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Jesus=20 and the Victory of God
by N.T. Wright=20

Not=20 Ashamed of the Gospel
by Fleming Rutledge=20

The=20 Shack
by William P. Young=20

Original=20 Sin: A Cultural History
by Alan Jacobs =

Seminary=20 &
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August 15, 2008

The Wright Brothers (in Christ)

Scot McKnight says N.T. Wright and Christopher Wright show the future = of=20 theology.

Recently I was asked where theology was headed. I assured my reader = that I=20 wasn=E2=80=99t =E2=80=9Cin the know=E2=80=9D but that I would hazard a = guess or two. First I thought we=20 were likely to see a more robust Trinitarian theology, one deeply = anchored in=20 the great Cappadocian theologians like Gregory of Nyssa. But in some = ways all=20 the main lines of Trinitarian thought have already been sketched by = great=20 theologians like Karl Barth, James B. Torrance and others. With this = first idea=20 now set aside, I had a second idea of where theology is going: = =E2=80=9CThe Wright=20 Brothers.=E2=80=9D

No, not those Wright Brothers, but another set of Wrights = (who=20 aren=E2=80=99t even brothers, except in Christ): Tom and Chris. Even if = they don=E2=80=99t map=20 where all of theology is headed, these two scholars and devoted = churchmen, both=20 Anglican, do set before us two words that have become increasingly = fruitful and=20 I think will be the subject of serious theological reflection in the = future. The=20 two words are =E2=80=9Cearth=E2=80=9D and =E2=80=9Cmission.=E2=80=9D = Each scholar discusses both, but I will=20 focus in this post on Tom Wright=E2=80=99s focus on = =E2=80=9Cearth=E2=80=9D and Chris Wright=E2=80=99s focus on=20 =E2=80=9Cmission.=E2=80=9D

Increasingly we are seeing more and more Christians own up to the = earthly=20 focus of biblical revelation=E2=80=94the claim God makes upon this earth = through his=20 Eikons (humans made in his image). We are seeing a deeper reflection on = what it=20 means to participate in the historical flow, in government and politics = and=20 society and culture, and we are seeing a renewed interest in vocation = and work.=20 One of the more striking elements of this new surge is that theologians = who are=20 deeply anchored in the Bible also see our eternal destiny having an = earthly=20 shape.

And not only are we seeing the increasing presence of = =E2=80=9Cearthly,=E2=80=9D but we are=20 seeing a reshaping of theology itself so that God=E2=80=99s mission in = this world=20 becomes central. Everyone knows that the latest buzz word is = missional=20 but not enough are thinking carefully about what mission means in = the Bible=20 and what it means to speak about =E2=80=9CGod=E2=80=99s mission=E2=80=9D = (missio Dei). But=20 there is a surge of thinking now about this topic and it will continue = to spark=20 interest both for pastors and professional theologians.

Now to the Wright brothers.

Tom Wright, in his book = Surprised by=20 Hope, relentlessly critiques the gnostic-like preoccupation so many = have=20 with heaven as a place for our spirits and souls=E2=80=94the place where = we really=20 belong, and the sooner we get there the better. It is not that Tom = Wright denies=20 heaven; no, he affirms it robustly but he argues that the eternal home = for the=20 Christian is not that old-fashioned view of heaven but the new heavens = and the=20 new earth. And he argues the new heavens and new earth are something = brought=20 down from heaven to earth. (Read Revelation 20=E2=80=9422.)

I think some have made far too much of this, as if it is a = revolutionary=20 insight. What it is, in my judgment, is a strong critique of how = dualistic we=E2=80=99ve=20 become. And it is a welcome call for us to see that what we do now = prepares us=20 for what we will do in the new heavens and the new earth. I think Tom = Wright=E2=80=99s=20 emphasis here is spot-on: we need to grapple more directly with the = connection=20 of what God calls us to do now as continuous with what we shall = be=20 called to do for eternity. I hope many will see their way to = read=20 Tolkien=E2=80=99s Leaf by Niggle, for it addresses similar = themes.

