Theology and the Blues

While all music genres incorporate religious imagery, the blues has its origin in the soil of the church. In its infancy, the blues was often dismissed as undermining the church’s gospel songbook. The initial resistance, however, could not suppress the organic development of a genre of music born from suffering. The great Mississippi Delta bluesman, Muddy Waters, once said, ＂The blues was born behind a mule.＂ Behind a beast of burden, the working man found in the blues a way to console the everyday experiences of struggle, sin, loss, despair, love, grief, sin, death, and the fear and hope of crossing the River Jordan into eternal life. The church’s gospel songbook explores doctrinal foundations set to music, but the blues dares to uncover insight into the lived experiences of spiritual journeys. Theology and the Blues showcases theological themes inherent within the organic and expressive genre of the blues.

Justin McLendon is professor of theology at Grand Canyon University and department chair for the Master of Arts programs for Grand Canyon Theological Seminary.