Surprised By Hope

Book Review.
Wright, N.T. Surprised By Hope. Rethinking heaven, the resurrection, and the mission of the church. Harper One. 2008.
N.T.W.- one of the world’s top Anglican biblical scholars: bishop of Durham.
Comment. Henry.
This resource stands out in the landscape of popular, contemporary church literature with its focus on theology. For me the read was a welcome, stimulating change. Our knowledge of scripture is a fundamental building block for our spiritual growth and transformation. This book provides great ‘building material’. For me the ’take-a-way’ was the exegeting of the phrase, “Thy kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven”, from the Lord’s Prayer. We are what we believe. This book can help us with getting some clarity on what we believe.
Very few Christians know what the orthodox Christian belief is about death and resurrection. Confusion about these topics is demonstrated in our hymns and practices, e.g. cremation. “What we say about death and resurrection gives shape and to color everything else.” (25)
Resurrection is a concept unique to Judaism and Christianity. It is much more than just life after death. Christians believed in an immediate resurrection, e.g. Jesus. Most Jews believed in an eventual resurrection. The transition from Jewish beliefs to articulated Christian beliefs involve seven modifications or mutations.
When it comes to the stories of Easter, there are almost no “biblical echoes”. (53) The witnesses were women, not credible in the ancient culture. Jesus appeared in a very normal, physical body, not as Daniel had described him. I.e. a shining star. Furthermore, this body was not limited to physical laws (he entered rooms without using entrances). There is no mention in the Easter stories about future resurrection hope. “Believing in the resurrection of Jesus becomes a matter of discovering hope in the twenty-first century.” (75)
There are two popular answers suggested to the question, “What is God’s purpose for the world as a whole?” (80) The first answer is called “the myth of progress”. (81) It is represented by teachings of evolution and teachings of Pierre Teillard de Chardin and the New Age spirituality. The second answer, called “the negative myth” (87) is represented by the Platonic irresponsible attitude toward creation. The Christian answer focuses on what God has done in Jesus and will do by his resurrection “for the whole world- the entire cosmos”. (91)
Early Christians “believed that God was going to do for the whole cosmos what he had done for Jesus at Easter.” (93) Col. 1:15-20, 1Cor. 15, Rev. 21&22, are scriptures suggested to support this claim. “The redeemed people of God in the new world will be agents of his love going out in new ways, to accomplish new creative tasks, to celebrate and extend the glory of his love.” (106)
The resurrection and the ascension are two separate events. Eschatology must consider “the entire sense of God’s future” (122), not just the second coming. Jesus is coming as judge. “Resurrection isn’t life after death; it is life ‘after’ life after death.” (169) If there is a purgatory it functions in the present life not after death. (Wright humour.) Paradise is pre-resurrection. There is no indication that we should pray for the dead but there may be an option to pray to the dead and they in turn may pray for us. Those who are consistent and continual in their rejection of God’s love and forgiveness are “beyond hope, beyond pity”. (175)
We cannot get mission right until we get resurrection right. Salvation is- being raised to life in God’s new heaven and new earth”. (198) such a salvation is inclusive, i.e. not just humans but also creation. Such a salvation is both present and future and is nurtured by faith.
When we are doing the works that God has for us to do we are investing in the coming ‘new creation’. That is provides great motivation to work. “Beauty matters”. (222) Art is a response to the beauty of creation. Evangelism (conversion) is all about the gospel that presents an invitation to become a Christ follower, not a passport to heaven.
“Easter commissions Jesus’ followers (the church) for a task: Pentecost gives them the necessary equipment to accomplish it.” (239) Based on the writings of Paul a case is made for the resurrection ushering in “the new world”, (253) God’s kingdom on earth.
There needs to be a higher level of celebration at Easter. It is a coming together of heaven and earth. The hope of Easter involves, “six central aspects of Christianity: new birth and baptism, Eucharist, prayer, scripture, holiness, and love.” (271-285)
Jesus’ resurrection is the beginning of God’s new project not to snatch people away from earth to heaven but to colonize the earth with the life of heaven. That, after all, is what the Lord’s Prayer is about.” (293)
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