Cultivating Faith with the 'Unplugged Gospel'
by Cindy O'Halloran
October 4, 2005
(AgapePress) - Rich Wagner, author of The Gospel Unplugged: Turning Up the Volume on Songs That Rock Your Soul (Revell, 2005), has plugged into a whole new way of expressing faith in Jesus through song. "I actually approached Unplugged totally as an author who is a music fan, not as a professional or even an amateur musician/songwriter. However, I've seen how God has been able to use music to majorly impact my Christian walk, even if He's not gifted me in that area," says Wagner.
Wagner was amazed at how God used Unplugged to speak to him as he wrote the book. "It seemed like each chapter enabled me to deal with an aspect of my walk," he recalls. Wagner harkens back to writing the "More" chapter featuring the songs "Meant to Live" by Switchfoot and "We Have Forgotten" by Sixpence None the Richer. Each song deals with the issue of making the most of your life.
Facing his own struggles as a full-time writer, he found himself melting into the lyrics of Switchfoot and Sixpence. "By the time I was done with it, I was transformed. I could go down the line and share similar examples of the other songs. So, writing it was a profoundly personal experience. I believe that's why it became so devotional and practical in nature," says Wagner.
Although Wagner is not a musician or songwriter, God has used music to touch his soul and cause him to grow in his faith. The seeds for Unplugged were planted several years ago when Wagner first heard "Worlds Apart" by Jars of Clay.
"I was struck that there is as much theology packed into that five-minute song as there is in a 300-page theological book on discipleship," recalls Wagner. As he dealt with the issue of dying to self in his own walk, he found himself continually going back to that song, tapping into its lyrics, as a wellspring. He soon found other songs having a similar impact on his life. As he considered book ideas, Wagner looked at how the Lord was using music in his life and saw how diving into the lyrics could impact others in the same way.
When you look at the books Wagner has written -- Christianity For Dummies, C.S. Lewis & Narnia For Dummies, Christian Prayer For Dummies, and Gospel Unplugged -- it sounds like his subject matter and book style have been all over the place. However, the common denominator in all of these is his vision for taking meaty truth and making it approachable for postmodern readers.
"I actually see an overall unity in my books, even if the style and subject matter differs greatly," says Wagner.
Wagner accepted Christ into his heart at age 9, but his faith remained superficial through high school. Later, when he went off to Taylor University, his faith was transformed. "I was able to study under Christian professors who I looked up to both spiritually and intellectually," says Wagner. "I was exposed for the first time to C.S. Lewis, one of my heroes, and thoroughly devoured his apologetic works."
After college, Wagner worked at an Internet software company, inventing an Internet software package. Though things were going well for him professionally, he was unsettled.
"I wondered what I was doing in my life that had eternal significance," says Wagner. As that question haunted him, he stepped out and started writing the online column Digital Walk, which served as his initial vehicle into Christian writing.
Nearly three years ago, Wagner left the high-tech world and began full-time Christian authoring. He and Kimberly, his wife of 18 years, had a newly built home and three growing boys, making this decision seem like a crazy one. But Wagner has managed to stay busy writing Christian books since that time. And working at home has enabled him to help his wife in home schooling the boys.
"I teach them three subjects," says Wagner. "Makes for long days, but definitely worth it. We believe our first missionary field is our boys."
Wagner's book, The Gospel Unplugged, addresses different aspects of songs. It explores songs that reveal something about the amazing love of God and discusses songs that point to the freedom and identity experienced through Jesus Christ. It plunges into life's meaning for the Christian and looks at songs that confront tough issues facing Christians living out their faith. The book also explores songs focused on how Christians can keep their eyes fixed on Jesus Christ in this complex modern world.
Cindy O'Halloran, a book reviewer, writer, speaker, and playwright, resides in Richland Center, Wisconsin. She is Homeschool Curriculum Coordinator and fiction teacher for Writers' Helper.org. She can be contacted via her website.
