K. So I finally picked up Surprised by Hope by N.T. Wright the last few days during my quiet time. It's not accessible with google books, but I highly recommend that any of you egg heads out there check it out from the library. Though way out of my league with theological and Christian history references, I did gather one thing from the first three chapters.
Wright builds an argument that the resurrection is the central doctrine of the Christian faith. Common sense, you say?
Do you really think so?
When I went to Bethel for a visit during my senior year of college, I asked my grandpa the 'last lecture' question. "If you could preach on one subject. What would you preach on?"
My grandpa retired last May after 60+ years of preaching. Without hesitation he responded, "The resurrection."
He continued that about 10 years prior The Resurrection revolutionized his walk with Christ. After 50 years of ministry! The resurrection. He challenged me to consider the implications of the crucifixion. Most Christians live their lives in the theology of crucifixion.
I have a sinful nature...THAT MUST DIE.
Ok. True. But then what? How many of us stop at the death? And we're left with what? Death? Void?
I mean death to self is not revolutionary. Self-discipline, though important, is central in many spiritual practices. Heck, it even seems to be a common coping mechanism to avoid pain?
So, if Christianity really just means self-discipline or a common coping mechanism, why were people dying in the first century for their belief?
Because the resurrection makes us crazy!
It's not natural.
Life after death.
Imagine the possibilities.
HOPE!
I absolutely agree! And I absolutely [heart] this post, Tiff!
ReplyDeleteI love the cross of Christ -- but why stop there? The whole point of death was the hope (and truth) of the resurrection. It was Paul who said he stood before the Sanhedrin on trial because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead, not the hope of the cross. (Though, he also argues for the power of the cross as well in other portions of Scripture.)
I'm not implying that the cross of Christ is unimportant. Without it we wouldn't have the resurrection. But perhaps it is over-preached. Christ's death didn't mystify the Pharisees, crowds, and disciples; the fact that he promised to be raised from the dead in three days did.
I would interject that the point of the death of self is so that we would find life -- the life of Christ growing more large and deep in us.
If we (I!) would think about life (and hope) maybe it would make death (despair) easier to bear until the dawn of our resurrection.