Surprised by Hope

A couple years ago a friend of mine gave me the book Surprised By Hope written by N.T. Wright. It quickly went on my shelf, as picking up any theological book post-semimary has proved to be difficult for me. This past week though, reflecting on the word "hope" and feeling a lack of it in my own life right now, I was drawn to the dusty title. I am about halfway through at this point and have so far found the information contained within its pages quite refreshing and enlightening--particularly Wright's views on eschatology--a subject not well discussed within my classrooms at Fuller.

I have been officiating a number of funerals lately and have had a difficult time declaring with certainty much about the afterlife. Wright has enabled me to think more about the centrality of Jesus' resurrection, a possible in-between resting place, and the bodily resurrection that will take place for us where we will live right here on a new earth. Growing up Baptist with many Sunday sermons about the rapture and tribulation timeline combined with the Mark IV films and Left Behind series, I have had a distorted, fear-filled view of death and the afterlife for quite some time. The pre-occupation with death that I have recently encountered lately has left me in a spiraled state of depression and hopelessness. Picking up Wright's book has been step one in a much needed process to distill my unhealthy fear of God and give me an answer to, "What is the point of all this?"  

Although the average person might have a difficult time understanding Wright's language without having the background of a Seminary education particularly an understanding of Doestism, Platonic views, and Gnostism--I recommend seeking out your Pastor to do a book study on this book. It's information may help to dispell both the religious right and the liberal laissez-faire. Thank you N.T. Wright for tackling this difficult and controversial topic.