Seasoned Speech: Rhetoric in the Life of the Church

by James Edward Beitler

The Christian faith depends to a great degree on persuasion. In one of his letters to early Christians, the apostle Paul wrote, "Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone" (Col. 4:6). Yet rhetoric—the art of persuasion—has been largely ignored by most Christians.

In this book, James Beitler seeks to renew interest in and hunger for an effective Christian rhetoric by closely considering the work of five beloved Christian communicators: C. S. Lewis, Dorothy L. Sayers, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Desmond Tutu, and Marilynne Robinson. Moreover, he situates these reflections within the Christian liturgical seasons for the essential truths they convey.

These writers collectively demonstrate that being a master of rhetoric is not antithetical to authentic Christian witness. Indeed, being a faithful disciple of Christ means practicing a rhetoric that beneficially and persuasively imparts the surprising truth of the gospel. It means having seasoned speech.

Genres: Theology, Nonfiction, Religion

256 pages, Paperback

Published May 7, 2019

About the author

James Edward Beitler III (PhD, University of Michigan) is associate professor of English at Wheaton College, where he is the director of First-Year Writing and also coordinates the Writing Fellows Program. He is the author of Seasoned Speech: Rhetoric in the Life of the Church and Remaking Transitional Justice in the United States: The Rhetorical Authorization of the Greensboro Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Reviews

[Conrade Yap · Rating 4 out of 5]

What has rhetoric got to do with Christianity? Is learning rhetoric a strategy of unholy manipulation? What can we learn from history with regard to Christian witness using rhetoric? According to author, James E Beitler III, we need more, not less "rhetorical reflection." In arguing for more of the training and theological reflection on rhetoric, he first debunks some myths surrounding the topic. For those who use the Bible to avoid the use of rhetoric, we learn that there is a place for right speech that uses the skills of persuasion. He states: "Rhetoric and truth are not opposites;
rather, presentations of the truth are always rhetorical." Going through the list of rhetorical experts is in itself a treat: Plato's and Socrates' works on rhetoric; Cicero's five canons of rhetoric; Peter Ramus's modification of Cicero's; Aristotle's three rhetorical appeals; and several contemporary authors such as Kevin Vanhoozer, David Cunningham, and André Resner Jr. Then there are several theologians who offer theological backing for the study and use of rhetoric as "some of the most persuasive forms of Christian witness."


Beitler presents this book about rhetoric in two ways. Firstly, he chooses a particular person in history to highlight a particular rhetorical framework. Secondly, he adopts the Church calendar as a theological counterpart for reflection. In doing so, he is able to hold both of these emphases together to present the art and theology of using rhetoric in the Church worship setting.

CS Lewis on "Preparing the Way" (Advent; Rhetoric of Euonia)
Dorothy L. Sayers on "Professing the Creeds" (Christmastide; Rhetoric of Enargeia)
Dietrich Bonhoeffer on "Preaching the Word" (Epiphany; Uniting Rhetoric of Ethos and Pathos)
Desmond Tutu on "Calling for Repentance" (Lent; Constitutive Rhetoric)
Marilynne Robinson on "Hosting the Guest" (Eastertide; Rhetoric of Ethos).

The author goes to CS Lewis's Church in Headington Quarry, Oxford to get a better sense of the worship environment of the famous philosopher and apologist. Personality wise, Lewis does not let his fame get to his head. His persuasiveness in his writings speak volumes about the way he uses rhetoric to drive home truth. While most of his writings tend to be dialectical, scholars have noticed that Lewis's approach is similar to "Quintilian's rhetorical counsel" as well as ethos. In Beitler's words, Lewis tends toward "goodwill toward one's audience" or a "rhetoric of goodwill." He also makes multiple connections between Lewis's rhetoric and the Advent season. For Dorothy L. Sayers, the challenge of her day was to deal with the barriers of Christian witness: Creeds. Despite the negative perceptions of dogmas and the mistakes of the past, she argues that the problem is not the creed per se, but how they had been communicated or non-communicated. He calls "silence, distortion, and cant" as failures of Christian witness. Sayers urges for the practice of both calling and creed through dogma. Performance is her key rhetoric. Using plays and storytelling, we can add vividness to the gospel witness. On Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the theme is learning Christian witness via life together. His rhetoric of "self-restraint" is an interesting term. He speaks as one with a two-pronged objective: Hide himself and reveal Christ. The season of Epiphany is a powerful way to illuminate Christ through ordinary times. Desmond Tutu's rhetoric is that of merging the worship of Christ and applying it to his struggle for social and political justice. Beitler admits that Tutu's rhetoric may be problematic at times when it becomes mixed with powers and political struggles. Yet, his version of "constitutive rhetoric" is immensely helpful to the "rhetoric of interdependence" and the freedom struggle. Marilynne Robinson's "Ethos of Eastertide" asks about how her bestselling book Gilead could teach us about the rhetoric of Christian witness. Her rhetoric of ethos, engages Christian orthodoxy with humanistic values. Chapter six brings all of these examples of various rhetorical styles together under the umbrella of "Heteroglossia of Pentecost." The language of rhetoric is a powerful way to deliver truth.