This emphasis of Tom Wright=E2=80=99s actually forms a foundation for = Chris Wright=E2=80=99s=20 exceptional study The Mission of God. Here we find yet another = theme=20 that is reshaping so much of where theology is going: mission. I wish = people=20 asked this one simple question: What is the mission of God in this = world? Chris=20 Wright, taking his cues from the Old Testament=E2=80=94he=E2=80=99s an = Old Testament=20 scholar=E2=80=94says the mission of God is to make his glorious Name = known throughout=20 the whole world. This mission, found so often in the prophets, shapes = how we not=20 only read the Bible but how we live out the Bible in our world.

God makes his Name known through God=E2=80=99s people, first Israel = and then the=20 Church. Most centrally, God=E2=80=99s mission with a Name becomes fully = visible in Jesus=20 Christ=E2=80=94in his life, death, resurrection, and the gift of the = Spirit. This Story,=20 this grand narrative of God=E2=80=99s mission, is reshaping how theology = is being=20 done.

There is a converging hook here: Chris Wright ends his book on the = theme of=20 God=E2=80=99s mission involving the earth=E2=80=94the whole earth. Tom = Wright ends his book=20 about earth on mission=E2=80=94the mission of God in this world. I think = they are both=20 right.

I can=E2=80=99t see into the future, but I can see down the road a = bit, and what I=20 see is an increasing emphasis on earth and mission. Those two themes are = likely=20 to take us into the next two decades.

Scot McKnight is the Karl A. Olsson Professor in = Religious=20 Studies at North Park University, author, and blogger.

Posted by UrL on August 15, 2008

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I agree that we have tried to use human ideas to mold both = =E2=80=9Cheaven=E2=80=9D and=20 =E2=80=9Cmission=E2=80=9D into things which are radically different than = the way the Bible shows=20 them, and that getting back to those biblically based ideas will lead to = a great=20 change in people=E2=80=99s devotion and worship.

I do have one initial concern with the "new heavens and new earth" = destiny=20 though, that being the fact that some teachers lose sight of what it is = that=20 institutes the new heavenly city in the first place. There is an idea = that we=20 can bring "heaven to earth" by doing good things; that the talk of = heaven and=20 hell in the Bible is more about attitudes and what we cause upon this = earth=20 through our lives. I don't think this is either true or helpful. There = certainly=20 needs to be a "grappl[ing] more directly with the connection of what God = calls=20 us to do now as continuous with what we shall be called to do for = eternity," but=20 we must not miss that it is through Christ=E2=80=99s return as conquerer = in Revelation=20 19 that we are led into the bringing of the New Jerusalem in Revelation = 21.

Of course, those same teachers will argue from a preterist view of=20 Revelation, but I still don't think this can support their claim. = Hebrews 11.16=20 says that there is a city prepared for us by God and 13.14 says that we = seek it=20 and it is to come. Nowhere does it say that we build it or that we draw = it to=20 earth. Just that it is to come. Like Christ. And until that time we are=20 "sojourners and exiles" with a "citizenship . . . in heaven" from where = "we=20 await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 2.11, Philippians 3.20). = If we=20 get a right view of heaven but lose Christ as the ultimate conquering = King then=20 I think we have actually moved backwards some.

Kudos to McKnight for a thought provoking post.

Posted by: Todd=20 Burus at August 15, 2008

Okay, first off, I can get on board with NT Wrights thinking, namely = because=20 I've come to the same conclusion with my studies, but Todd also has a = valid=20 point
"Nowhere does it say that we build it or that we draw it to=20 earth."
I think that when we look theologically "forward" it = behooves us=20 to be cautious about our visions of the church's direction, and keep = them=20 biblically grounded lest we get to full of ourselves.

