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Surprised by Hope – Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection and the Mission of the Church – N.T. Wright

What we believe about life after death shapes what we do with the life we’re allotted before death.  N.T. Wright, one of the world’s most recognized biblical scholars, takes his readers on a journey of hope.  Not only does Wright deftly contend for the historical resurrection of Jesus, but he demonstrates that Jesus’ message and the hope of the early church was also resurrection.

Bishop Wright asserts that it is God’s intention to restore his good creation, under Christ, in the fullness of time.  While much of modern Christianity teaches a rescuing from a fallen creation, this belief undermines the biblical narrative of God’s revelation of himself through Israel and redemption of humanity through Jesus.

As for judgment: Wright says it is good news indeed; an end to tyranny, oppression and violence.  The day of the Lord will bring to light what each person has built from their lives.  (I Cor. 3:10-17) In his writing about judgment, he poses a necessary question: “What would happen if we were to take seriously our stated belief that Jesus Christ is already the Lord of the world and that, at his name, one day every knee would bow?”

For most of us we’re simply concerned with life after death.  This book forces one to consider “life after life after death.”  Using 2 Corinthians and C.S. Lewis’ The Great Divorce, as templates, Wright suggests that believers should expect a more solid, more real life after life.  This hope is meant to infect our present state, the practical conclusion of Surprised By Hope.  The mission of the church is then summed up: “Precisely because the resurrection has happened as an event within our own world, its implications and effects are to be felt within our own world, here and now.

If you make space for one book of theology this year, make it Surprised By Hope.  You’ll be grateful and hopeful!