Jazz music leaves few people indifferent. When it first appeared, in the early twentieth century, some, especially white Americans, published screeds with titles such as “Unspeakable Jazz Must Go” or the racist “Why ‘Jazz’ Sends Us Back to the Jungle.”1 Others, including notable musicians and composers such as George Gershwin and Igor Stravinsky, embraced it with enthusiasm, finding it fresh and authentic. Maurice Ravel said he liked it better than high opera.

When it first appeared in 1960, Hans Rookmaaker’s book, written in Dutch, was a publishing event. It was a defense of this music before a public either hostile, or largely unaware of its beauties. Though his official position was professor of art history at the Free University of Amsterdam, Rookmaaker had already distinguished himself as an expert on the music of African Americans. He was the editor of the European edition of the great Riverside Records. The liner notes on these albums is worth their price in gold.

His work is scholarly and thorough, but it stems from his personal love for the music. He was once in our living room, and we only had a harpsichord, no piano, yet he requested I play “Honky Tonk Train Blues” by the great Meade Lux Lewis. When I was a student we had a jazz band and Hans was our mentor. His beloved wife, Anky, once told me he never studied or did much of anything without jazz music being played in the background on 78s or vinyls. He traveled often to the United States and there was able to meet with some of the greats, including Mahalia Jackson. His first meeting with his life’s colleague, Francis Schaeffer, was motivated by a hope to learn about jazz from an American.

This love comes across eloquently in these pages. And as we would expect from such a devotee his judgments are also abundant. Rookmaaker constantly reminds the reader not to evaluate the music according to the Western standards of “classical” music. He rails against sentimental “pseudo-jazz.” He believed there was a kind of “fall” from the purity of New Orleans jazz, as played by King Oliver in the early 1920s, to the more individualistic jazz of Chicago style, exemplified by Louis Armstrong. Rookmaaker has little time for modern jazz, as he thought it had been tainted by “Existentialism” and other humanistic philosophies.

The most authentic jazz is inspired by the Christian faith of many of its performers. Jazz originates in the church. It was there that spirituals were generated, inspired by the hymns of Isaac Watts and Charles Wesley. A high point in such music is the quartet styles, such as the Spirit of Memphis Quartet, with its close harmonies and biblical allusions. Duke Ellington wrote three sacred concerts to the glory of God. Even the blues, which are not played in church, carry a message of protest congenial to biblical prophecies. Before dismissing these views as wishful thinking, we need to read these pages respectfully and generously, humbly examining the evidence adduced. Rookmaaker has left few stones unturned. The book is a remarkable piece of ethnomusicology, and an even more remarkable piece of intellectual history.

We may be deeply grateful to the Rookmaaker family for giving us the green light on this republication. And very special thanks are due to the Case Family Properties Foundation for their support of this standalone volume. May it be an inspiration to many, in an age when music is so often anything but exquisite.

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Jazz, Blues, and Spirituals: The Origins and Spirituality of Black Music in the United States, New Edition by Hans Rookmaaker

John M. Frame (AB, Princeton University; BD, Westminster Theological Seminary; MA and MPhil, Yale University; DD, Belhaven College) holds the J. D. Trimble Chair of Systematic Theology and Philosophy at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando and is the author of many books, including the four-volume Theology of Lordship series.

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Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Christian Belief

Systematic Theology is the culmination and creative synthesis of John Frame’s writing on, teaching about, and studying of the Word of God. This magisterial opus—at once biblical, clear, cogent, readable, accessible, and practical—summarizes the mature thought of one of the most important and original Reformed theologians of the last hundred years. It will enable you to see clearly how the Bible explains God’s great, sweeping plan for mankind.

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Salvation Belongs to the Lord: An Introduction to Systematic Theology

Beginning students of theology and church leaders looking for a theological refresher or teaching tool will welcome this remarkably clear introduction to the doctrines of Scripture. In an almost conversational style, Salvation Belongs to the Lord explores all the major biblical truths, explains key terms of systematic theology, and reflects on their implications and connections under the lordship of Christ.

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A Theology of Lordship: 4 Volume Set

John Frame’s Theology of Lordship series explores theology as the application of God’s word to our lives in all situations. Frame speaks to the whole of the Christian life: God’s relationship to us, faith, apologetics, theology and philosophy, science and ethics, sexuality, Christ and culture, God’s personal communication to us in his Word, and more. 

A Theology of Lordship includes:

• Book 1 – The Doctrine of the Knowledge of God (1987)
• Book 2 – The Doctrine of God (2002)
• Book 3 – The Doctrine of the Christian Life (2008)
• Book 4 – The Doctrine of the Word of God (2010)

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A History of Western Philosophy and Theology

Christians should evaluate philosophy by biblical criteria. This will shed greater light on the developments in the history of philosophy and better prepare us for the intellectual challenges of our time. The fall of Adam brought intellectual as well as moral corruption on the human race, and the effects of the fall can be seen in the work of philosophers, most of whom try to understand the world autonomously—through reasoning apart from God’s revelation. Some philosophers have appealed to God’s revelation, but their work has often been compromised with the wisdom of the world. Revelation should inform reason, and not the other way round. In the past, even Christian theology was corrupted by the movement toward intellectual autonomy, creating the tradition of liberalism, which has unhappily dominated academic theology down to the present day. But there is hope—a new generation of Christian thinkers take God’s Word seriously. Frame’s unique new contribution augments that process.

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Apologetics: A Justification of Christian Belief

Renowned theologian John Frame sheds much-needed light on the message and method of genuinely Christian apologetics in this landmark title. He insightfully examines apologetics in terms of proof, defense, and offense and clarifies the relationships of reason, proofs, and evidences to faith, biblical authority, and the lordship of Christ.

