Finished my essay today exploring the strengths and weaknesses of ethical preaching as an approach to contemporary homiletics. Instead of being encouraged I actually felt discouraged. Why?
Well, have been having some interesting conversations recently with preachers and those training in preaching and theology. Mention the idea of principalities and powers to them, preaching as an ethic in itself, nonviolent resistance, or anything similar and they just stare at you blankly, think you're strange (though they may be right!), or just keep coming back to preaching on ethical issues. Even when you begin to explain people in general just seem so uninterested. Ahhhhh!!!!!!!!!
Have begun reading Walter Wink's trilogy on the powers (thanks to the kindness of someone open-handed with their books and borrowing time-limit!) and as he argues both rightly and persuasively in the first book the language of the powers pervades the New Testament. Put Wink's book aside and just take a flick through a Bible and even in english that much becomes obvious. Wink's extensive study of the original language is concretising that even further and opening up passages I had never seen before.
Why, if we claim to 'preach the Word', and be 'Bible-believing Christians' do we fail to take this seriously or make any attenpt to engage? It seems absurd!
My recent reading of this term has opened up my mind and my theological reflections to begin to realise the need to engage more in the ethics of nonviolent resistance. This has lead to a re-shaping of how I view the practice of preaching, the nature of prophesy, the role of the church ... a whole load of things. My pastor warned me that going to college would mess with my mind, my theology and my life ... he was right ... but in a good way ... maybe.
While I have been re-shaping, re-thinking and re-imagining I have also realised how isolating it can be. As I discuss and reflect there appears to only be a few people who 'get it' are willing to engage ... or have even heard of certain authors etc. It's not that I think my thoughts are above or better than anyone else's, I guess I just expected not to be one of the only ones I know thinking these thoughts in this way.
Perhaps I am just strange. Or perhaps I am experiencing what I have one in several courses - that intense frustration that you just have to work through until you get to the otherside and can live in patience and hope again. Or perhaps borrowing the words of William Stringfellow more needs to be done in terms of 'raising the dead in mind and conscience.'
Why do we not take more seriously the principalities and powers? Why do we not see that Jesus preaching, and indeed his very life, was about nonviolent resistance in the face of these powers that inaugrated a different vision and way of life? Why do we spend so much time focusing on Jesus death that we forget His life was filled with meaning too? Perhaps it is because we are still held captive, or at least live in complicity, to the powers rather than in the resurrected Word that spoke redemption and life? Lord, wake us up!!!
1 comment:
Can I just say, even though I KNOW you are strange - ;P - I completely understand your sentiments here.
For a method of witnessing the greatness and awesome glory of our Lord, we (as in a very general "we") do seem to take it for granted.
People seem to be so interested in getting something that is personally appealing, that they forget the wider consequences of such, God is not always personally appealing!
Not to mention the fact, that 'back in the day' to speak out again the principalities and powers, spiritual, ethical or otherwise, was seen as a major move for chance and challenge.
I think though some of this is down to the fact that our society no longer wishes challenge or to be challenged. We are so enveloped in being all-inclusive and politically correct that anything seen as 'different' can sometimes be treated with suspicion.
If it is any consolation Mo - Pastor Rabbi Ron fully supports and agrees with you. Then again, I am strange so this may hinder your case... Oh dear...
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