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Recent Reading: For All the Saints?, by N.T. Wright

I could gripe about this book, there’s no doubt (I disagreed with quite a bit of it). But that’s not why I write these posts. I write (see my ‘About’ page) to record instant impressions and applications. I like to think that any book on Christian doctrine can edify me in one way or another, regardless of how much, or little, I agree with.

Wright debunks the doctrine of purgatory quite well, which I appreciate. His take on prayer in relation to the dead has made me think. I’m still evaluating.

Most of all, I applaud Wright’s concern to remind Christians that heaven is not our ultimate and final destination. I’ve had issues with this in the past in dealing with folks. I once had a lady tell me that she didn’t want to live eternally if it meant she couldn’t stay in heaven for eternity. Earth – been there, done that, bought the shot glass, don’t wanna go back.

‘But the presence of Christ is the real issue,’ I urged. ‘He will be on the earth after his second coming.’ She didn’t care. She just wanted wings and a puffy cloud. ‘But the new heavens and the new earth will be glorious,’ I contended. But it’s still the earth. ‘No, it’s a new earth – no sadness, no sorrow, peace in the valley, and all that.’ Not only did she ‘disagree’ with me (though most of the time I was basically quoting Revelation 21), she got mad – really mad.

I fear this is the sentiment of far too many Christians (though it might not make them quite as angry).

I do not know if Wright himself coined the term (but he was certainly the first to bring it to my attention), but his phrase, ‘life after life after death’ is memorable and helpful. This is what the Christian is ultimately looking forward to – not simply life after death, but life after life after death, in the new heavens and the new earth. I will certainly use this phrase in the future. And were it not for that phrase I probably would not be taking the time to write down my thoughts.

I urge folks regularly to read Revelation 21 and 22, along with Isaiah 65 and 66 concerning the after life (which I can now call ‘life after life after death’, or perhaps, ‘life after the afterlife,’ why not?). And so, if anyone happens across this post who has been troubled by this issue, I would humbly suggest that you read those chapters.It also wouldn’t hurt to read The Chronicles of Narnia as well, especially The Last Battle (though I’m certainly not comparing it with the Bible). C.S. Lewis’ depiction of the ‘new Narnia’ is brilliant. All that is lacking in that book, in my opinion, is redeemed by the vision of the new Narnia, further up and further in. I can’t imagine the Chronicles without that vision.