LeStourgeon Online

N.T. Wright Tells Us About Heaven

Time interviewed N.T. Wright over some comments made in his new book, Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church.  Turns out, the ofttimes contentious bishop thinks most of us have “heaven” wrong…

It therefore comes as a something of a shock that Wright doesn’t believe in heaven — at least, not in the way that millions of Christians understand the term. In his new book, Surprised by Hope (HarperOne), Wright quotes a children’s book by California first lady Maria Shriver called What’s Heaven, which describes it as “a beautiful place where you can sit on soft clouds and talk… If you’re good throughout your life, then you get to go [there]… When your life is finished here on earth, God sends angels down to take you heaven to be with him.” That, says Wright is a good example of “what not to say.” The Biblical truth, he continues, “is very, very different.”

The Q & A goes on to allow Wright to emphasize that the purpose of Heaven is not our whimsical pleasure, but our fulfillment as the apex of Creation in the glory of God (my words).  I couldn’t agree more.  I’ll have his book soon and look forward to exploring how he explains the implications of this view, as well as how (or if) his New Perspective views influence his understanding of the afterlife.  Look for a review next month.

Posted by blestou on February 9th, 2008 — Review, Church Life, Culture, Doctrine