29 Dec 2007
From Evil and the Justice of God pages 138-139
The four living creatures are singing “Holy, holy, holy” and the elders are casting their crowns before the throne; but the one who sits on the throne holds a scroll…sealed with seven seals, and nobody can be found worthy to open it and break its seals. The way to God’s unfolding purposes to put the world to rights, to complete the whole project of creation, appears to be blocked, since God made a world in such a way that it must be looked after by human stewards, and no human being is capable of taking God’s plan forward. This is Revelation’s statement of the problem of evil: God has a plan for the world; but unless He is to unmake creation itself, which is designed to function through the stewardship of God’s image-bearing creatures—the human race—it looks as though the plan cannot come to fruition. And that is Revelation’s statement of the answer: the lamb has conquered, has defeated the powers of evil. And now (Revelation5:9-10) the Lamb has ransomed people from every nation in order to make them a royal priesthood, serving God and reigning on the earth.
This theme, so frequent in the New Testament and so widely ignored in Christian theology, is part of the solution to the problem (of evil). It isn’t that the cross won the victory, so there’s nothing more to be done. Rather, the cross has won the victory as a result of which there are now redeemed human beings getting ready to act as God’s wise agents, His stewards, constantly worshiping their Creator and constantly being equipped to reflect His image into the his creation, to bring his wise and healing order to the world, putting the world to rights under His just and gentle rule. A truly biblical ecclesiology…the church is the community of those who, being redeemed through the cross, are now to be a kingdom and priests to serve God and to reign on the earth. Our fear of triumphalism on the one hand and on the other hand our flattening out our final destiny into talk merely of “going to heaven,” have combined to rob us of this central biblical theme.
29 Dec 2007 13:57:47
Good stuff, Mick! Thanks!
29 Dec 2007 14:29:25
BTW, I took the liberty of reproducing the quote on my blog, with a link to your post, of course. Hope you don't mind.
29 Dec 2007 15:12:12
"Our fear of triumphalism on the one hand and on the other hand our flattening out our final destiny into talk merely of “going to heaven,” have combined to rob us of this central biblical theme."
Christianity in not recognizing the completed victory of Scripture has made Jesus Christ the "underdog" and His cross of having no effect in their lives. I believe this is in part because of our inability to place the blame for evil or wrong choices upon our own hearts.
Good Post Mick,
Jim
http://www.inchristvictorio...
29 Dec 2007 18:45:16
Ranson and Jim,
Thanks.
Ranson,
Feel free to link my blog anytime.
I wonder if Wright might be adding to our conversation about creation. Wright says, "...unless He is to unmake creation itself..." We, as preterists, understand the creation to be remade in Revelation 21 and 22.
29 Dec 2007 19:34:27
Mickey,
Yes. That distinctive preterist belief should tell you a lot about the *nature* of the creation spoken of in Genesis 1. The physical "heavens and earth" did not pass away in A.D. 70. Wouldn't that suggest that Genesis 1 is not a scientific, chronological record of the physical "heavens and earth"? Welcome to covenant creation.
Note how Wright's "physical universe" view of creation in Genesis 1:1 bars him from accepting full-preterism. He is the perfect model for partial-preterists (and futurists)everywhere.
Blessings,
Tim Martin
http://www.truthinliving.org
30 Dec 2007 08:11:23
And now (Revelation5:9-10) the Lamb has ransomed people from every nation in order to make them a royal priesthood, serving God and reigning on the earth. …the church is the community of those who, being redeemed through the cross, are now to be a kingdom and priests to serve God and to reign on the earth.I've not read this particular work of Wright's, but he is definitely reflecting what myself and some others have said here for some time now – that redemption was pertinent to the purpose of service in this life, as opposed to a position in Heaven after this life, that is, we reign in this life to serve God by loving others i.e., we are "saved to serve".
01 Jan 2008 16:47:47
Davo:
he is definitely reflecting what myself and some others have said here for some time now – that redemption was pertinent to the purpose of service in this life, as opposed to a position in Heaven after this life
Parker:
Hi Davo, and happy new year. Some people don't look at this as an either/or proposition. Redemption encompasses and accomplishes both.
01 Jan 2008 22:04:58
G'day Parker… and a happy new year to you too Bro. Typically as per the evangelical perpective the "either/or proposition" with regards to redemption is used almostly exclusively in terms of post-death destinies of "either" heaven "or" hell. However… Wright's emphasis on the here-and-now with regards to redemption IS actually the focus of the Scriptures where "the called" are called to serve, as opposed to the automatic assumption that has redemption speaking of "getting to heaven when you die".
Thus Wright's approach, and I agree him, is that Christianity becomes useful i.e., practical, in that "others" benefit from the ministration of grace ministered through believers, in whatever form that might take. IOW, the focus of redemption really is about "purpose" in life [service] by those positioned "in Christ" – so in this sense "position" if we must, is still relative to this life and our functioning as believers in it. This is at least is how I'm understanding the thrust of Wright's words, and IF right, I agree.