Steve Camp - singer, songwriter and pastor - knows the God of Holy Scripture and communicates Him in his lyrics and music. The following is taken from Steve's forward to his wonderful 1994 release, Mercy in the Wilderness:
"It is easy to praise the Lord from the heights of His love, but it is rich to worship Him from the depths of His love. This album was born from those depths - the times of trial, breaking, sanctifing under the gracious hand of the Lord. Hebrews 12:7-11 gives us three tremendous insights into God's loving chastening in our lives. First, it proves we are His children and assures our relationship with Him (v.7-9); secondly, so that we may share His holiness - being conformed to Christ daily (v.10); and thirdly, if we embrace His admonishings, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteouness (v. 11).My deepest prayer, as you listen to this album, is that your love and worship would mature and grow in Christ. Not simply to praise Him for what He can give to us (though He has blessed us in the heavenlies with every spiritual blessing in Christ) but more importantly for who He is and all that He has accomplished for the praise of His glory!
If you are in a time of testing or trial may I encourage you today to stop and worship the Lord. Find comfort in His word and in the obedience that comes from surrendering our will and rights to Him. Job prayed in the course of his trials, "Though He may slay me, I will hope in Him." Our Lord is sovereign - He is in control of all things. There is mercy in the wilderness dear friend. Come to Christ Jesus today, worship Him in spirit and truth, and drink of His mercy as He molds you to Himself."
While much of contemporary Christian music is almost devoid of substantive, accurate doctrine, Steve's lyrics are rich with solid classical, orthodox theology, including this remarkable modernization of Jonathan Edwards' classic sermon from Steve's 1994 release In the Hands of an Angry God:
"God looks at your heart, that dark and weary place
The times you've mocked His mercy and trampled on His grace
So should you be surprised or should you find it odd
To see yourselves as sinners in the hands of an angry GodYou've built a rotten bridge of man-made righteousness
Suspended over flames of hell, an endless second death
You think that you are safe, the truth is you are not
Now you face your doom as sinners in the hands of an angry God."
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: Steve's new CD - Abandoned to God - is another inspired project that is Christ-centered and replete with solid biblical theology. Only Steve could write lyrics with a beat to honor early church fathers such as Polycarp and Augustine, reformers like Luther and Calvin and Puritans such as Owens, Edwards and Spurgeon. Abandoned to God proves that musical praise can appeal to contemporary taste without being theologically anemic. Well worth the investment!