Two subjects of particular note are Frame’s fresh look at probability arguments and a stimulating investigation into the problem of evil. 

Some of the most valuable elements of this book are Frame’s extensive use of Scripture and his presentation of specific lines of argument. There is also a model dialogue in the concluding chapter that shows how these lines of argument work in conversation.

This is an extensively redeveloped and expanded version of Frame’s previous work, Apologetics to the Glory of God.

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Worship in Spirit and Truth: A Refreshing Study of the Principles and Practice of Biblical Worship

This fresh, practical study of worship throws needed light on questions about worship content, music, atmosphere, structure, freedom, clarity, recent trends, and much more. Study groups, church leaders, and all seeking to enrich their experience of worship will profit from this insightful look at the kind of worship that pleases God.

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Contemporary Worship Music: A Biblical Defense

John Frame answers objections to contemporary worship music by noting its biblical strengths and benefits in worship.

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Cornelius Van Til: An Analysis of His Thought

The insights of Cornelius Van Til have generated intense discussion among friends and foes alike. Until now nearly everything written about Van Til has come from either uncritical followers or unsympathetic critics.

This volume, marking the one hundredth anniversary of Van Til’s birth, combines deep appreciation with incisive critical analysis of the renowned Westminster apologist’s ideas. John M. Frame offers warm personal reflections on Van Til’s life and a close examination of his thought, including his interaction with prominent figures in the Reformed, evangelical, and secular communities. In terms of its spirit, scope, clarity, and profundity, this volume is must reading for serious students of apologetics and theology.

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No Other God: A Response to Open Theism

The theological movement known as open theism is shaking the church today, challenging the Reformed doctrines of God’s sovereignty, foreknowledge, and providence.

In this timely work, John M. Frame clearly describes open theism and evaluates it biblically. He not only answers open theist arguments but goes on to sharpen our understanding of the relationship between God’s eternal plan and the decisions or events of our lives. 

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John Frame’s Selected Shorter Writings: In 3 Volumes

• Volume 1
• Volume 2
• Volume 3

Short, pointed essays summarize some of John Frame’s central (and a few peripheral) ideas on theological method, apologetics, and ethics, beginning with Frame’s shortest and clearest presentation of his signature concept of triperspectivalism—the need to read Scripture from various perspectives, especially threefold perspectives that reflect the nature of the Trinity.

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Theology in Three Dimensions: A Guide to Triperspectivalism and Its Significance

Because God created all things with coherent unity, everything can be understood from the perspective of everything else. We experience the world in the context of our own bodies, but every day we broaden our understanding through the perspectives of others. Meanwhile, our omniscient God is also omniperspectival. Through his revelation, he allows us a glimpse of his own divine perspective.

What does this mean for us? One valuable dimension of this reality is that theological issues can also be helpfully viewed from multiple perspectives without compromising their unity and truth. In this accessible introduction to his Bible study and theological method, John Frame teaches us to approach doctrine with situational, normative, and existential perspectives modeled on the Trinity.

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1. INCORPORATE INTENTIONAL OUTREACH TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES INTO THE DNA OF YOUR CHURCH’S MISSION FROM THE START.

People with disabilities, on average, comprise about 20 percent of the population in any given community. If you are planting a new church (or growing an existing one) and not thinking about your neighbors who are touched by disability, you have already lost access to a fifth of your community.

2. LEARN TO SEE THE PERSON FIRST, NOT THE DISABILITY.

This doesn’t mean you ignore that a person has a disabling condition or pretend that their impairment does not exist. Instead, you see them first and foremost as an image bearer of God. Look for the goodness, truth, and beauty of God in every human being you meet. When you do, it will change the way you see others. In fact, it will change the way you see yourself.

3. APPROACH PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES WITH A POSITIVE SENSE OF EXPECTANCY.

Just as we need to focus on the image-bearing capacities of every human being, we also need to approach others anticipating that we will find good gifts in them, not just “needs.” These abilities are not “in spite of” their disabilities; they are often fostered through their disabilities. When we fail to approach people with disabilities with an eagerness to see how they are uniquely gifted by God, we will tend to miss their God-given capacities—or worse, dismiss them.

4. APPROACH PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AS A “LEARNER” AND NOT A “FIXER.”

How we approach others has a lot to do with the lens of our worldview. If we perceive people with disabilities as aberrations in the world, we will tend to treat those we perceive to be different from ourselves with condescension and pity. However, if we approach people with disabilities from a posture of humility and of being a learner—with the recognition that our fear and uncertainty is what often distances us from others, —it can be the start of a respectful and rewarding relationship.

5. RECOGNIZE THAT DISABILITY IS BODILY, BUT THAT IT IS NOT ONLY BODILY—IT ALSO HAS A SOCIAL DIMENSION.

Disability has to do with an impairment of the body that results in it functioning differently than we expect it to. But disability has a social dimension as well. The social aspect of disability involves the ways in which we passively and actively oppress others through our actions and attitudes. Grace-based ministry alongside people with disability requires honest self-reflection about, and repentance from, preconceived ideas that create barriers to the gospel being accessible to all.

6. REMEMBER THAT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES HAVE THE SAME GREATEST NEED THAT ALL OTHERS DO.

All of us, first and foremost, have a deep need to know the saving grace of Jesus Christ, a true experience of belonging to and flourishing in the body of Christ, and the eternal hope of the restoration of all things at the consummation of Christ’s kingdom. That’s good news.

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Same Lake, Different Boat: Coming Alongside People Touched by Disability by Stephanie Hubach

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