Flourishing

Ok. Its time for an admission on my part. You probably know that NT Wright is going to be one of the major speakers at Following Christ 08. He’s done it before so don’t worry, he knows what he’s doing…here’s the evidence (the book that came out of his previous appearance).

And you probably know that Wright is sort of a looming presence in the world of New Testament studies. He swings some major lumber (as in every book he publishes is a hit with market, not always the same one however).

Well, back in 2001, I was roaming around the site of ancient Corinth (as in, Greece) with some colleagues studying in the UK. Imagine the scene. I leave the archeological site and walk to a nearby cafe for some lunch. I’m eating like a grad student: bread, cheese, apples, water.

I saunter into the cafe and there stands this bearded English guy wearing a Panama Jack hat (exhibit A). Disclosure: the photo is not actually of NT Wright, but you get the point.

Yup. Its NT. I was in Corinth with NT Wright and missed the chance to hang out with him and his film crew, all because I didn’t actually know what he looked like. Ugh. A friend knew who he was but by the time I found out, it would have been totally awkward to go over and start up a conversation. And I’m not really sure what I would have said. “Do you come here much?” “Its kind of run down, don’t you think?”

If you’re coming to FC08 you’ll have the chance to learn from Tom Wright and some other very cool and intellectually-stimulating folks.

Here’s an interview with Wright by Becky Garrison of the Wittenburg Door. Becky covers some major theological ground with old NT. I think he might have had a headache at the end.

Here’s a highlight, Wright on the purpose of the Bible:

The Bible is here to equip God’s people to carry forward His purposes of new covenant and new creation. It is there to enable people to work for justice, to sustain their spirituality as they do so, to create and enhance relationships at every level, and to produce that new creation which will have something of the beauty of God himself. The Bible isn’t like an accurate description of how a car is made. It’s more like the mechanic who helps you fix it, the garage attendant who refuels it, and the guide who tells you how to get where you’re going. And where you’re going is to make God’s new creation happen in his world, not simply to find your own way unscathed through the old creation.

I dig it.