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 Listen to an episode of Christ the Center entitled Getting the Blues. (Reformed Forum)
Publisher's Description: David expresses his dark side in the Psalms.
The prophets cry out in anguish and condemn social injustices.
And Paul bemoans his frailty as a man.
In Getting the Blues, Stephen Nichols examines this dissonance in the Bible—what he calls "theology in a minor key"—and leads the reader in a vivid exploration of how blues music offers powerful insight into the biblical narrative and the life of Jesus.
Subtly weaving Bible stories together with intriguing details of the lives of blues musicians such as Robert Johnson and Muddy Waters, Nichols reveals what blues music teaches about sin, suffering, alienation, and worship. He delves into how the blues can intensify our understanding of bondage to sin and redemption and how the blues encourage us to strive for justice and righteousness.
Getting the Blues will resonate with anyone interested in Christianity and culture. In the end, readers will emerge with a deeper understanding of the value of a theology that lingers on the dark side and embraces Good Friday as well as Easter, suffering as well as joy.
Author Information: Stephen J. Nichols (PhD, Westminster Theological Seminary) is research professor of Christianity and culture at Lancaster Bible College. He is the author of several books, including Jesus Made in America: A Cultural History from the Puritans to the Passion of the Christ and The Reformation: How a Monk and a Mallet Changed the World. Nichols lives with his wife and children in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
192 pages
Published September 2008 |
