This article appeared in the Minnesota Christian Chronicle on October 23 , 2002

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Worship Artist Chris Tomlin Writes Songs That 'Get To A Person's Heart'

By Julie Saffrin

When worship and recording artist Chris Tomlin sits down to pen his songs, his goal is simple. "I try to write songs the whole world can sing," Tomlin says. "Songs that immediately get to a person's heart."

With his latest album, Not to Us, Tomlin has done precisely that, blending metaphor and simile into highly singable tunes.

Currently midway through a 25-city tour with Rebecca St. James' Worship God tour, Tomlin played to near-capacity crowds recently at the 4,500-seat worship center at Grace Church in Eden Prairie. As he performed, his love for God was evident in every pulsating strum of his guitar, and the air literally vibrated as concertgoers responded by joining him in an outburst of celebratory worship.

Tomlin's road to becoming one of the country's premiere songwriters and worship artists began when he was a boy in the small town of Grand Saline, Texas. "One day I was really bugging my mom and dad and they knew they needed to find something for me to do. Dad said I had a choice between learning to play the guitar or the fiddle and he wanted an answer when he came in from grilling steaks," Tomlin says, laughing at the memory. While the meat sizzled, Tomlin, now 30, made up his mind to play guitar and because of it, has ushered in a fresh new sound in worship music. "My parents had no idea what a passion music would become in my life," he says.

Tomlin made his stage debut, unexpectedly, at the age of 17. "I helped a worship pastor set up for his concert and midway through the show, he stopped the concert and told the crowd of 500 that I wanted to perform." No one was more surprised than Tomlin. Petrified, he sang a few songs and after the show was asked back the following week.

While pursuing a psychology degree at Texas A&M, Tomlin continued to perform. After a concert a friend prayed over him. "He said, 'God, I pray you'll make Chris a hymn and psalm writer for his generation.'"

That prayer became a turning point for Tomlin. Shortly afterwards, he met Louie Giglio, the visionary and founder of the wildly successful, college-student-geared "Passion Movement." Suddenly Tomlin's songs had a wider audience. Songs like, "We Fall Down," "Be Glorified," and "Forever" took off across the nation's universities.

His newest album builds around the heliocentric theme that God is the center of the universe. Not, Tomlin says, the other way around. "We're all guilty of thinking that everything-even God-revolves around us." Tomlin says. "We gripe about why the worship service has drums, why they're playing organ, or the color of the new carpet. We seldom ask, 'How does God want to be worshipped?'"

Scripture inspired Tomlin, who penned the title track on the album with band member Jesse Reeves. Explains Tomlin, "Psalm 115:1 says, 'Not to us, oh Lord, but to your name be the glory.' When we make God the center of our lives, things are restored, hurts are healed. Life becomes aligned in an amazing way when God is in His rightful place."

Composed with acclaimed fellow worship artist Matt Redman, and based on the book of Job, the track "Wonderful Maker" has the cosmic feel of planets being birthed. Tomlin says, "It's incredible to think that God was making the world and redeeming it at the same time. Scripture tells us that Jesus was there, before the forming of the universe. He knew He would have to save this place."

Perhaps the most popular and overwhelmingly requested song at concerts is "Famous," which is not surprising given its full orchestra of guitars and big lyrics. Tomlin states, "Our world craves famous people. People want to get close to them, want something from them, but famous people have nothing to give. They're just ordinary people. But when you reach out to touch the Son of God, He has life to give."

Tomlin believes using modern words is key to reaching people for the kingdom. "We use Holy, Righteous, Omnipotent, which are all names of God, but most of the world doesn't know what those words mean. But they absolutely understand what 'famous' means. The Bible says that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, every tongue confess. That's fame beyond belief."

While on tour, Tomlin and St. James meet with area worship leaders before a concert. "The cross is where we all meet," Tomlin said to the group at Grace Church. A gifted communicator, Tomlin stressed the role of music in worship. "This is not about us, this is a life and death situation. It's about saving people's lives through music." He encouraged the worship leaders to be transparent as they serve in their churches. "To lead you just have to have an honest heart for God. People don't follow what is fake. They follow what is real."

And follow, Tomlin's audiences do. In his element on stage, Tomlin opened with his ever popular, "Forever," inviting the audience to join him near the stage, in atmospheric praise to the Creator of the universe.

Not only does Chris Tomlin draw believers into worship at his concerts, he has another album chock full of instant hits with Not to Us. His music will live in hearts, homes and houses of worship long after the melodies end.

Chris Tomlin's Website

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