On the pulpit in Salisbury Cathedral: St Paul (I think...)Some thoughts towards an article addressing the issue raised in this post, namely 'who is in the pew as the preacher preaches, theologically speaking? Here is my preliminary list:
- a creature, addressed by God and called to respond.
- a creature among other creatures, like and unlike.
- a creature who is, here and now, here and now.
- a creature of flesh and blood.
- a creature of hand, heart and head
- a creature of imagination and memory
- a creature tempted and tested by the devil
- a creature scarred by sin
- a creature facing death
- a creature whose flesh Christ took on, and for whom Christ died
- a creature addressed by God, and called to respond
Somehow, I would like to get Jesus in there earlier. But I kinda like the way this ends, which means you can take the Jesus bit and read it all back in to the others. In fact, the incarnation, life of obedience, passion and resurrection give us most of these again in a second way. And, also, I make no distinction between believers and unbelievers here. Ought I?
11 comments:
Also, I do nothing here with the Pauline idea of sarx and pneuma, though I think they are here in another way.
It might be worth stating that all creatures gathered present are so gathered by the perfecting work of the Spirit. They do not need to respond the same way in order for this to be an accurate description - hence the true vs. untrue church dilemma. They have all been gathered to hear the voice of the Good shepherd in whose image their existence is held in promise.
Got any text for me here?
I wonder where this tone comes from? To me it has a kind of faux nineteenth century oratorical solemntiy. It does seem apt, as a way of expressing that sermonising is a unique activity and very special, however I must admit I also find it a little irritating.
"A creature among other creatures, like and unlike". Is this sort of saying "the people listening to my sermon all have some similarities but also inidividual personalities". It has an admirable poetic brevity, but it is also a slightly weird way of talking. Are sermons supposed to be weird?
I would hope yes that sermons are a little weird! I meant by that phrase 'like and unlike' that humans are among other creatures: their fellow humans and the animals, is all.
'faux nineteenth century etc'
Ouch! I guess I am just trying to find a compressed and memorable way of putting it.
Yeah, I'm sorry for the ouch factor, but its in the context of deepest respect natch... I think I'm reaching for some sort of paradox there: the miracle that ordinary speech and plain logic can be the vehicle of grace is so profound and startling, its tempting to speak in reverent tones about it, however adopting a special tone of speech to celebrate the power of God in ordinary speech seems contradictory? My attempt to paraphase does lend credence to your "compressed and memorable" defence...
You have a point: the pomposity of religious/theological language should be anathematized! Especially if we think that archaisms carry more holiness in some way...
How about "If anyone is in Christ—new creation!" I'm sure that's in the bible somewhere. Of course we are in the overlap of ages, of course! But if this is true, perhaps item 10 on your list could be promoted and even recast.
19th century—what's wrong with the 19th century?? "I wandered lonely as a cloud, that floats on high oe'r vale or hill"... That's not too bad is it?
Although it would be kinda fun to see the list revamped into "Yo dude! Bling me out!"speak. There used to be websites that did that sort of translation.
Ok, here is the list in Valley Girl:
a creature, fer shure, addressed by God and called to respond.
a creature among other creatures, like, wow, like and unlike.
a creature who is, mostly, here and now, man, here and now.
a creature of flesh and blood.
a creature of hand, like, wow, heart and head
a creature of imagination and memory
a creature tempted and tested by thuh devil
a creature scarred by sin
a creature facin' death
a creature whose flesh Christ took on, oh, baby, and for whom Christ died
a creature addressed by God, oh, baby, and called to respond
And now in Jive:
a creature, addressed by the big man and called t'respond.
a creature among oda' creatures, likes and unlikes.
a creature who is, here and now, here and now.
a creature uh flesh and blood.
a creature uh hand, heart and 'haid
a creature uh imaginashun and memo'y
a creature tempted and tested by de devil
a creature scarred by sin
a creature facin' dead
a creature whose flesh Christ took on, and fo' whom Christ died
a creature addressed by the big man, and called t'respond
Shut up!
[Valley Girl voice]
I retire, comprehensively outflanked. Go with voice of God! (like, whatever)
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