Career
Green was born in Portland, Oregon to missionary parents, Charles and Jo Green. He is one of six siblings who spent much of his early life in Argentina. He studied Music at Grand Canyon University, graduating in 1976. He originally broke into Christian music with the Mobile, Alabama based youth worship group Truth. He also sang backup vocals and played bass with Sandi Patti, White Heart and the Gaither Vocal Band. In 1982, he joined the Christian rock band White Heart as a vocalist. But a difference in ministry vision accompanied by a confrontation with his brother, Randy, led to a spiritual renewal in Steve's life in 1983. He signed a solo contract with Sparrow Records, and his self-titled debut album appeared in 1984. In the same year, he established Steve Green Ministries.
His break out year came in 1985 with the release of He Holds The Keys. The album garnered Green a nomination and win as Male Vocalist of the Year in the Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) category. The following year, 1986, saw the release of two recordings, "For God And God Alone," and a high church style worship album entitled "A Mighty Fortress." The following year saw the release of his first Christmas recording, "Joy To The World." In early 1988, he released an album dedicated to his parents called "Find Us Faithful." As the 1980s came to an end, many of Green's songs became recognized standards including "People Need The Lord" and "Broken And Spilled Out." He was often considered the male version of Sandi Patti, using many of the same songwriters and styles as well as the traditional ending the song on a (literal) high note. Green also contributed background vocals to Patti's 1986 hit, "Let There Be Praise."
Green was one of the first artists to be involved with Promise Keepers, performing at their inaugural event at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colorado in July 1993 before 50,000 men. His song "Answer The Call" was inspired by the event and another song, "O Men of God Arise," embodies the Promise Keeper mentality.
Green recorded "The Mission" in 1989 and continued his success with "We Believe" in 1991. As the early 1990s direction of Christian music changed to a more rock oriented format, Green returned to traditional roots by releasing an album of hymns in 1992. Yet Green switched styles in 1994 on his "Where Mercy Begins" album. He also received the first of two career boosts due to outside events.
On September 9, 1994, a US Air jet crashed in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, killing all aboard. One passenger was an up and coming Christian singer named Kirk Lynn. Lynn has just recorded Green's song "As We Sail To Heaven's Shore" from the 1988 "Find Us Faithful" album. Only a rough cut played at the memorial service for the passengers, grieving family members were told where to find the original song by Green, which boosted album sales for the older recording.
Green's style change continued on his 1996 recording, "The Letter." He was also instrumental in attempting to set up an accountability group for Christian artists following the adultery scandals of Michael English, Marabeth Jordan, and Sandi Patty as well as the Mike Warnke debacle. He was helped in this endeavor by Steve Camp, Wes King, and Michael W. Smith. That year also saw the release of his second Christmas album, "The First Noel."
Green changed focus again in 1998 by declaring he would only record songs that honor the Lord - songs that he could be satisfied with should it be his last recording. That year saw the release of "The Faithful" and 2000 saw the release of a devotional song album entitled "Morning Light." Two years later Green released "Woven In Time" and again found himself receiving a career boost.
Space Shuttle Columbia Disaster
Green was a personal friend of Space Shuttle Columbia commander Rick Husband, who was killed along with six others in the February 2003 disintegration during reentry. Green was interviewed by CNN and his song "God Of Wonders" got a boost from the unexpected publicity. He released another album in 2005.
Green's sister is married to Dr. Mark Bailey, president of the evangelical Dallas Theological Seminary, and he helped the seminary celebrate its eightieth anniversary in April 2004. He has also written a thirty day devotional titled, "The Power of the Cross" and has recorded numerous children's videos and songs.
His bilingual abilities have seen the release of two Spanish CDs in the United States.
He is married to Marijean Green, who has testified to her own struggle with bulimia and they have two children, Summer (b. 1984) and Josiah (b. 1986).
Green has expanded his musical ministry to include videos and James Dobson's Focus on the Family.
The Word
Steve Green Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The Word is light
The Word delights my soul
Preserves my life
Holy and hidden
Forever true
The perfect sacrifice
Our Lord...Jesus Christ
The Word is wisdom
The Word is true
The Word takes all that's old
And makes it new
When hearts are broken
He makes them whole
The One who paid the price
Our Lord...Jesus Christ
The Word is calling
Time and again
The Word is grieving still
For those in sin
Come now believing
This Word is true
The cross speaks this advice
"Trust Me...Jesus Christ"
Steve Green's song "The Word" is a hymn to the power of Jesus Christ, as embodied in the Word of God. The lyrics affirm that the Word, which is living and light, can delight the soul, preserve life, and serve as the perfect sacrifice. The Word is also described as being holy, hidden, and forever true. It is the source of wisdom and the force behind transformation. When hearts are broken, the Word can make them whole again. The song makes a bold declaration that the Word is calling us, time and again, and that despite the many people who fail to heed its message, it remains a powerful and transformative force in our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
The Word is living
The Word is not just a static, historical document, but a living and active force that moves and transforms us.
The Word is light
The Word illuminates the darkness within and around us, guiding us on the right path.
The Word delights my soul
The Word brings joy and comfort to our deepest being, lifting our spirits and filling us with hope and peace.
Preserves my life
The Word protects and sustains us, giving us the strength and courage to face life's challenges.
Holy and hidden
The Word is both sacred and mysterious, revealing deep truths that are not always evident on the surface.
Forever true
The Word is an eternal and unchanging source of wisdom and guidance, always relevant and applicable to our lives.
The perfect sacrifice
The Word speaks of the ultimate sacrifice, made by Jesus Christ, which paid the price for our sins and offers us the gift of redemption.
Our Lord...Jesus Christ
The ultimate focus of the Word is the person of Jesus Christ, who embodies its teachings and offers us a way to salvation.
The Word is wisdom
The Word contains deep insights and understanding about life and the human condition, offering us a way to grow and mature in our thinking.
The Word is true
The Word is a reliable and trustworthy source of knowledge and guidance, free of falsehood and deception.
The Word takes all that's old
The Word transforms outdated and obsolete ways of thinking, offering us a fresh perspective and new solutions to age-old problems.
And makes it new
The Word invites us to embrace change and growth, pushing us beyond our comfort zones and into a brighter future.
When hearts are broken
The Word offers healing and restoration to our brokenness, bringing us comfort and peace in times of suffering.
He makes them whole
The Word has the power to restore and complete us, filling us with a sense of wholeness and purpose.
The One who paid the price
The Word points to Jesus Christ as the one who willingly sacrificed himself for our sake, out of love and compassion.
The Word is calling
The Word issues a persistent and urgent call to all people, inviting us to come and receive its message of grace and salvation.
Time and again
The Word never stops calling out to us, offering us new opportunities and fresh starts, regardless of how many times we may have turned away.
The Word is grieving still
The Word feels profound sadness for those of us who still persist in rejecting its message, knowing the pain and consequence of that decision.
For those in sin
The Word recognizes the reality of our brokenness and sinfulness, but offers us a way to move beyond it and into a new life.
Come now believing
The Word invites us to respond to its message with faith and trust, stepping out boldly into a new way of life.
This Word is true
The Word confirms its own authenticity and reliability, inviting us to explore its depths and embrace its message.
The cross speaks this advice
The ultimate symbol of the Word, the cross of Christ, offers us a powerful message of hope and redemption, the assurance of a better future.
"Trust Me...Jesus Christ"
The final call of the Word is to trust in Jesus Christ, the embodiment of its message, the one who can lead us into a new and abundant life.
Contributed by Lucy L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.