Surprised By Hope

In his 2008 offering, Surprised By Hope, N. T. Wright sets out to re-evaluate the historical and literary data surrounding the New Testament and provide an alternative to the two prevailing views of the gospel. Those prevailing views are the liberal myth of progress which claims that we are the ones who will bring heaven to earth through our own efforts and the conservative view of despair that claims the gospel is about going to heaven when you die with little if any relevance for the here and now.

The liberal view, Wright asserts, assumes the need is to claim power structures for themselves not understanding that those structures are fallen and create the problems they seek to address. The conservative view, in assuming there is nothing that can really be done beyond acts of charity, ends up supporting these powers by default.

Wright explains that if we cast off the influences platonic philosophy of body-soul dualism, Constantian idealogy of Christian domination, and the hyper-individualization of the Enlightenment, we find a relevant gospel charged with fervor: Christ in facing death in the powers refused to participate in their oppression, in his resurrection defeated death, the tool of domination used by the powers, and in his return calls us to live the life of the resurrection (or new creation) by seeking justice in putting up building blocks of justice/new creation anticipating the final act of God when the kingdom of God is fully established and God's will is done on earth as it is in heaven and continuing to proclaim to the powers that they are not the ultimate authority and have already been defeated.

Wright states, "The difference between the kingdoms of the world and the kingdom of God lies exactly in this, that the kingdom of God comes through the death and resurrection of his Son, not through naked displays of brute force or wealth."

This book helped me have a joyful Christmas. I often go through all the ritual, both secular and religious, and feel we continue to miss the point putting me in a bit of a Charlie Brown-style funk. Yet, ironically, this book that suggests we should put more emphasis on Easter rather than Christmas, reminded of the hope found in the birth of Jesus. Christ was, is, and is to come. In remembering his birth, we are reminded that death, the greatest enemy of God and most threatening tool of the powers, has been defeated. We shall speak out against and resist injustice knowing ultimately, whatever the powers may do, we shall live.

Well, that book three of four which I hoped to complete by years' end. I've almost completed book four, so keep you eyes peeled to the blog.