Abstract
This contribution investigates the unbearable tension between the homiletical act of naming reality (with the promise of exposing, challenging and/or triggering creative forces in it) on the one hand, and neglecting this same reality on the other hand, thereby causing it to return to an ignored, unchallenged and degenerated state. The author focuses on tension fields that are generated when preachers embark on the activity of naming realities in their proximate contexts and how they position, withdraw or distance themselves in a certain way when problematic elements (for instance the glaring and seemingly unbridgeable inequality in the situation of Dalits) are opened up by the act of naming. By means of a theological reflection on the renewal of the heart by God’s act of grace in Christ, the author attempts to identify key markers for a homiletic theory that will be able to link the act of naming reality with the act of nurturing (rather than neglecting) this named reality.
Highlights
Speaking and acting out prophetic words of redemption in a world in which patterns of marginalisation, contempt and deprivation are deeply entrenched and kept in place by dominant systems1 proved to be no easy task.Preachers, who meet with resistance against the far-reaching changes implied by their prophetic witness, are all too familiar with debilitating challenges like the following: a deep feeling of powerlessness and inadequacy in the face of mountain-like challenges a discouraging feeling that it is better to remain silent than to give false hope a history of being part of the problem and reluctance to speak boldly fear in the face of a system-challenging message being met with opposition.At its heart, this tension field involves speaking truthful words, not later found to be lacking integrity
Naming an aspect of reality2 implies the boldness of attempting to voice the true nature of this particular manifestation and our relation to it and looking the consequences in the face
Neglecting reality involves allowing the true nature of a situation to be hidden from disclosure and creating the illusion that it is not in need of decisive action
Summary
Affiliation: 1Unit for Reformed Theology and the Development of the South African Society, Faculty of Theology, Potchefstroom Campus, South Africa. How to cite this article: De Wet, F.W., 2015, ‘Naming and nurturing reality from a heart renewed by grace’, HTS Teologiese Studies/ Theological Studies 71(2), Art. 2831, 8 pages. Read online: Scan this QR code with your smart phone or mobile device to read online This contribution investigates the unbearable tension between the homiletical act of naming reality (with the promise of exposing, challenging and/or triggering creative forces in it) on the one hand, and neglecting this same reality on the other hand, thereby causing it to return to an ignored, unchallenged and degenerated state. By means of a theological reflection on the renewal of the heart by God’s act of grace in Christ, the author attempts to identify key markers for a homiletic theory that will be able to link the act of naming reality with the act of nurturing (rather than neglecting) this named reality
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