HYMN HISTORY

“Because He Lives”

Because He lives, all fear is gone

Because I know He holds the future

And life is worth the living, Just because He lives

Because He Lives” is a triumphant song of victory and faith, echoing the Gospel story of Jesus Christ conquering death and repeating his promise in John 14:19, “Because I live, you also will live.”

The first verse is a simple but powerful telling of the the Gospel:

“God sent His son, they called Him Jesus.

He came to love, heal and forgive.

He lived and died to buy my pardon.

An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives.”

This popular modern hymn was written by two of the biggest names in gospel music, Bill and Gloria Gaither. Those names call to mind quite a few songs that have rang out in most, if not all, churches. They have written more than 700 songs together.

They were inspired to write “Because He Lives” in the 1970s and have often shared the story in interviews. Bill was recovering from mononucleosis, Gloria was expecting their third child, a son. In addition to all the stress in their personal lives, political and social upheaval also affected them.

In the “Companion to The United Methodist Hymnal,” Gloria Gaither said she was worried about bringing another child into this world:

“‘Because He Lives’ (1971) was written in the midst of social upheaval, threats of war, and betrayals of national and personal trust. It was into this world at such a time that we were bringing our third little baby. Assassinations, drug traffic and war monopolized the headlines. It was in the midst of this kind of uncertainty that the assurance of the Lordship of the risen Christ blew across our troubled minds like a cooling breeze in the parched desert. Holding our tiny son in our arms we were able to write:

‘How sweet to hold a newborn baby,

And feel the pride and joy He gives;

But greater still the calm assurance,

This child can face uncertain day, because He lives.’”

Their faith renewed with the reminder of Christ’s Resurrection power, the couple wrote the famous words encouraging Christians everywhere that God holds the future.

It seems the Gaithers have always had a way with words.

Bill Gaither was inspired with a love for music at a young age, and he formed his first group in college in the 1950s. But his music couldn’t support him full-time, so he became a teacher.

He met and fell in love with Gloria Sickal while teaching high school in Indiana. He taught English, literature and journalism, and she taught French and English. They began to share ideas for songs and sing together. They married in 1962, and by 1967 they had left teaching and were singing and writing songs full-time.

They had quite a few hits as the Gaither Trio, formed with Bill’s brother, Danny Gaither, and Bill Gaither later went on to found the popular Southern gospel group, the Gaither Vocal Band. He and Gloria also created a new forum in the early 1990s in which to showcase Southern gospel music with the popular Homecoming studio videos and concerts around the world, bringing classic and modern groups together. The video series continues and usually goes gold and platinum.

Their talents stretch beyond songwriting and singing. They have written musicals and books, and still produce the periodical Homecoming Magazine. Gaither Studios produces albums for many Christian artists.

Some of the most famous Gaither songs include “The King Is Coming,” “Something Beautiful,” “He Touched Me,” “It Is Finished,” “There’s Just Something About That Name,” “Let’s Just Praise the Lord,” “Loving God, Loving Each Other” and “I Believe in a Hill Called Mount Calvary.”

Bill and Gloria Gaither have collectively won eight Grammy Awards, more than two dozen Dove Awards and have earned the Gospel Music Association’s Songwriter of the Year eight times.

Accolades, however, are not what the Gaithers care about. “Our calling is not just making music … but communicating the reality of Christ,” Bill Gaither told the Desoto Times in 2011. “That might mean birthing a song about Him or simply offering a cup of cold water to someone who needs it. Gloria and I have never claimed to have God figured out, but we do know that if He could use two imperfect people like us to communicate His Truth to the world, He can use everyone sitting in the audience, working on our staff or singing with us. If we have done anything right over the years, I hope we have built bridges where people could connect with God and with each other. That is what started us writing and what will keep us going for the rest of our lives.”

ONLINE: Interviews, concert information and more is featured on www.gaither.com . “Because He Lives” performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spa7WkwjwGw