Larry Norman Message Board

As a Christian teen in France, where church was populated by gray-haired head-knowledge Christians, there was not much to draw me to God... until I stumbled on a Larry Norman album.
Larry, you have voiced what I felt, yet didn't have the courage - or the words - to say. That following Jesus is not about putting on a holiness mask and living an austere life, never questionning what we really believe. You have taught me to love others, the hurting, the lost, the broken, because you made no distinction (and neither does God). You have mostly brought the Church to realize that we can be hypocrites if we only talk the talk and not love or do anything else but judge. You have spoken God's heart, without whitewashing truth (I wish we'd all be ready was very head-on!), you dared sing to the Lord with contemporary tunes and that shows how well you knew Him (He really doesn't mind our styles, He looks at the heart and what we are saying to Him). You have been an inspiration, a mentor, a brother. You showed your vulnerability, even your hurts (yes, Christians go through life!) instead of masking it all, showing the Church that we don't have to pretend we are only good and always joyful. David lamented in the Psalms and God listened. Yes, He is joy and we can overcome, but if we strive for perfect lives, we won't  live from grace. And I will never forget that awesome concert in Germany in the late 80's. You loved music, you were talented, as a musician and as a songwriter. Your heritage is tremendous. There are very likely reward crowns on your head already, our dear pioneer, as you sing your melodies to Jesus' face now. We'll join in some day.