N.T. Wright has written a remarkable book that I believe has the potential of changing the course of church history — Surprised by Hope is the name.
In the first section, Wright exposes the influence of pagan thought on the biblical concept of the afterlife. (In this way, it’s very similar to Pagan Christianity, only it exposes the influence of paganism on a specific set of beliefs rather than on a specific set of religious practices.) Wright doesn’t pull any punches here. That which is unbiblical he calls unbiblical without blinking.
The book then presents the biblical vision of life-after-death and its spiritual and practical implications on the Christian life. Wright contrasts the biblical teaching on the resurrection and the new creation with the myth of secular progressivism on the one hand and the myth of religious escapism (what I call “rapture fever”) on the other.
Wright comes right out and says that most Christians are wrong in their view of the afterlife. From the back cover, Wright “takes on the controversial topic of life after death and reveals how most Christians get it wrong – and why it matters.”
I had the privilege of spending hours with Wright last year where we both spoke at a conference (along with Brennan Manning, another choice servant of the Lord whom God has mightily used).
There are few men who I respect more in the Lord than Tom Wright. To my mind, he’s one of the foremost figures that God is using in this hour. And I applaud him for this excellent book.
Like all writers and speakers who are turning the sod on traditional ideas and practices, Wright has his share of critics … some of whom are quite belligerent in their critiques. But this is part of the price that one pays for challenging entrenched traditions in present-day Christianity.
I tip my hat to N.T. Wright all the more. May his tribe increase!
Note to Readers: Wright is a scholar. So the average reader will find the reading level and writing style to be difficult (some sentences, for instance, are over 60 words long and there’s a good bit of academic language.) Consequently, if you’re used to reading Francine Rivers, Max Lucado, Beth Moore, etc. you may have trouble reading this book.
