Related articles and links |  1 of 3

Mark Allan Powell is professor of New Testament at Trinity Lutheran Seminary and an ordained minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. He is the author of 17 books and over 100 published articles on theology and the Bible.

Powell is a leading scholar in study of the Gospel of Matthew, has done influential work in understanding the Bible as literature, and has been a primary researcher in study of the historical Jesus. With his latest book, he changes gears to look at how figures such as Larry Norman, Stryper, and Aretha Franklin have contributed to the body of Christ. Powell's Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music (Hendrickson) is a 1,067-page collection of reviews, discographies, and critical summaries of artists—from household names to the obscure. As Powell writes in the introductions, "They're all here: the pilgrims, the pious, the outcasts, the hypocrites, the prophets, the heretics, and the martyrs. Rock & roll is a beautiful thing and it is my contention that the history of rock cannot be understood without consideration of the square pegs and misfits who inhabit the pages of this book."

Christianity Today's Todd Hertz spoke with Powell about why he wrote the book, the importance of obscure musicians, and the theological merits of rock.

Why did you write the Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music?

I worked as a general market rock journalist and critic over 30 years ago [for The Houston Post]. In 1970 I became part of the Jesus movement revival at the time of the very earliest contemporary Christian music artists. The music was very meaningful to me.

As I became a professional theologian and I learned to think of things in what are supposed to be sophisticated and nuanced ways, I have never forgotten how much that music meant to me and how important it was to my faith development.

This book is an odd addition to a list of theological works including Jesus As a Figure in History. What has been the reaction from your peers?

In general, this music has not been taken seriously by the church and by theologians. My peers in a good-hearted way think this is a fluke. I often get asked "Why are you wasting your time in something that is not any more important than this?"

When I was pitching the book, an editor of a publishing company told me, "I can't understand why this stuff is important when I don't know anything about it." When I hear that attitude, it smacks of elitism. The church's intellectuals want to say this music, that is so meaningful to literally millions of people, cannot be important because it doesn't appeal to us.

So why would a theology professor care about contemporary Christian music?

These musicians are examples of what some theologians call "living human documents." As scholars we need to pay attention to not only texts but also people upon whose lives God continues to write his word.

I view the artists in my book as amateur theologians and take them very seriously in that light. They are everyday Christians sharing their lives of faith. They represent the people of the church for whom I am supposed to be doing my theology in the first place.

In addition, if we take seriously a doctrine of the Spirit, then sometimes we have to yield our understanding to theirs. I learn from what God has done for them. I believe it has always been in God's nature to reveal his truth not to the most educated people in the world, but those who are serving God with their whole heart. I sometimes sense more of the insight into God's truth from some of these amateur theologians than I do from many of my professional colleagues.

next page... |  1 of 3

August (Web-only) 2002, Vol. 46