Rating: 10
July 7, 2008
N.T. Wright’s latest book floored me, then picked me back up on my feet and had me cheering. He’s an amazing scholar with a clear grasp of the Jewish culture and expectation of the time, and makes a compelling case for the hope of all Christians: life after life after death.
He picks apart the idea that the hope of the Christian faith is where we go when we die, and creates a robust theology centered around the resurrection that argues for a redemption of all things into the “new heavens and new earth.” Because our final hope isn’t a disembodied state, but the bodily resurrection of all, he argues that it leads us to justice, beauty and evangelism. Because what we do that’s in line with the Kingdom now will not be in vain, but will have a redemption in the end. It’s what Jesus came to teach, what the apostles learned, and what Paul continued to preach.
It can be a bit heady, at times repetitive, and he often gets a bit preachy. But if you hear this in the Bishop’s winsome, British accent, then it’ll be heard in love and grace. It’s a must read.
On a personal note, I’m glad I wrote True Story before reading this book — the overlap here is uncanny, if not plain eerie. But he’s giving the richer, deeper and more profound version. Since John Ortberg calls himself “Dallas for Dummies,” and if Yancey could rightly be called “Lewis for Dummies,” then I’d be honored to be called, “Wright for Dummies.”
You can view its Amazon detail page by clicking the image above.
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