Theology by Jelly Roll
By: The Rev. Brenda Sol
10/27/24 ~ St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Encinitas, CA
Proper 25 (B): Job 42:1-6, 10-17; Psalm 34:1-8; Mark 10:46-52
Has anyone here heard of the new country artist called Jelly Roll? The confirmation parents heard me talk about him last Sunday. He’s my new favorite musician. He has this resonant voice, and his lyrics are so real.
But, before I share the connections we might make between his music and this morning’s scripture readings, I want to touch on the biblical story of Job a bit more. Because, I don't know about you, but as I listened to Reverend Christina's sermon last week, I wasn’t convinced I’d choose Job’s plight over his earlier life of easy abundance—even though it took him through a meaningful transformation.
I don’t think I’m alone in this. We all want the “Illumination” and “Union” stages of the “Dark Night of the Soul” process that Christina shared. And, now, this morning’s reading from Job, suggests that on the other side of all that suffering and loss, he was rewarded richly with a new abundance of possessions, wealth, and family.
Which is why it’s important to remind ourselves that the book of Job is not a factual account of someone’s life. Rather the book comes from a genre of writing called "Wisdom Literature." It’s a teaching story, of sorts, to help us, not only wrestle with the injustices of life, but to also come to understand that, while we might feel as though God has abandoned us, God is always with us.
Though the style of writing requires that God be depicted as one who accepts a challenge from Satan, then causes Job’s life to completely fall apart, our theology of a loving, compassionate God, clarifies that God does not intentionally cause our suffering. Instead, because we have free will as humans—and, therefore, have made a mess of the planet and our own lives—God accompanies us…buoys us…through even the worst of it.
And, most importantly, as Christina aptly described in the Dark Night of the Soul information, if we’re open it to it, there’s an opportunity for transformation and redemption, as we move through the process. Which brings me back to Jelly Roll.
As I said, his lyrics are so real. He writes—and I would say “prays”, because, to me his songs are prayers—he writes and prays with his eyes wide open to the suffering and injustices of the world, as well as to the personal calamities so many are burdened with. For example, in his song “Save Me”, he prays: “I'm so damaged beyond repair / Life has shattered my hopes and my dreams \ I'm a lost cause.”
Like Job in other readings, and the blind beggar in today’s Gospel, Jelly Roll’s music calls out to God, pointing out the reality of his situation. In his case, Jelly Roll—whose given name is Jason DeFord—had been through horrific times. Throughout his youth and young adult years, he was incarcerated several times for robbery and assault. He also suffered from severe drug addiction.
From behind prison bars, Jelly Roll began his process of redemption by writing lyrics and performing for his fellow inmates. He explains that, later, after the birth of his child, he finally became aware of God’s presence in his life. Now, at age 39, he was nominated for two Grammy’s, and in 2023 was named “New Country Artist of the Year.”
Jelly Roll explores the idea of undeserved grace and his own redemption with his music. In the song, “I Need a Favor”, he writes: “I only talk to God when I need a favor / And I only pray when I ain't got a prayer / So, who…am I, to expect a Savior… / If I only talk to God when I need a favor? / But God, I need a favor.”
And here’s what I know about being willing to tell that kind of truth: that’s when healing and transformation is possible—when we become active participants in the process. So, when the blind man calls out to Jesus, Jesus stops what he’s doing and enters into a mutual process of healing and redemption with the man, asking: "What do you want me to do for you?"
Over and over again, Jesus meets people in their need—in the midst of their complex problems—and joins them in their healing process. We heard Job have a similar conversation with God in last week’s reading.
In another song, called, “I’m not okay”, Jelly Roll sings: “I'm barely getting by / … I know, I can't be the only one / Who's holding on for dear life.”
His lyrics convey the strength that comes through vulnerability—by naming , rather than denying, the reality of what's going on. Similarly, the blind man says to Jesus, "My teacher, let me see again." And Jesus replies, "Go; your faith has made you well."
Jesus does the healing, but it's through our faith that we are made well. Of course, healing is not just overcoming physical ailments. Healing can be overcoming patterns of negative thinking. Healing can be the mending of a relationship. Healing can take the form of forgiveness, releasing hurt, shame and resentment. Healing can take place when we’re given a new perspective on a situation.
Which means our healing doesn’t take place in isolation. The blind man, Job…even Jelly Roll…return to their community healed. The lives of the people around them benefit from that. Redemption has a ripple effect.
I realize this sermon might make some of you worry about me…that I seem to be obsessed with music that says, “I’m not okay.” So, please, hear me when I tell you I’m doing just fine…honestly. It’s just that there’s so much going on in the world—including an upcoming presidential election—that makes me want to scream. But in Jelly Roll’s music, I find assurance, that we’ll get through this together, as his song continues: “But God knows, I know / When it's all said and done / …it's all gonna be alright.”
That’s where our Christian hope lies. Our lives…the world…it’s all a mess. But God is with us. And we can trust that the part of us that wants to scream is actually the Holy Spirit working in us to help us be part of the solution. A book I read about recently says that our journey of discipleship includes (and I quote), “wrestling with questions like: what breaks your heart, what makes you truly alive, and allowing those questions, as well as the pain of the world, to shatter us.”[1]
The authors continue: “When we do that…we discover that [in the midst of that] there’s something arising deep within.” They say that is “the Holy Spirit looking to essentially flow into our lives, take whatever is left of us, and reassemble it into something that can become our unique gift to the world…letting Christ live and love and protest through us.” (end quote)
The awards Jelly Roll is winning aren’t proof of his healing, but his willingness to be a conduit for God’s mercy and grace is. He has attributed his gift for music to God, and I understand that not long ago, he posted this on Instagram:
I am a firm believer that, if we commit crimes, we should do our time and be held accountable for our actions, but I also believe that every human deserves love, no matter how bad of a decision they have made.
Christianity is not about trying to look at the world through rose-colored glasses. It’s about keeping our eyes wide open and discovering where we can convey God’s love and grace in the midst of humanity’s groan toward healing and redemption. As Jelly Roll sings: “It's not okay / But we're all gonna be alright.”
-AMEN
[1] From Letting Heartbreak Be Your Guide by Adam Bucko and Mark Longhurst
