5/16/09

I was reading this article by N.T. Wright today, ‘Resurrecting Old Arguments’, some discussion of his book, ‘The Resurrection of the Son of God.’ I read something that reminded me of a central conflict in the way Christianity is practiced – do you view it as a system of ethics or something else?

“The basic claim of Jesus of Nazareth, however, was not that he was offering a collection of beliefs and ideas which (perhaps in contra-distinction to those of his contemporaries) might eventually be shown to be true, but that God’s kingdom was arriving in and through his own presence and work.”

It must be a trend that evangelical churches, in their competition for members and their attempt to be relevant, are prone to offering the gospel as a set of valuable ways to live more effectively. After all, it is stated, these principles are straight from God.

This seems to be the nub, but once you find yourself rejecting a scenario where Christianity is defined as ‘valuable principles for your life’, coming to grips with what the kingdom means is not so easy. But it is certainly a way more interesting quest.