The other day, I commented on this tweet about those training for ministry and the benefits of reading the Brontes, Austen and other literary classics.
It’s probably worth me clarifying to avoid any doubt that my article wasn’t intended as a direct response to the specific argument the original tweet was making. Indeed, as I’ll flesh out below, making such a direct response isn’t really easy because I’m not sure that I’m clear as to what the main point was. Indeed, my concern was not so much with the specific example as with the kind of culture that acts as the backdrop to such statements.
However, I do think that the original statement highlights some other challenges in terms of Christian culture and conversation. As I said above, I wasn’t too sure what the main point was, i.e. is Chad’s main concern that seminarians should read the books he refers to or that they should learn about the types of clergymen that the books portray.
In terms of both possible points, I think his argument is hindered by a sense of “if you know, you know.” In other words, he speaks primarily to the gallery, inviting them to nod along in agreement with him. He writes for those who already have read the books and who agree with his assessment. They therefore know what he means when he talks about the clergymen in question.
Now, that may well be intentional, and if it is, then there isn’t a problem with that per-se. He has his intended audience and it doesn’t include people like me who have never read the Brontes. At that point, although he wants me to be persuaded of the benefits to my ministry, he isn’t specifically trying to persuade me.
The problem however comes when we do want to persuade others. We can too easily assume that our specific cultural capital and presuppositions are known and obvious to all. Yet, for all kinds of reasons, often they are not.
We cannot just assume knowledge and agreement on the part of others. We have a duty both to explain and convince. I fear that both of these things are becoming a lost art in an age when we are used to performing to the gallery. Yet, if we are serious about proclaiming the Gospel to an increasingly secular world, a world increasingly remote from the one we know, then I cannot just assume that if you know, you know.
Faithroots 