From an interview of N.T. Wright in Time Magazine
N.T. “Tom” Wright is one of the most formidable figures in the world of Christian thought. As Bishop of Durham, he is the fourth most senior cleric in the Church of England and a major player in the strife-riven global Anglican Communion; as a much-read theologian and Biblical scholar he has taught at Cambridge and is a hero to conservative Christians worldwide for his 2003 book The Resurrection of the Son of God, which argued forcefully for a literal interpretation of that event.
I have to interject that The Resurrection of the Son of God is indeed a very good book from a conservative theological point of view. The article continues.
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.”
In the Bible we are told that you die, and enter an intermediate state. St. Paul is very clear that Jesus Christ has been raised from the dead already, but that nobody else has yet. Secondly, our physical state. The New Testament says that when Christ does return, the dead will experience a whole new life: not just our soul, but our bodies. And finally, the location. At no point do the resurrection narratives in the four Gospels say, “Jesus has been raised, therefore we are all going to heaven.” It says that Christ is coming here, to join together the heavens and the Earth in an act of new creation.
Go click on the time.com link and read the whole article. There’s much more there than I quoted. But, I have to say that nothing in the above paragraph strikes me as contradictory to anything in the bible.
So I want to ask a few questions. Do you think N.T. Wright is right? If he is right, how does that affect your faith? How does the idea that heaven will involve more work sound to you, rather than laying on clouds plucking at harps?
February 19, 2008 at 4:53 am
No he is not correct. It’s ture that our bodies are not restored when we die. However, it doesn’t say anything about our spirit. Revelation clearly alludes to the fact that the saints under the altar ask God to intersede and bring justice to the wicked.
Moses and Elijah appear with Christ to the disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matt. 17:3).
“Bless the Lord, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, hearkening to the voice of his word! Bless the Lord, all his hosts, his ministers that do his will!” (Ps. 103:20-21)”Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise him in the heights! Praise him, all his angels, praise him, all his host!” (Ps. 148:1-2).
Who the heck are the hosts & ministers who do His will if not humans?
February 19, 2008 at 8:08 am
I think N.T. Wright thinks that the scene you describe in Revelations is describing the actions on earth of saints (holy people still living) asking God to intercede.
The Moses and Elijah scene does intrigue me. I need to reread that especially in light of my final point.
Finally, the host and ministers could be cherubim or seraphim. They don’t have to be humans, especially since most Christians agree that no one was in heaven prior to Jesus’ resurrection. Jesus descended to the dead and raised the souls up on the third day.
February 19, 2008 at 10:12 am
So as a preface, it always makes me smile when we are talking about God and time because by no means can we see out of history. But I will lay out my speculations anyway.
All of what he says about the resurrection of the body and the creation of a new heaven and earth at the end of time is right on, it seems like. But what do we believe about saints? The simple fact that we ask for their intercession (and are supposed to; it’s not like it’s just folk practice) says to me that we believe the saints are out of time and in the presence of God “already.” (Smirking while I say “already” because it just shows how impossible it is for me to think eternity.)