Flashback Friday

There are a lot of great Contemporary Christian songs currently on the radio, but I've often thought that someone should start a radio station for Contemporary Christian "Oldies"... those "hit" songs that were played continuously 20 to 40 years ago that we seldom hear anymore. Contemporary Christian music actually started in the late 1960's and early 1970's as what was called "Jesus music" and really became prevalent in the late 70's and 80's. Though there was often some controversy about CCM in religious circles, I think it was best stated by Rich Mullins who once said, "We (CCM artists) want you to buy our records and come to our concerts... but if you come, come for entertainment. If you really want spiritual nourishment, you should go to church. They care about you and you don't have to buy a ticket." 

Last Friday I posted about a 25 year old song from Delirious?. This Friday I want to feature a song by 4Him, a group that was one of my favorites of Contemporary Christian Music. 4Him was founded in 1990 in Alabama. They have ten Dove awards, a Grammy nomination and three certified gold albums to their credit and were inducted into Alabama's Music Hall of Fame.

Though 4Him disbanded in 2006 to pursue individual careers of ministry and music, they have made sporadic reunion appearances since 2009.

One of their first big hits is "Basics of Life", which was released in 1992. During our time of quarantine, we had seen and heard much about how it is bringing us back to the basics of life, to a simpler time. Usually they are talking about the importance of home, family, and good health. There is nothing wrong with these ideals, but I believe that there are some more important basics of life that center around God. 

As the song says:

We need to get back

To the basics of life

A heart that is pure

And a love that is blind

A faith that is fervently grounded in Christ

The hope that endures for all times

These are the basics, we need to get back

To the basics of life.

Perhaps this is the "new normal" that we should be striving for...