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Paradigm 1
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301 a b APPenDIx PARADIgm 1 THE FOUR CODES OF JOHN McCLURE1 John S. McClure of Vanderbilt Divinity School proposes four “codes” to address four aspects of the sermon. This is a highly simplified presentation of his four codes that reflects their use in this volume. The Scriptural Code The scriptural code refers to the way a preacher relates to the scriptural text in a sermon. (1) Translation This style “brings over” the meaning from the text to the congregation with an equivalent for today from the text from the past. Literal translation: The congregation does exactly what the text says. Dynamic translation: Allows some freedom in stating today what the text meant then. Paraphrase: Allows even more freedom in moving from then to now. (2) Transition This style seeks to get behind the text for biblical backgrounds and customs that are not apparent on the surface of the text. (3) Transposition This style uses the rhetorical shape of the text to produce a similar faith consciousness today. 302 Baptist Preaching (4) Transformation Scripture is an affective evocative agent that makes a claim on the congregation as a word event over which we have no control. Think Barth. (5) Traduction The meaning of the current context meets the trajectory going out from the text to discover new meanings that relate to a new context. Now moves toward then. The Semantic Code The semantic code refers to how a preacher uses language to express meaning in the sermon. (1) The Connotative Semantic Code The connotative code uses indirection rather than denotation. Meaning is never static. Artistic style: Brings creative statements to traditional concepts. Conversational style: Less wary of conceptual statements than the artistic; moves among alternatives considering outcomes. (2) The Denotative Semantic Code The denotative code uses precision to posit meaning. It is direct rather than evocative. Assertive style: Makes timeless conceptual statements of truth with commitment. Defensive style: Vindicates the Christian message, insisting on univocal singular meanings. The Theosymbolic Code This is the theological atmosphere in the sermon that reflects upon but is more than the scriptural and semantic codes. It demonstrates the way the preacher puts together God and his creation and the human condition in the sermon. In most sermons there are six “actants” (persons or constructs): [18.206.76.45] Project MUSE (2024-03-29 10:31 GMT) Appendix 303 (1) Actants Giver: God and those things related to him. Receiver: Humanity and its varied conditions. Object: The many aspects of redemption. Helper: The actant that helps or assists. Subject: The hero or the protagonist, often a symbol of Christ. Enemy: The person or force that hinders. (2) Styles of Interaction among the Actants The actants may be used either negatively or positively in the sermon structure. Negative style = Lack Low-negative: Assumes the enemy, but there is no real engagement; ends with lack. High-negative: The enemy is actively engaged in a prolonged battle but sermon has partial resolution. Positive style = Gain Low-positive: The enemy does not have enough power to overcome; good news prevails. High-positive: Not only is the enemy defeated but also there is a positive gain in the story. (3) Outcomes in the Theosymbolic Code Tensive: More bad news than good news. Oppositional: The protagonist heroically fights the bad news. Equilibrational: Bad news cannot present an overwhelming challenge to good news. Permutational: Good news has more weight than bad news with gain. Iconoclastic: Reversal motif—why good news is really bad news and vice versa. The Cultural Code The cultural code refers to how the preacher sees and uses the world as an illustration and reference in the sermon. (1) Identification Style Identifies the Christian faith with the culture. 304 Baptist Preaching (2) Dialectical Style Refuses a total identification of the faith with culture but sees some aspects of culture pointing to some aspects of the gospel. Synthetic: Culture takes on a sacramental style carrying some truth about the gospel. Conversion: Gospel makes an impact that changes some aspect of culture. 3) Dualist Style Emphasizes the difference between faith and culture. 4) Sectarian Style Wider culture is rejected in favor of a separate gospel community. ...