Posted by: sheerahkahn at August 15, 2008

Tom Wright is someone I admire so much, I have to remind myself he's = human=20 like the rest of us. And what he says makes so much sense. Here's my=20 interpretation:

God cares about what we do today. Our daily lives matters to God and = to the=20 kingdom of God--not in some abstract way that makes a distant God smile = in some=20 distant future when we'll receive distant crowns in a distant heaven. = No.

What we do matters now. Our actions please God now (or don't). Our = actions=20 glorify God now (or don't). In some sense, we participate in building = the=20 kingdom now.

And that's what mission is about, right?

Posted by: Mark Goodyear at August 15, 2008

Also, I have to brag. I once drove Tom Wright and his wife to the = airport=20 after a retreat at Laity Lodge. I thought I'd died and gone to = heaven.

But of course, heaven and mission and earth and life were just all = connected=20 in my car for an hour or so while we talked about Harry Potter, the = wizard, and=20 Jesus, the tekton.

Posted by: Mark Goodyear at August 15, 2008

Todd wrote "There is an idea that we can bring "heaven to earth" by = doing=20 good things.."

While I agree that good works will not save us we also pray "Let thy = kingdom=20 come let thy will be done ON earth as it is IN Heaven". That strongly = suggests=20 to me that while we are not the authors of the new heaven and earth that = is to=20 come, we are nonetheless to work for those principles that will be part = of that=20 new creation while here in this present one. Justice, peace, love for = one's=20 neighbor, serving the least of these, etc etc. When thinking about the=20 preoccupation that many have with the hereafter I remember the old = saying "you=20 can be so heavenly minded as to be of no earthly use".

Posted by: Heather at August 15, 2008

I've definitely become an N.T. Wright fanboy lately.

Posted by: bryonm at August 15, 2008

So, I actually have a somewhat different set of inquiries, distinct = from much=20 of the theological musings that can happen from discussions like = these.

I read Mission of God, blogged about it, and believe, like = McKnight,=20 that the "Wright brothers" are exegeting well the proper theologies and = ideas=20 that the grand narrative of the Bible is attempting to convey. I'm = really on=20 board.

However, what are the practical implications of this = theology=20 in our ministry practices in churches and ministries across the = world?

I, much like the vast majority of us, "believed Christ as my personal = Lord=20 and Savior" and was baptized in that kind of a "personal faith = comittment"=20 confession. Do we return to a more "Biblical" practice, confessing = instead, "I=20 repent of my selfish and individualistic behaviors as a = believer=20 to now conforming my life to God's Mission in the world"? Do we begin to = move=20 away from "topical" teachings that deal with very personal and = individualistic=20 problems (such as addictions, heartache, personal spiritual disciplines, = etc.)=20 and drive home more the Mission of God? How do we deal with the = abstract=20 nature of this kind of theology in a concrete and = practical kind=20 of a world? And, do we do damage to Christianity (and God's Mission) = when we try=20 to give people "easy" and "practical" steps towards living a better life = in=20 accordance to "Christian principles," as opposed to being an = "agent" of=20 God's Mission in the world?

While theology may be heading towards grasping a stronger = "mission/earth"=20 paradigm, I question (with hope and anticipation) whether or not = ecclesial and=20 para-ecclesial ministries will be captivated by this kind of thinking. = And,=20 would we be willing to transform our teachings and our ministry = practices so=20 that we raise a different kind of a generation of "believers" or = "Christians"=20 ... perhaps, that they would actually be "disciples?"

