John Peterson's decision not to compromise his gospel songwriting by removing references to Jesus Christ illustrates the importance of holding fast to one's faith. When a secular publisher offered a contract for his song "Over the Sunset Mountains" but requested lyric changes to avoid offense, Peterson agonized over the decision. Ultimately, he refused to remove the name of Jesus, choosing integrity over potential fame and fortune, a choice that aligns with Philippians 2:5-11, which emphasizes Christ's humility and exaltation.
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John Peterson grew up as a farm boy near Linsburg, Kansas. Later was a pilot with the Air Force. But now is well known around the world as a gospel songwriter. One day after writing the song, It Took a Miracle, John Peterson wrote another song that had great possibilities. Here's the way he tells about it in his book. That same year I wrote a song called Over the Sunset Mountains and introduced it over WMBI. The audience reaction was unusually strong. So I made a demonstration record with Bill Pierce and Dick Anthony and started to send it around to various companies. By the way, we have a recording of Bill Pierce and Dick Anthony singing Over the Sunset Mountains for you in just a few moments.
John Peterson goes on. An important secular publisher became interested in it and offered me a contract. As he painted a fantastic picture of hit recordings and piles of royalty income, my head began to swim. There was only one thing about the song, a question of changing the lyrics to avoid possible offense. Couldn't I eliminate reference to Jesus and develop the idea of heaven further? The publisher's request put me in a bind. Obviously he would not take the song unless I made changes. I had nothing against further references to heaven. I often wrote about heaven, but to take out the name of my Lord and Savior.
Could I do that with a clear conscience? I agonized over the decision, but at last I knew I could not compromise myself as a gospel songwriter. I could not shun the name of Jesus Christ. Needless to say, I left without the contract, and my dreams for a major song hit were shattered. On the way home I felt disappointed, but confident I had made the right decision. Over the sunset mountain, someday I'll softly go into the army of the He who
has loved his own. Of the sun that mountains, heaven away. Over the constant mountain, Jesus my Savior as we. Philippians chapter two, have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who although he existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped. But emptied himself, taking the form of a bondservant, and being made in the likeness of men, and being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient, to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Therefore also God highly exalted him, and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father." How do you use the name of the Lord Jesus Christ? To John Peterson that name was important. He would not compromise that name. Again, how do you use the name of the Lord Jesus Christ?