, play your worship our way and lolly phooey! Rich just wanted to be the man God made him to be.
Rich disliked religion. Jesus did, too. Our walk with the Lord is all about an intimate relationship with our Beloved, not the Law of religion which binds us and beats us up. We make it all so complicated when our Beloved is just saying, “Come hang out with Me. Let’s love on each other and share our hearts.”
Romans 12:4,5 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.
Rich believed in the Body of Christ, that all parts are important and are needed to be effective, yet he faced much rejection. Jesus did, too, and He told us we would if we followed Him. I sat there thinking, “Lord, everyone left him.” I heard that still, small voice, “Not everyone.”
Hebrews 13:5b For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
I think the turning point for Rich was when he went on a retreat with Brennan Manning. There was a scene where Rich and Brennan are sitting on the porch talking and Rich is smoking a cigarette with an 11 hangover. Brennan didn’t judge him or say, “Man, you’ve got to quit smoking for God to love you or if you really love God.” The smoking was a non-issue. He was looking to the heart issue….Rich’s not really knowing the Father’s love for him because of his relationship with his Dad. I don’t condone smoking. It’s bad for your body, the temple of the Lord, but it is a non-issue when it comes to the Lord loving you or you loving Him. I used to smoke and had someone tell me I didn’t really love the Lord because I was still smoking and she didn’t want me at her Bible study any more. I could have said, “You don’t really love the Lord because you’re mean.” The issue is the heart.
Brennan had Rich write some letters, which I’m not going into as all of you may not have seen the movie, and it was instrumental in Rich being freed to totally surrender to the Lord! Wahoo! Praise Jesus!
Rich said he felt alive and at peace when he was ministering at a reservation and he took an average salary, giving the rest to his church and charities. Love, simplicity, ministering, peace, giving………sounds like Jesus to me. I would say that Rich did become the man the Lord made him to be. I see Jesus in his eyes.
I highly recommend you watch this movie. It will encourage you, bless you and your heart will be full as you, too come to the revelation of the Father’s great love for you. Let Him love you……..surrender to your Beloved.
