TITLE:
The Evangelical Imagination: How Stories, Images, and Metaphors Created a Culture in Crisis
AUTHOR: Karen Swallow Prior
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI:
Brazos Press, 2023, (304 pages).
What has imagination got to do with evangelicalism? How far do stories, myths, and metaphors affect our lives? How connected is modern culture with the evangelical Church? Who influences who more? In a book that uses many types of symbols and metaphors, author and professor Karen Swallow Prior gives us a creative snapshot of the state of the evangelical church. More importantly, she takes us back to how we perceive the Church, the evangelical movement, and the insidious influence the world has on public perception. It is a fresh way of thinking with regard to understanding the struggles of the Church and culture today. Taking away the notion of imagination merely as a "brain function," Prior first shows us the central function of imagination beyond mere perceptions, that it heavily influences our everyday living. The second thing is to show us that the evangelical movement is connected to our "social imaginaries." As our culture changes, so do our perceptions of the evangelical movement. After comparing the academic definitions of evangelicalism from theologians David Bebbington, Timothy Larsen, John Stackhouse, and the National Evangelical Association, Prior goes to the layperson's perspective to remind readers that most people don't see evangelicalism in an academic sense.
Instead, they are influenced by the social imaginaries that we all are familiar with: Our Culture. In fact, for Christians, it is a struggle between living as a person made in the image of God and living in a world of sin and all forms of worldliness. Using various words to ignite discussion and reflection, Prior guides us with her literary prowess, language analysis, and her broad knowledge of classic literature to examine the different kinds of stories, images, and metaphors that affect how we view evangelicalism (or simply our faith) today. The word "
awakening" has been used in some of the most famous revivals in the evangelical world. Perhaps, the use of this word comes from the familiar themes of awakening written or romanticized in Shakespeare's, Bunyan's, Dante's, and the Puritans. Even the Bible has its fair share of how people are awakened from their spiritual slumber. "
Conversion" is also a mark of evangelical imagination. From Constantine to Augustine, John Newton to CS Lewis, many conversions have been filled with drama. Nothing is more powerful than to see a life converted from despair to hope, and in Lewis's words, "Surprised by Joy." Prior raises an important question that moves us away from mere conversions toward "What exactly are we asking people to convert to?" This leads us to the word "
Testimony" which is a popular term used by Christians to share the power of the gospel in changing one's life. While most of us would think of a testimony as a form of a before-and-after story, Prior helps us see it from another perspective, such as child conversions and less dramatic forms of coming to Christ. The question becomes: Are we letting our imagination of what testimony should be, straightjacket our personal testimonies in coming to the Lord? "
Improvement" is another word that looks at excellence and progress. Just like how the world sells products constantly as "new and improved," evangelicals are expected to follow the trend. Faster, Higher, Longer, and in many ways better is the key to progress. How does evangelicalism fit into these expectations? I like the way Prior drops a note about seeing progress merely as something to gain and forgetting about what we might lose. We need a fuller picture when we want improvements in anything. Yet we are reminded that there is something more fundamental than mere improvement. Any improvements per se need to grow out of faith, rather than an end in itself. Lest we fall into a self-help whirlpool that could literally suck us into self-actualization over self-denial. Then there is the opposite of forward-looking improvement, the hindsight of "
sentimentality" which takes one either on the nostalgic glories of yesterday, or the emotional inclinations that elevate feelings over faith. In a world of subjective rights and self-centered spirituality, interpretations of evangelicalism are often painted with that brush that puts self above all else. These are some things that are chipping away at the public perception of authority. The danger for evangelicals is not about a lack of authority but a foolish trust in dubious authorities. Together with this sense of wrongful placement of authority is the danger of "
materiality." Evangelicalism has also been infected by the god of materialism. How does this impact the shape of evangelicalism? From images to visual culture, Prior shows us how the visual world has changed the way we believe. Apart from the dangers of Money, there is another concern. From print to visual art, there is another common thread and threat: Dualism. Then there is "
Domesticity" which is another way to describe the perception of home, keeping a strict distinction between what is private and what is public. Did evangelicalism help liberate women? The author says yes. In "
Empire," we are reminded about how powers shape the place we live in. The Church and Christianity have a long history in shaping the kingdoms of this world. Works like "Robinson Crusoe" embodies this form of modern empire on developing lands. From the gunboat evangelism of old to the more recent export of the prosperity gospel, the formation of Moody Bible Institute to the Billy Graham Crusades, Prior takes us through the range of evangelical influences to remind us of the ongoing impact of evangelicalism. She warns us not to let this become an "empire of dirt." Prior closes the book with reflections around the words "
Reformation" and "
Rapture" to show us the essence of formation and imagination of the future.
My Thoughts
Even though the author is not a historian, she is well-versed in the events of history. Though she is not a theologian, she writes with much knowledge about the state of churches and evangelical culture. Through the use of many secondary sources, Prior manages to give us a fair spectrum of what evangelical culture is. Not only that, she meticulously uncovers many different rocks on the beach of culture, to reveal that there is more than meets the eye with regard to conventional perceptions of evangelicalism. One question constantly hovers above me. It is about the question of influence. Evangelical faith and modern culture: Which is the greater influence over the other? If we begin each chapter with a 50/50 mindset, we soon realize that it could go either way. Overall, there is a sense that the force of modern culture is stronger. This is particularly so when it comes to the topics of "improvement," "sentimentality," Materiality," and "Empire." From social engagement to politics, evangelicals often imagine their faith in the light of the world instead of Christ. This is sad. There are many warnings that the author has placed either directly or more often subtly, that the evangelicals need to wake up from their slumber. Like the frog swimming in a warming pot metaphor, the fire is there, the water is getting warmer, and the evangelical frog is getting more comfortable. If this book can wake this frog up, it will be a great wake-up call.
Prior's reflections challenge me to ask: What does it take to reverse the tide of influence? I believe the last chapter on "Rapture" has much to guide us toward. It calls for imagination in the most profound way, God's Way, God's Will, in God's Word. If only more evangelicals can be enraptured by the vision of God's coming kingdom, captured by Jesus' heart of love, and empowered by the Holy Spirit, let our imagination rise up to heaven, that God's will be done on earth as it is in heaven. For such a profound book to be written by a non-theologian, I must say I am impressed with the depth of theological insights. For too long, evangelical since the days of Trump has come under a negative light. Hopefully, this book can be a form of constructive feedback and corrective against an ever-growing tide of pessimism. Anyone concerned about the future of the evangelical movement should read this book.
Karen Swallow Prior (PhD, SUNY Buffalo) is research professor of English and Christianity & Culture at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. She is an award-winning author and one of today's leading evangelical writers and commentators. Her book On Reading Well: Finding the Good Life through Great Books was recognized as a Publishers Weekly Book of the Year in Religion in 2018. She is a frequent speaker, is a monthly columnist at Religion New Service, and has written for Christianity Today, The Atlantic, the Washington Post, the New York Times, and The Gospel Coalition. She is also a senior fellow with the Trinity Forum and a member of the Faith Advisory Council of the Humane Society of the United States. Prior lives with her husband in central Virginia.
Rating: 4.75 stars out of 5.
conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of Brazos Press via NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.
No comments:
Post a Comment