Posted by: VIA at August 15, 2008

I once drove Tom Wright and his wife to the airport ... I thought = I'd died=20 and gone to heaven.

let's see ... we've talked about celebrity pastors. now we've got = celebrity=20 theologians.

what's next? celebrity ... messiahs? perhaps mccain's = obama-is-the-antichrist=20 ad is more timely than i thought...

but anyway, here's an admission from me that i'm not sure i've ever = revealed=20 to the Urbanites before:

i was a huge david cassidy fan growing up.

wait - that's not what i wanted to say... here's the real = revelation:

i don't believe there will be a second coming.

here's why i'm admitting that: i think a lot of our present-day = theologians=20 harbor some views like this, too, and they just aren't admitting it. = they are=20 caught on the razor's edge between what they believe and the knowledge = that the=20 bible really doesn't support them. and they have to work within the = confines of=20 a 'biblical view' and shade (twist?) meanings to remain 'faithful' to = the faith=20 while at the same time trying to get across a more progressive = (rational?) view=20 of who Jesus was and what His life, death and resurrection (yes, i = believe in=20 that, though i probably differ from you in what i think it means) = meant.

so there. next time, cross yourselves when you see my = signature...

m.r. - fairburn, ga, usa

Posted by: mike rucker at August 15, 2008

Heather, I don't disagree with you on the idea of working for = "justice,=20 peace, love for one's neighbor, serving the least of these, etc." while = in this=20 present age. I believe that is right on and is something we need to be = actively=20 engaged in.

The idea that I take issue with, which is not something you said but = what=20 other popular teachers promote, is that doing these works is = how we=20 bring about the new earth. That the new heaven and new earth are somehow = a=20 result of our good deeds and not a result of Christ return as conquerer, = finally=20 destroying over the powers of sin and death. That is what I mean to = caution=20 against.

Posted by: Todd=20 Burus at August 15, 2008

what I appreciate most about these guys (and Scot McKnight too) is = that they=20 call us back to the text and the CONtext as well. they call us, such as = in=20 Philippians, to an understanding of citizenship that is more imperial = than our=20 American understanding.

grace and peace

Posted by: C.K. Tygrett at August 15, 2008

Todd said: " There is an idea that we can bring "heaven to earth" by = doing=20 good things."

I'm not clear if you think he is, Todd, but I think its worth noting = that=20 this is emphatically NOT what Wright says in "Surprised by Hope." Wright = argues,=20 like Heather noted above, that what we do now matters in the future = because as=20 Christians we help to manifest, in a partial way, the Kingdom of God = that will=20 be manifested completely when Jesus returns. Nothing we do "makes" Jesus = come=20 back or the Kingdom manifest in an ultimate way - but every time we work = for=20 justice or share the gospel message, we are spreading the Kingdom.

While I acknowledge that the perspective you're referring to does = exist, it=20 seems to me that people advocating Christian involvement in social = justice are=20 often unfairly accused of believing it, when typically it is not the = case. It=20 certainly isn't when it comes to Wright.

Posted by: Jake at August 15, 2008

There are two aspects of N.T. Wright's thinking/writing/interpreting = that I=20 find so compelling.

1.) I find his interpretations to be very much in line with biblical = teaching=20 when taken in its proper, original context.

2.) I find the implications of those theoligical positions to be = extremely=20 exciting, liberating, and challenging. It is the kind of teaching one = would=20 expect from the God of the Cosmos.

Posted by: Darren King at August 15, 2008

I hope McKnight is right. It seems like there are plenty of others = who think=20 the future is the Jonathan brothers (Piper and Edwards) and the words = "penal" +=20 "substitution."

Posted by: toddh at August 17, 2008

toddh, I think it's a scary future if it doesn't carry the words = "penal" and=20 substitution." Now, I know Wright and many other British theologians = have just=20 decided to abandon penal substitutionary atonement, but they do so to = their own=20 peril. I'm not going to argue for it here myself, but I suggest readng = The=20 Cross of Christ by John Stott and The Future of = Justification by=20 John Piper (which is actually a response to Wright's teachings) to see = why we=20 can't deny PSA.

Jake, I am aware that that is not what Wright believes about the = second=20 coming. I'm sorry if I didn't make that clear earlier. The main teacher = I am=20 thinking of with this comment is Rob Bell.

