CRITICAL BOOK REVIEW

THE HUMILIATION OF THE WORD BY JACQUES ELLUL

Reviewed by Alyse LehrkeCOM 605, Spring Arbor University

Seeing and Hearing

Sight situates us in our present reality, showing us where we are and what surrounds us.

What we hear is fleeting as the sound penetrates the silence.

“Sight is spatial,” Ellul observed. “Sound’s domain is temporal, and

it inserts us within a duration rather than an expanse”

(Ellul, 1981/1985, p. 13).

Ellul’s Thesis

Sight deals in reality whereas hearing, and specifically the spoken word, functions in the

realm of Truth.

Ellul’s main contention is that images have subordinated language

to such an extent that reality is elevated and truth is abandoned.

The God Who SpeaksThe

invisible Word

reflects the Truth of the

invisible God.

God’s identity is revealed by His word, just as Jesus was known by the truth He spoke not by His physical appearance.

“The only possible relationship with God is based on the word,

and nothing else. This is because the biblical God speaks, and does

nothing else” (Ellul, p. 71).

The word is intrinsically connected to relationship as it invites a response and offers space for dialogue - speaking and listening.

Through speaking, God invites His creation into relationship with Himself; the word is the essence of relationship.

Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed. ~ John 20:29, NIV

Addicted to Reality Reality asserts itself in

the glorification of science and the demand for visible evidence as proof.

Technology teaches us the supremacy of the image as concepts are visualized rather than spoken.

Reality is confused with truth because images have choked out the word, and words have lost their meaning.

Computers and other technologies, according to Ellul, are increasing the division between image and word as all knowledge that cannot be computed through technological means fall away.

Since God exists in the realm of truth (word) rather than reality (image), He is being systematically excluded by a technological reality that demands evidence as proof.

“Only this reality can be known and can thus be the object of scientific research and

true [sic] knowledge” (Ellul, p. 219).

Postman (1992) stated: “The battle [Scopes “monkey” trial] settled the issue, once and for all: in defining truth, the great narrative of inductive science takes precedence over the great narrative of Genesis, and those who do not agree must remain in an intellectual backwater” (p. 50).

Meaningless Words

Disconnected from their source – the God who speaks – words become noise, empty filler, or

instrumental tools of technology.

“Suddenly the tragic discovery was made that words were only words, without power

to act” (Ellul, p. 155).

Hope in the IncarnationEllul points to the reconciliation of

image and word in the return of Christ. Only then will Truth

and reality permeate each other, allowing

image to express truth.

Technology and TruthAs Christians, we need to critically evaluate our use of technology and its impact on the communication of truth.

Dialogue and relationships have suffered as a result of the visual

and technological “progress” that has diminished the word.When we value dialogue and

build meaningful relationships, we counteract the effects of a culture consumed by images.

“When we seek measurement over meaning, we adopt the language of probability rather than virtue, essentially making mathematics the

preeminent route to all knowledge, and probabilities the means of discerning the value of

human actions” (Schultze, 2002, p. 41).

We must re-instate the invisible elements

of the world through faith. Knowledge that depends on the Truth

of an invisible God; wisdom

that must be discerned rather than

measured.

We need to infuse the word with

meaning once again. Nouwen (1981)

observed, “The word no longer

communicates, no longer fosters

communion, no longer creates

community, and therefore no longer gives life” (pp. 38-

39).

ConclusionAs Christians in a technological world, our aim is not to avoid images or technology

but to elevate truth, God’s Truth; to speak a word connected to His Word; and to put our hope in the return of Christ rather than the

false promises of technology.

References Ellul, J. (1985). The Humiliation of the Word (J. Main Hanks,

Trans.). Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing. (Original work published 1981)

McKibben, B. (2006). The age of missing information. New York, NY: Random House.

Nouwen, H. J. M. (1981). The way of the heart: Connecting with God through prayer, wisdom, and silence. New York, NY: Ballantine Books.

Postman, N. (1992). Technopoly: The surrender of culture to technology. New York, NY: Vintage.

Schultze, Q. J. (2000). Communicating for life: Christian stewardship in community and media. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.

Schultze, Q. J. (2002). Habits of the high-tech heart: Living virtuously in the information age. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.