the:shiverian

non-neutral metaphor

Leonora Tubbs Tisdale, Preaching as Local Theology and Folk Art

"I prefer to think of it [contextual theology] as engaging in a dance of the imagination."

"The preacher, on the one hand, is a dance partner..On the other hand, the preacher is also charged with the task of imaginative choreography."

"The pastor undertakes the dance of interpretation"

Metaphors are of course useful to a point. They can be taken to unhelpful extremes and of course all break down at some point. In addition, we must remember that metaphors are not neutral conveyors of meaning.

Dance. A word that brings up interesting connotations for me:

- the whole fundamentalist anti-dancing stance of my youth
- dancing at a wedding versus dancing saturday night in buckhead, atlanta
- dancing at the prom
- those who stand on the wall and watch others dance. it can be a very elitist activity for the beautiful and confident
- in my experience, dancing is done in dark places where is often difficult to see another face..where the music is loud and the other is often reduced to a sexual object..and thats how people dancing want it..
- at a club in cambridge, we danced in a circle of friends. in atlanta, more one on one
- usually going dancing implies different clothing..making ourselves up
- different types of music to dance too. various beats, rhythms. theme nights.
- watching country line dances..which is a whole different ballgame..

So when I hear that the task of a preacher engaging in contextual theology for a local congregation is a dance, the term is loaded with connotations. These of course will be different for various readers of the text. So when mainline preachers engage this metaphor there are vastly different sets of contextual ethos(s) interacting than when evangelical preachers read it. This, of course, cannot be avoided. If I had choosen to attach a picture to this post, it would have affected you reading differently if I had put this or this.

Just a reminder that all our metaphors (even emerging!) are loaded with background for varying contexts. And of course that the author's intent quickly gets lost in complex interpretation..

So what exactly does Tubbs mean when she says that a preacher is in this dance with Scripture as the leading dance partner? Is it enough to just say "dance"? (she briefly mentions folk dancing and gives it priority over ballet as a model) I can see how this can be a beautiful and wonderful picture of contextualization for some while for others a scandoulous allusion to a ritual oozing with sexualism. Perhaps we can give Tubbs the benefit of doubt and argue she is redeeming the metaphor for some? (and of course the great thing about homiletical works is that you can listen to a sermon of hers here and see if you engage this dance)

This all of course is still in play when we speak (as is en vogue) about the Trinity in dance.

Posted by mark at 10:11 PM | | perm