Did We Drop Something?

Snake River Gorge, Twin Falls, Idaho. A long way down.

I am currently reading through NT Wright’s book Surprised by Hope. I’m not too far into it but it is very, very good. He examines the current Christian understanding of the ultimate Christian hope: resurrection. Wright points out that most western Christians have an idea that resurrection = going to heaven and living with God “up there” in a quasi-disembodied state. Wright points out that the 1st Century AD understanding of resurrection was of a physical resurrection and life on earth. He reminds us that at the end of Revelation, the new Jerusalem descends out of heaven and comes to earth.

Although not all churches or traditions have abandoned the teaching of a true physical resurrection of the body, I do agree that it is little emphasized. The dominant Christian culture in the States (when it deals w/the afterlife) does seem oriented around the intermediate stage where we rest in Paradise with God until He chooses to complete the restoration of all things. This intermediate stage has become confused with the ultimate goal.

When did we start dropping that important piece of theology?

~ by eikonministries on September 7, 2009.