My Thoughts
The language in this book tends to more technical for laypersons. However, if you are familiar with the study of rhetoric, you would recognize many of the rhetorical terms and concepts used. part from the technical language used, there are at least three takeaways for readers here. First, the book is briefly biographical. It presents a snapshot of the life of the famous individual, albeit from a rhetorical perspective. Using a known historical character brings the art of rhetoric down to a personal level. These individuals are giants in their respective fields. One reason for their influence is their ability to communicate. CS Lewis is well known for his apologetics; Dorothy Sayers for her literary skills in drama and plays; Dietrich Bonhoeffer for his leadership in Church as well as theological depth; Desmond Tutu for social justice; Marilynne Robinson for literature. More importantly, Beitler helps us see that rhetoric is not something to avoid but to be embraced. For it is a powerful way to witness God's truth. As a preacher, this study and application of rhetorics challenges me to expand my repertoire of rhetoric.

Second, there is a powerful theological component in the description of the rhetoric of these individuals. Beitler puts it as witness, and shows us how the conviction of Scripture underlines the foundations of each individual's life work. Beitler assists us by explicitly linking the seasons of the Church calendar with a theological angle. He also shows us the contexts of each individual's theological development; how their background and upbringing affect their witness. It is a subtle challenge to each of us not to belittle the opportunities that we have. If these people could create waves in their respective contexts, we too could learn to embrace opportunities presented to us. Through the book, Beitler gives us a gamut of the different ways theology informs rhetoric.

Third, worship. The last chapter is an important one. Beitler ties all the individual rhetorical styles together under the umbrella of Church and the working of the Holy Spirit. We are encouraged to pursue any of these styles, and to develop our own. The liturgical component helps us bring together the diversity of theology, rhetoric, and communication styles under the umbrella of worship. This is in a way telling us that we too ought to do the same with our own lives.

James E. Beitler III is associate professor of English at Wheaton College.

Rating: 4 stars of 5.

conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of Inter-Varsity Press and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

[Erin Straza · Rating 4 out of 5]

We are not a society that's short on words. Despite the glut upon our ears, eyes, and minds, those words are often found lacking in kindness, in persuasiveness, and in effectiveness. In Seasoned Speech, James Beitler shows us a different way. He matches key communication skills of five renowned rhetoricians (C. S. Lewis, Dorothy L. Sayers, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Desmond Tutu, and Marilynne Robinson) with the church’s liturgical worship calendar. The book's framework was delightful as are Beitler's insights for how we can practice and employ rhetoric that empowers our words to beckon the world to a place of true Christian flourishing and life.

[Johanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book Seasoned Speech focuses on five significant authors - CS Lewis, Dorothy Sayers, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Desmond Tutu, and Marilyn Robinson - and examines how they utilize rhetoric in their writings. The first basis for the book is how they all use the Aristotelian idea of ethos and then develop it into their own contexts. I agree with the book that rhetoric should be more closely examined in the book. I also appreciated the brief examinations of the themes of all five of these authors. However, I thought that the book's connections between the authors and times of the liturgical year were weaker. Of course, this could be because I am from a low-church tradition, where liturgical seasons are less important. Still, I hope this book will begin important conversations about rhetoric and how the Holy Spirit can work through our words for the Gospel.

[Lizzy Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

read this for my classical rhetoric class! 5/5 for the author’s unique concept (examining the rhetoric of 5 christian communicators through their allusions to the liturgical seasons) 3/5 for what felt like a lot of fluff beyond the central ideas. didn’t enjoy it as i was reading it, but i enjoy having read it yanno?

[Jeremy]

Interview with the author here.

[Mary Vogelsong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of Seasoned Speech: Rhetoric in the Life of the Church, by James E. Beitler III

James E. Beitler III is an associate professor of English at Wheaton College, so it isn’t surprising that he should write a book on rhetoric, or persuasive speaking. Beitler looks at rhetoric in the church as he examines five prominent Christian thinkers and writers of the last hundred years (C.S. Lewis, Dorothy Sayers, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Desmond Tutu, Marilynne Robinson, plus worship). Beitler matches each of those thinkers with a season of the church calendar from Advent to Pentecost.

The title of Seasoned Speech was likely inspired by Colossians 4:6 English Standard Version: Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. Seasoned Speech is replete with footnotes and content notes, the notes sometimes taking up more space than the text which the note is referencing.

Beitler spends a great deal of time in the beginning of the book defining rhetoric, and discussing how he is using it in this book. In society today, and especially in the news media, rhetoric has taken on a decidedly negative connotation. Beitler uses it in a positive sense, as persuasive speech that may cause one to choose to become a Christian.

My personal favorite master of rhetoric examined in Seasoned Speech is Desmond Tutu. He boldly proclaimed his faith at a place and time when racial tensions put his life in jeopardy. His words were persuasive and his personality charismatic. In a church where armed soldiers lined the walls, Tutu was able to rouse the frightened congregants into a worshiping, dancing crowd that made the soldiers feel no threat.

Beitler believes rhetoric is rarely used in the church, and if it is used at all it is by the clergy. He hopes that will change. Rather than the lay-person using a simplified formula and failing at witnessing, Beitler would like to see all Christians trained in the use of rhetoric, for aren’t all Christians called to witness?

[Michelle Kidwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seasoned Speech
Rhetoric in the Life of the Church

by James E. Beitler III

InterVarsity Press

IVP Academic

Christian , Religion & Spirituality

Pub Date 07 May 2019

I am reviewing a copy of Seasoned Speech through Intervarsity Press and Netgalley:

Seasoned Speech points out that the Christian Faith requires a degree of persuasion.

In one of Apostle Paul’s early letters to the church he wrote “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone” (Col. 4:6) Still Rhetoric and the art of persuasion has been largely ignored by most Christians.

In Seasoned Speech James Beitler seeks to renew an interest in Christian Rhetoric by looking closely at the works of five Christian Communicators which include C.S Lewis, Dorothy L Sayers, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Desmond Tutu, as well as Marilyne Robinson.

This book reminds us that being an authentic Christian includes using Rhetoric.

I give Seasoned Speech five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

[Heewoo Han · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was quite moved by parts of it, especially the chapter on Robinson. I hadn't thought about Robinson's rhetorical posture at all, but all that Beitler writes about what Robinson did made me appreciate her work all the more. Learned a good deal about Sayers and Tutu as well.

I'm a pastor and the book made me think often about how I speak and write. Beitler certainly succeeds in being a compelling voice amidst of masters of Christian writers!

[Adam Shields · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary: A look at how five Christians have used rhetoric to impact the church.

One of my goals over the next couple of years is to think more clearly about how people's minds are changed. I purposely say that in the passive voice, because while you can influence the changing of minds, you cannot as an outsider change someone else's mind. What can be done is to build a relationship, listen, and speak. The how of all three of those does matter.

Seasoned Speech is mainly about the concept of rhetoric, something that I am not sure I have particularly looked into previously. I have had public speaking and preaching classes, but those have been about structure and form more generally than rhetoric.

James Beitler in Seasoned Speech took CS Lewis, Dorothy Sayers, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Desmond Tutu, and Marilynne Robinson and looked at how they rhetorically communicate their faith. I have read something of all of these authors, although never a full-length book by Tutu and only Sayers' fiction. Beitler's chapters on each of these authors focused relatively narrowly. Lewis' chapter was mostly on speaking in vernacular and knowing the audience and the speaker's limits. Sayers' was mostly about using fiction and getting into the story. Bonhoeffer's chapter was mostly on being prophetic in a way that readers may not want to hear, especially in thining about communicating through sermons. Tutu was using positions and life to communicate (with the illustration of his anti-apartheid work and then later his leadership of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission). This is true of several of the authors being discussed, but especially in the Tutu chapter, the 'being with' someone is essential to communicating to them. Robinson challenges the concept of using an argument to compel belief. (It is somewhat ironic that Robinson does use argument in her non-fiction works, but those non-fiction works are far less compelling than her fiction.)

There were places where I disagreed with the advice. And there were places where Beitler noted that the authors had explicitly opposite advice. Seasoned Speech ended with a discussion of 'speaking in tongues' in the book of Acts as a metaphor for how we communicate the gospel. His challenge at the end, quoted below, is not that we do not think about rhetoric, but that we are gifted and charged in different ways, so we will use different rhetorical styles and mediums and languages and locations to reach different people. We still need to think about how and why we use rhetoric as we do, but that the using of the different methods and styles is part of what we are designed to do as a body of Christ.

I simply want to affirm the notion that, if the gospel of Jesus Christ is truly to reach the whole world, the church’s witness must go forth in multiple languages, through a variety of mediums, by way of different genres and voices, using a host of rhetorics. It must, in other words, understand the reality of Pentecost not simply in terms of the specific practice of glossolalia but as a rhetorical paradigm for the collective ēthos of the whole body of Christ.

View my highlights from the book on Goodreads.

Posted originally at my blog http://bookwi.se/seasoned-speech/