Imagine That

Continuing our exploration of chapter one of Vondey’s work, People of Bread: Rediscovering Ecclesiology…

Vondey explores three functions of images: imaginative, illustrative and instrumental.

Imaginative function of Images – Herein, images serve “as vehicles of emotions, associations, and feelings; they serve not only as an informative but also an expressive medium” (p. 18).  Meaning, they help to capture (or imagine) a greater reality which lies behind the image.  The fact is that our ability to describe certain realities is definitely limited by language.  There are some things (realities) which images can better capture than can literal descriptions.  Vondey notes, “Initially, it was not a rich theological vocabulary, concise definitions or propositional statements, but the world of images that allowed the disciples to express what they had experienced” (p. 18).  

Remember:

1. Peter encounters the image of a descending sheet filled with animals, reptiles, and birds (Acts 10.10-16) which greatly impacted his understanding of the Church’s mission to the Gentiles.
   
2. Paul had a vision of a man from Macedonia encouraging him to come to Europe (Acts 16. 9-10).  
   
3. Luke connects both visions with the work of God through the images (11.12; 16.10), which directly connects to the outpouring of the Spirit in Acts 2 (v. 17; see Joel 2.28-32).
   

In this way, “after the day of Pentecost, the Christian witness was nourished by a distinctively pneumatological imagination. (*pneuma = Greek word for “Spirit”)… In other words, the biblical images were inspired by the Holy Spirit, nourished by faith, and shaped by the experience of the faith community.”

Illustrative function of Images – Herein, Vondey says, “The goal of this function is to increase the image in clarity, strength, and dynamic of its overall theological argument.”  The illustrative function requires much discernment because, if not careful, images can be used to illustrate improper theological truths.  We must always be mindful of the limitation of images and carefully express such limitations when utilizing images to explain the greater realities of God, the Church, etc.  ”The illustrative function of images is therefore dictated by the goal of harmony and unity in the fellowship of believers.  Images that illustrate the truth at the cost of destroying the fellowship of the Church are to be rejected” (p. 23).

Instrumental function of Images – The instrumental function is regarding how images serve as “vehicles of the theological presuppositions invested in them” (p. 24).  In this way, images which the Church discerns as wholesome and true serve as tools of communal formation and edification.  They are “models.”  Now, the thing about “models” of this kind is that they are influenced by the social and cultural setting in which they are used.  Thus, if persons today can no longer understand the significance of the image used in NT times (e.g. the Temple), then the effectiveness of the image is impaired.  Today, in many ways, we are in a crisis of the theological imagination, namely because of rare utilization of biblical images as instruments to strengthen and form the community of faith.  Vondey contends, “A revival of the theological imagination calls the Church to an understanding of the fundamental principles operative behind the imaginative, illustrative, and instrumental function of images” (p. 26).

Blessings,

Shannon

Tagged as: Church, God, Images, review, Theology