23. Chapter 23: Impression And Expression

Chapter 23 Impression And Expression

Professor James[1] writes with italics this principle; “Noreception without reaction, noimpressionwithoutcorrelative expression—this is the great maxim which the teacher ought never to forget.”

[1] “Talks to Teachers,”N.Y., 1899, p. 33. Did Jesus use the method of impression? How? Did he also use the method of expression? How?

Prepare two parallel lists of examples of his use of impression and expression. On which method, impression or expression, do you think he placed the greater emphasis? Did Jesus rather tell people what to think, or stimulate them to think? Was it rather his aim to get a system of thought accepted or to develop a certain type of conduct? Did he care more for the creed or the deed?

People think differently about the answers to these questions and it is your privilege to have your own opinion based on the gospel records.

Looking through our table of contents we may agree that some of the methods of Jesus are those of impression, while others are those of expression, somewhat as follows:

Do you agree with these entries? Would you add to the lists? Is impression the means and expression the end? Or, is expression the means and impression the end?

Once again, where did Jesus place the primary emphasis, on impression or expression?

There is another way of approaching the study of these two methods. Make a list of some things that Jesus gave his learners to do. What actions did he secure from them?

Compare your list with the following:

“Come.”

“Follow.”

“Go.”

“Sell.”

“Preach.”

“Watch.”

“Offer the gift.”

“Stretch forth thy hand.”

“Roll ye away the stone.”

“Come down.”

“Go and tell.

“Sin no more.”

“Feed my sheep.”

“Make disciples of all nations”

“Bring the colt.”

“Pay the tax.”

“Show thyself to the priest.”

“Arise, take up thy bed.”

“Give ye them to eat.”

“Work.”

“Compel them to come in.”

“Turn the other cheek.” Do you get the impression that Jesus made his pupils inactive or active?

What happens to a learner’s ideas when he does something?

There is a sense in which it is true that, first, doing depends on thinking; there is also a sense in which it is true that, second, thinking depends on doing. Can you figure out which of these two propositions is the truer? And the sense in which each is true?

It is true that all our voluntary action depends on thinking. It is also true that all our clear and accurate thinking depends on having had experience in the field in which we think. It is also true that relatively little of our action is based on thinking, though this little is of critical importance. The most of our action is due to instinct, impulse, imitation, suggestion, and habit. Without doubt, when Jesus made people think, they often acted better; also when he made them act, they thought better. Do you get the impression that he rather approached action by way of thought, or thought by way of action?

If we make action a function of thought, we are Idealists; if we make thought a function of action, we are pragmatists. To the idealist, thinking is primary and action secondary; to the pragmatist, action is primary, and thought secondary. Was Jesus an idealist or a pragmatist?

What are some things that Jesus gave men to think? Make a list of some of these fundamental ideas. Compare your list with the following:

God is Father.

Men are brothers. The Kingdom of Heaven is spiritual. The Kingdom of Heaven is social and at hand.

Jesus is the Messiah of the Jews.

Jesus is God’s Son.

Jesus is man’s Son. The soul lives after death.

Sin is due to ignorance or willfulness. Does this list change your view as to whether Jesus placed primary emphasis on the idea or the act? Acts secured are expression, ideas communicated are impression.

There is still another interesting mode of approach to the study of the primary appeal to men of Jesus. Jesus gave men things to do; he also gave them ideas to hold. Did he also give them things to feel? What emotional attitudes did Jesus awaken in men? Make a list of such emotions. What if Christianity should turn out to be not primarily a program of action, nor a set of ideas, but a group of feelings? Is Jesus more of a mystic than an idealist or a pragmatist? A mystic has union with God through feeling rather than act, or idea.

Some feelings awakened in men by Jesus:

Awe.

Reverence.

Thanksgiving.

Dependence.

Trust.

Faith.

Hope.

Love.

Righteous indignation.

Peace.

Sympathy.

Joy. Would you add to this list? Of course, some of these emotions are complex, and involve attitudes of will as well as ideas. Is the primary call of Jesus then to men to act? or to think? or to feel? Feeling is an effect of both ideas and acts; it may result from impression or expression; it may also inspire both thinking and acting.

Bid people always do what Jesus told them to do? Remember the rich young ruler. When they did do so, why did they? That is, how did Jesus secure action? This is something we should all like to know.

People usually did as Jesus said because:

He did not request, he commanded with authority.

He begot self-confidence and confidence in himself. His magnetic personality awoke responses.

He was obviously doing big things and knew what he was about.

He had both moral and physical force. His healings awakened gratitude.

He divided the sheep from the goats, and appealed to the hope of reward and the fear of punishment. Would you add to these reasons? In what ways may this study help us in our work? Would you rather give a man an idea, awaken a feeling in him, or set him a task? Which one of these three carries the most consequences in its train? Would you be inclined to put “non-Christian” men on Christian jobs? What do you want from men first, a changed idea, feeling, or act? Did Jesus forbid a man to heal in his name who was not a follower? The following conclusion may not be correct: Jesus cared more for expression than impression. He used impression as a means to expression as an end. He cared more for what men did than for what they thought or how they felt. He himself was more of a pragmatist than idealist or mystic. To him ideas were functions of acts rather than acts being functions of ideas.

Some quotations:

“If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine” (John 7:17).

“By their fruits ye shall know them” (Matthew 7:20).

“If ye know these things, blessed are ye if ye do them” (John 13:17).

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord; . . . but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21).

“Every one therefore that heareth these words of mine and doeth them, shall be likened unto a wise man” (Matthew 7:24).

“Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of these my brethren, even these least, ye did it unto me” (Matthew 25:40).

“He that doeth the truth cometh to the light” (John 3:21).