Tuesday, July 24, 2007

On Rhetoric: Theology of Words

God has revealed Himself to man through words. With words He fashioned the earth, with words He conversed with saints of old. He preserved His truth for eternity in written words as well as in Jesus Christ, the Living and Final Word.

The written words of God employ artful use of various literary styles. God could have spoken to us in any way He chose - He chose to combine both beauty and truth utilizing precise words, captivating stories, and illuminating word pictures.

As God's image-bearers, we are to imitate Him. Therefore, we should strive to communicate truth in the same way He does...clearly and beautifully. This is the essence of writing - the accurate and artful presentation of truth - through prose, poetry, story, argumentation, etc.

A warning is appropriate here. We must consider Paul's rebuke to the Christians at Corinth who were being deceived by the "clever speech" of some of their teachers. Paul admonishes them not to be drawn toward division and heresy by "wise-sounding words." Our purpose is not to teach high and heady language to our students so that they "sound" good, but to assist them in the pulling down of strongholds, the refutation of vain philosophies and the destruction of every argument raised up against the knowledge of God (II Cor 10). Our aim is to equip them to use words in a manner worthy of their calling in Christ Jesus.

We desire that our students discern what is true (a work of the Holy Spirit through God's Word), then articulate this truth according to the bent of their audience. They should be ready to give an answer to opponents and they should be ready to edify the body of Christ.

In teaching composition, we seek to enable students to fulfill their Christian duties in the realm of writing by giving them tools for achieving excellence in structure and style.

No comments: