4 responses to “Metaphors are important”

1. 

   A Bauman

   September 23, 2011 at 10:56 am

   Hi Michael – Care to elaborate? I can surmise given your title and tag but don’t want to hazard a guess. Thanks.

    
   • 

     Michael Riley

     September 26, 2011 at 2:49 pm

     This will still be somewhat general, but the basic idea is that the metaphors that we use when we address a topic can shape how we think about that topic. This is especially so when a given metaphor comes to dominate our discussion and planning.

     In this case, there is a radical difference between viewing the pastor primarily as the CEO of a corporation, whose mission is to attract consumers, and viewing the pastor primarily as a farmer or a shepherd, whose task is to cultivate and sustain.

     I would add this: it is not only the case that choosing to read this book or that shapes our understanding of ministry, but the very fact that we would choose this book or that reveals what we already think ministry is like.

      
2. 

   Tim Emslie

   September 28, 2011 at 1:03 pm

   Spurgeon:
   http://www.amazon.com/Farm-Sermons-ebook/dp/B003I64A0O

    
   • 

     Michael Riley

     September 28, 2011 at 1:05 pm

     Tim,

     Thanks for the link. For those of us too cheap even to part with $.99, here’s the free version:

     http://www.spurgeon.org/misc/fspref.htm