Posted by: Todd=20 Burus at August 18, 2008

toddh - amen. even the humble magazine that is the umbrella of this = site=20 opined during the past year or so about the rise of calvinism.

i doubt 'penal substitution' will go quietly into any good night.

of course, the reason it won't is because all those guys just like = saying=20 'penal'...

m.r.

Posted by: mike rucker at August 18, 2008

Todd,

That's quite a reductionist view of both Jonathons (Piper and = Edwards) as=20 well as the young, restless reformed people who read their stuff. The = other day=20 I blogged about Piper's view of piety (coming from his Desiring God = blogsite),=20 which he claims should produce a passion for social justice and = practical mercy.=20 So I guess there is much more to the Jonathons and some of their readers = than=20 the substitutional-atonement box than you have created for them.

By the way, C.H. Wright's book "Mission of God" is the simply the = best=20 mission theology book that I've read, hands down. In my opinion, it = supersedes=20 such celebrated books on mission theology such as John Piper's "Let the = Nations=20 be Glad," David Bosch's "Transforming Mission," Lesslie Newbigin's "The = Open=20 Secret."

Posted by: Joel Shaffer at August 18, 2008

Here's a plug for a great book on Gregory of Nyssa - Passion and=20 Paradise by J. Warren Smith. If you want to be "robustly = trinitarian," the=20 Fathers are a good place to start!

The Trinity: Global Perspectives by Veli-Matti Karkkainen is = also a=20 great introduction to contemporary theologians on the Trinity.

Posted by: Casey at August 18, 2008

Joel,
That wasn't at me, right? Cause I completely agree with you = on the=20 views of the 1, 2, and 3 John (Piper, MacArthur, and Edwards) and the = rest of=20 the new Reformed crowd. (Dang extra Todd's confusing things up in here . = . .=20 )

I heard Piper's sermon which corresponded with that blogpost you = mentioned=20 and I remember thinking to myself that he spoke to exactly what Emergent = wants,=20 but backed it up with a theology that they reject, showing that the real = difference between emergent and non isn't in the goal, it's in the = justification=20 (double-word play intended).

Posted by: Todd=20 Burus at August 19, 2008

What about the word "kingdom" even if it coincides with Tom's=20 "earth"?

Posted by: kelvin at August 19, 2008

The Catholic Church has been talking about the Christian message in = terms of=20 'earth' and 'mission' for 2000 years now. In fact, the Church has always = believed and proclaimed that the gospel is not just about the individual = believer and his salvation, but about the reshaping of society as a = whole, as=20 Christians proclaim the salvific message of Jesus, (which does not = simply=20 include justification, but renewal and restoration through Christ's = resurrection=20 and new creation). This has always been the gospel: to renew man to his = original=20 image- the image of God - in Christ, the Second Adam. It is therefore = very=20 comforting to see the work of the "Wright" brothers as they reemphasize = this=20 message with the evangelical world. During my evangelical days I so much = longed=20 for this message - but now, my heart is filled with so much joy - all of = creation groans for the Son of Man- and through Him, God has reconciled = the=20 whole world back to Himself. Christ has truly reversed the fall of man! = This=20 will not happen just when Christ comes back again. Instead, it began at = His=20 Resurrection!

Posted by: Clinton at August 21, 2008

I think one of the exciting things about N.T. Wright's work, = personally, is=20 that his work and arguments have implications that, when taken to their = full=20 conclusion, challenge even some of his own self-identified beliefs. For = example,=20 if taken to their conclusion, his writings in "Jesus and the Victory of = God" and=20 "Paul's Gospel and Caesar's Empire" lead to an assertion of Christian=20 nonviolence, but N.T. Wright declares himself to be a "just war" = Christian. To=20 me the fact that the obvious conclusions of the scholarship make the = scholar=20 uncomfortable is a good indicator of their quality.

Posted by: dcrowe at August 22, 2008

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The Wright Brothers (in Christ)

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August 15, 2008

The Wright Brothers (in Christ)

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