tom wright’s latest book surprised by hope is brilliant. it’s also a great book for easter…
tom wright slams popular ‘christian’ notions of salvation as going to heaven when you die, of it being away from the world. he provides a quick tour of hymns and popular songs sung in church
suggesting that they have a vague fuzzy optimism that things will work
out all right in the end rather than the sure and certain hope of the
resurrection of the dead. these don’t chime with the christian vision in the scriptures of the renewal of all things, of a renewed heavens and earth, of new creation, of resurrection bodies in a healed creation. i have gone on about this on the blog in my own way several times – what i have referred to as escapology theology. the reason it’s important is that a vision of resurrection and a future hope for this world suddenly makes sense of developing all areas of life and culture, of the kingdom of god coming now on earth as in heaven, of being human, of hope (as opposed to a view that this world is going to be destroyed so what’s the point?). mission in this way is joining in with god’s mission of the healing of creation as we look forward to the day when it will be fully freed from its bondage to decay when there will be no more injustice, racism, brokenness and so on.
like all his books it’s not thin but i really recommend it. preaching at a funeral earlier in the year really focused my mind on hope and what the christian vision of hope is as we stand in the face of the final enemy ‘death’. and tom’s book was a really good reminder of that. it’s a theology i was introduced to at st matthews church in bath many years ago and totally reshaped my understanding of what faith was all about. it’s encouraging that this theology seems to have regained currency at least in many circles in the uk. there is of course still a load of utter tosh espoused through the likes of the left behind series!
if you are preaching on easter sunday (which i’m not) this should inspire you…
Good old Richard Russell – I haven’t seen him in years.
The book is on my to read list – I heard him speak on some of the themes in this book at Soularize and was blown out of the water.
i am preaching a sermon today, and I am reading the book! Perfect timing if you ask me, and AMEN to all that you have said!!!!
surprised by hope is on my wishlist too.
in my UK pentecostal environment whenever we mention green issues for instance, we often get in response a blank stare or a puzzled look and a “well it’s all going to burn anyway”-type comment.
tim lahaye and that other guy do still have an influence but it’s good to seeing that things are changing…
I just wanted to say that we had Tom Wright speaking at WYSOCS here in Leeds last year and he was superb. We had about 300 punters and he went down very well.I was particularly encouraged because I’ve been saying these kind of things about heaven and earth for years and some punters look at you as if you are mad. Great that you mention this Jonny. Thank you
rocky
I just finished this book and I loved it! Calling Jesus the prototype for what God plans to accomplish in the rest of creation says it all (238). This is “Subverting the Empire” are two of my top 10 faves. I wish that the Walsh/Keesmaat tour was coming through the states. Arizona could use a fresh word.
If you enjoyed “Surprised by Hope” you will love “The Ressurection of the Son of God” – of course, also by Tom Wright! I’m reading it slowly and thoughtfully. It is like drinking an amazingly good well-aged wine, evdery sip, every paragrapg, every page, is wonderful.
Alex.