Preaching Re-Imagined – Book Review
When I read about Doug Pagitt‘s upcoming book “Preaching Re-Imagined: The Role of the Sermon in Communities of Faith”, I was intrigued. While an infrequent guest preacher at a few churches, I have long struggled with how effective the traditional sermon is. Additionally, I was excited by the possibilities this proposed new approach might offer other areas of spiritual formation.
To this point, I have a read a few other reviews on this book, the best being by Scot McKnight & Brad Boydston which can be found Here. I would encourage you to read the entire series of dialogical reviews these guys post on this topic. That being said, I wanted to offer my 2 cents.
Doug makes a plea for a more progressional dialogue to replace the more common sermon model- what he calls “speaching”. I believe that Pagitt’s ideas offer an exciting opportunity to “re-imagine” how we engage in spiritual & missional formation by embracing the need for the openness and humility that comes through communal learning. He wisely affirms both a need for embracing a multiplicity of perspectives while committing to truly being open to have ones mind changed, convinced, “converted”. The thesis of the book is one that I heartily agree with.
Though I affirm the need to explore these issues, even critiquing “older” methods, I found that so called “speaching” was given a raw deal. At one point, Pagitt says:
And yet, throughout the book, he presents critiques that seem to go much further. In fact, in the same paragraph as the statement above, he also calls speaching “dehumanizing”. In my view, dehumanization is a serious upgrade from “low-grade fever”. I still believe that there remains a place for traditional preaching/teaching. What is hardly addressed in the book are the larger issues surrounding the way we “do” church- issues that would greatly mitigate some of the challenges of so-called “speaching”.
Finally, when I got to “Section 6: How to Make the Move” (which represents just under 70 pages of the 248 pages), I was eager to finally explore this new model. However, even this section is significantly dedicated to deconstructing the “old” rather than exploring the “new”. This isn’t to say that the book doesn’t offer helpful tools and ideas. In fact, there are several very important elements explored. But I felt they only whet the appetite, leaving the reader wanting more, with few options of where to turn.
Again, I want to reaffirm my agreement with and commitment to this new approach to spiritual formation. In fact, believe that the implications of Doug’s book extend beyond just pastors & sermons, but hold promising possibilities for people on all levels of discipleship. I believe it also speaks to the dysfunction of our current educational models in the larger culture. The intent of this book is both valid and necessary.
The book offers a fair apologetic for those questioning the current model and wanting to explore other options. However, I am not sure those who most need to read this book will pick it up, and if they do, won’t be convinced by it. Nor that the majority of those people who will read this book need convincing in the first place. I am not sure if Pagitt delivered on the promise the title suggests, but I hope he has started a dialogue in which all of our voices will take it the needed extra miles.
Good review, Jamie. Good thoughts; I think you picked out a point that has been thrown around a lot about the emergent movement. Tell us what you are for; don’t just tell us what you are against. Offering a solution and action are ways to move forward. It’s easy to tell where they’re wrong, it’s hard to act to fix a problem.
Anyway, it’s great that Doug is the first to stick his neck out and (try to ) offer a new way. While it’s not perfect, hopefully you’re right in saying that this will start good dialogue on this issue. Hopefully these ideas get to those that need them most!
I am now donning my curmudgeonly robes and pointy hat.
“Speaching”? Egads. Ochone. Oy.
Ok… I get that it’s something like “speech” not paying attention to the red light and doing a rear-ender on “preaching”. But… what kind of sick violence to the English language is this? “Speeching” isn’t acceptable, but at least is almost a viable word.
speech: a noun
preach: a verb
-ing: a suffix used to create present participles; a suffix to create a noun from a verb; or in older use it was also a means of forming diminutives (Webster’s 1913 gives “lording”, and “farthing” as examples.) — for all of these you have to have a valid root word to tack it onto… and we have:
speach: a lisping peach? a peach with a little, squiggly worm at one end?
Yes, I know I have gotten totally hung up on this example of linguistic self-abuse and avoided the subject of the book. But then, I am prone to ignore gimicky “creativity” as it implies a certain self-congratulatory wittiness over a sincere and honest concern for the subject at hand.
And now I am removing my curmudgeonly robes and point hat and exchanging them for a full-body flame-retardant asbestos hazmat suit.
Lukas,
Thanks for the comment. I wanted to share the negatives without it coming across as bashing the book or Doug. I hope it worked.
Ephrem,
LOL! Just remember, I didn’t invent the word. You just have it in for Doug since you read the fictional dialogue he had over at Tony Jones’s blog.
Peace,
Jamie
"You just have it in for Doug since you read the fictional dialogue he had over at Tony Jones’s blog."
Who, me?
Between the fictional character of his name suggesting that the Trinity is an outdated theology and the non-fictional character of his name coining a word like "speaching" I have two characters of his name to take to the mats. But those are two different offenses by two different characters.
Just one more thing to add to the discussion here:
One, two! One, two! And through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.
Charles L. Dodgson
Sinseeringly…
Ephrem
(P.S. In truth, I have no problem with D.P. the person — I don’t know him. But I’m up to my eyeballs in new-jangly jargon.)
E
I was going to comment on the post but then I read Ephrem’s comments. Now that I’ve had my chuckle I’ve gone and lost my train of thought. I shall return.
Sorry, there, Grey Owl. Didn’t mean to lose your train for you. If I see it I’ll let it know you’re looking for it.
Come down a level folks!
Too smart for my blood…but wanted to give a little shout out to Jamie with regards to his anniversary!
Hey Angela,
Thanks for the shout out. However, I happen to know that you are indeed very smart.
Peace,
Jamie
Hi Jamie, having not read the book, I shouldn’t really comment. But, I’m thinking preaching or " speaching " is not the problem. For me it’s carbon copy theology. During my summer vacation I toured around to check out churches…and thier messages. For the most part, what I heard lacked relevance… it was historical and boring.
Articulation of the gospel is shaped by the culture, but at the same time challenges the socio-cultural context. It is obvious that culture is very significant and has a large influence on our theology. Too often " Churches " have answered questions that no one was asking, and left unanswered questions that people desperately wanted to have answered.
Culture will greatly influence the way theology is expressed. The word pictures, metaphors, and ways of thinking and analyzing Scripture will differ from culture to culture.
And the reality is almost every church finds itself embedded in a different culture, even if it is only slight say, between Winnipeg and Victoria. And in each culture, if churches are truly missional spending more time in the world than the building…that culture will change our language, it won’t change the truth. But the language, will not be speaching or preaching…it will be transformational because it will be in the language of the culture.
I know this might be a little of topic, but I hope it makes some sense and adds to the conversation.
Jamie…recommend a good novel for me to read that I can pick up here in Australia. Something interesting and light. Not too deep. I am on holidays!
Thanks
Jaimie,
Good review. I agree completely. Thanks. I have posted at my blog as well about the book.
http://firstmovethyself.blogspot.com/2006/02/review-of-preaching-re-imagined-by.html
Thanks Andy. Peace, Jamie