As he convincingly demonstrates that the Western world is becoming increasingly, overtly pagan, Wright articulates how paganism now manifests itself in Western culture, shows how the gospel confronts it at the roots, and presents a challenging agenda for the church. "An urgent book for the times--passionate, brilliant, filled with hope."--Timothy George, Beeson Divinity School.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
An outstanding book that deserves a longer life,
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This review is from: Bringing the Church to the World (Paperback)
Tom (aka N.T.) Wright wrote this one as a series of Lenten meditations for the parish of Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1992. It was published in British and American editions, the British edition being a small-format paperback entitled New Tasks for a Renewed Church and published by Hodder & Stoughton.Throughout the book the author emphasizes the differences between trinitarianism, dualism and monism. He points out two different kinds of dualism--the metaphysical and the moral--and urges us not to confuse them in any way. He says that there is a metaphysical dualism between spirit and matter, idealism and materialism; and there is a moral dualism between good and evil, right and wrong. His criticism is that Christians have commonly identified the two dualisms, understanding material existence as an evil that must be escaped. This, Wright contends, is the root of the Gnostic heresy, which is soundly refuted by the Incarnation, since Christ has sanctified human life and the physical existence by entering into it. This world and this life are thus not a necessary evil to be endured, but an opportunity to manifest the presence of God in all areas of our lives here. Somewhat in alignment with the Protestant tradition from which he comes, Wright spends much of the first part of the book urging his readers to integrate their faith with their everyday lives and the culture in which they live, which are to be sanctified by the presence of God brought to bear on them by faith. At the same time, he argues, the answer is not to move over to a pantheistic, monistic understanding of Christian faith, as some liberal and 'green' churches are wont to do. He deals quite convincingly with neopaganism in the church, being careful to point out that this world has an independent existence from the God who created it. The physical universe was created and does not emanate from a pantheistic deity or Life Force. Christians do have an obligation to look after the creation, because the Creator deemed it 'very good', but creation is not God or an end in itself. Worship and ultimate reverence must be directed to the Creator and Redeemer God alone. The second part of the book looks at the life and ministry of Jesus, its historical context and theological interpretation. It is a non-technical discussion that makes an enjoyable if challenging read for the layman, and much of it reminded me of Philip Yancey's bestselling The Jesus I Never Knew. Tom Wright tends to favour the term 'subversive' when referring to Jesus, and this certainly is a book that will subvert our Sunday School perceptions of Him. A challenging read, but it should be required for every new convert and every candidate for confirmation. I am pleased to see this book back in print again, after an absence of perhaps five years. I hope that it remains in print for many generations to come.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome and Convicting book,
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This review is from: Bringing the Church to the World (Paperback)
As usual, N.T. Wright has written a book filled with both inspiring and convicting depictions of what it means to be a Christian in pagan world and what we as individuals and as a church should be doing (but usually aren't) to be that light that Christ has called us to be. This book hasn't gotten as much 'play' as Wright's other, more recent. books, but it is one of the best he has written and one of those that one must read at least twice to get its full impact. Shows again why Wright is the top theologian in the world today
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