Abstract
Accounts of healings like the one reported concerning Bartimaeus present a challenge for preachers on Disability Awareness Sunday. This study illustrates how among experienced preachers sensing types and intuitive types approach the problem in different ways.
Examining a method
Within the reader perspective approach to biblical hermeneutics, the SIFT account offers two distinctive features. First, the reader location is not defined in sociological categories (like sex, race or power) but in psychological categories (like preference for sensing or intuition rooted in Jungian psychological type theory). Second, the perspective is observed empirically within active hermeneutical communities of readers and preachers working within type-alike groups. In this study, the approach is illustrated by listening to 17 Anglican clergy working in three groups: 4 sensing types, 6 low-scoring intuitive types and 7 high-scoring intuitive types. (Generally there are more intuitive types than sensing types among the Anglican clergy.) Having read Mark 10.46–52, the three groups were offered the same task: ‘This is a reading for Disability Sunday. What do you see in the passage and what sparks your imagination? How would you preach on it?’
Sensing types
The sensing types approached the task with a close analysis of the text, contending that nothing in the passage should be overlooked or wasted. They went so far as to examine each individual word, referencing the underlying Greek, noting for example the significance of Jericho as the venue for this encounter. The group also paid close attention to the task description, recognizing that there were a number of different questions being asked of them. Hence, they chose to address ‘seeing’ and ‘imagining’ separately and continued to progress through the task in an orderly fashion.
Participants in this group were successful in conjuring up a vivid picture of the blind man, with his determination and enthusiasm. They were also able to hear him shouting (possibly crying they wondered?). Following the narrative progression of the account, they noted how Jesus stopped, how the crowd encouraged, how the cloak was discarded and how the beggar followed Jesus.
The message they wanted to convey in their preaching was one of compassion and inclusion; and therefore their decision was that they would not preach on this passage. The sensing types in this group were acutely aware of the task in hand: the reality of having to preach to a real congregation whose concerns were worryingly present. They were, therefore, disabled by the prospect of having to construct a step-by-step argument based on this passage that would say something helpful to those living with disability or those concerned about the issue of disability.
Low-scoring intuitive types
The low-scoring intuitive types reported that they started with the ‘big picture’ before focusing on the detail. The group referenced the biblical context of the passage, citing kingdom values that were the reverse of human values. Having set this context, the group decided to explore the passage through its characters: Bartimaeus, Jesus and the crowd. The former, they noted, was an individual, the son of Timaeus, who cried out for mercy not sight. Jesus heard him above the noise of the crowd, prompting the question how often we hear the cry of the marginalized, including the disabled.
Meanwhile, the crowd could not imagine that Jesus would respond, since they did not see and hear what Jesus saw and heard. Jesus encouraged (gave courage to) Bartimaeus so that he responded. Jesus saw past the disability, with its labelling and pigeonholing, posing the question: ‘what do you want me to do for you?’ Bartimaeus had faith, seeing Jesus with spiritual eyes, implying possibly that he goes on to live his life in a different way, even as a follower of Jesus.
The final element of the report from this group concerned the nature of the overall theme or the big picture. One voice thought it concerned the importance of the marginalized; a second voice thought it concerned the need to see beyond a disability; and a third voice thought it concerned the way in which Jesus has good news for all. Other possibilities for an overriding theme were the importance of not pigeonholing people by making assumptions about them, and the healing of the soul. This group agreed that intuitive types are unlikely to reach unanimity about what that big picture might be.
High-scoring intuitive types
The high-scoring intuitive types presented their feedback on a flip chart, demonstrating a scattering of competing ideas illustrated in three different colours. Much discussion was had about the symbolic elements of the passage, which included in the group’s view: spiritual blindness as opposed to physical blindness (sight versus insight); the beggar’s cloak being laid down as a metaphor for discipleship; and all healing being related to penitence. For some, Bartimaeus’ cry for mercy was redolent of the Jesus prayer, which might then, for one person, be the focus of the preaching. One voice noted how Bartimaeus was very specific in his request for sight, opining that our intercessions are often too general by contrast. Although a blaze of ideas and themes emerged from the group, who were clearly energized by working with each other, no coherent sermon or message emerged.
Other themes, emerging in no coherent order, included all being disabled before God, the question of why everyone is not healed (‘the elephant in the room’), the link between mercy and blessing, the Church rebuking unwanted voices to be quiet and the negative connotations of some of the language for disabled people e.g. ‘blind to’.
The group made connections with a parachurch organization (Through the Roof) that works with those who have disabilities and wondered why such organizations were necessary, perhaps evidence of a church which failed to offer a proper welcome to disabled people. Connections were also made with individuals in the congregation currently struggling with some form of disability. This group additionally discussed the language of disability, identifying its symbolic power. ‘Differently abled’ was to be preferred to ‘disabled’.
Discussing the findings
This study drawing on psychological type theory and a passage from Mark’s Gospel has illustrated the different approaches taken to biblical hermeneutics by sensing types (focusing on detail, sights, sounds, even individual words) and by intuitive types (capturing overarching concepts and making connections well beyond the immediate context). Sensing types saw the blind man, heard the tone of his voice and followed the logic of the narrative in a step-by-step orderly fashion. Intuitive types embraced much less of the detail, but accessed a much wider symbolic field. They identified the great themes of redemption, repentance, discipleship and healing. At the same time, they were able to interact with the issue of disability in its theological and emotional complexity. The process would be further enriched by listening to the emphases of feeling types and thinking types.