"Surprised by Hope"- N.T. Wright

It seems to be a temptation of many contemporary conservative Christian writers to paint a very bleak picture of where the world is going. The temptation is perfectly understandable, since there really is not much happening in the world right now to give us much hope. However, in his new book, "Surprised by Hope", N.T. Wright certainly breaks loose from this trend.
N.T. Wright avoids two very great pitfalls in his position on the state of the world. On the one hand, he does not give in to despair over the modern condition and simply lament that the world is going down the tubes and there's nothing we can do about it. On the other hand, he is not like the "triumphalists" (as he calls them) who turn a blind eye to the troubles of the world and insist that everything is fine. In order to bring us to an understanding of his position he divides his book into two main sections.
In his first section Wright discusses his eschatological views. He begins by arguing against recent trends in modern Christianity toward gnosticism. There are many Christians who take a very low view of the physical body (and matter in general) in favor of the spiritual body. There are many people who insist that the present bodily existence in which we find ourselves now is just the interim period before we shed our bodies and live with Jesus in Heaven. Similarly, they believe that God will destroy the earth (and everything physical) and eventually all that will exist is the heavenly kingdom and its citizens.
Instead, Wright continually emphasizes the Isaiahic promise that the earth will be full with the knowledge of God like the waters covers the sea, and the lion will lay down with the lamb. He enthusiastically anticipates the final state which he calls "life after life after death." He says that for a short time Christians that die before the Second Coming will live in spiritual form in heaven (life after death) but that this is only temporary. He says that this state is only the rest stop before all of God's people are given new bodies which they are to enjoy on the new redeemed earth (life after life after death).
It is important that this is not a purely theoretical position, argued by theologians but having little to do with everyday life. On the contrary, Wright insists that a proper understanding of eschatology should inspire greater care for the earth. Martin Luther said that the proper response to hearing that the Lord is coming tomorrow is to plant a tree. This is precisely the stance that Wright takes. We cannot adopt the laissez attitude of those who think that the creation is evil and that they will be snatched up from it unexpectedly. God declared his Creation to be very good and he gave it to be in our care. We should treat the creation like it shall be our home forever (as it indeed shall be, in its redeemed form).
Wright's second section is directly related to this. So what should we, the Church, do in the meantime? Wright's answer is very simple: "prepare." Wright emphasizes a missional church; going out into the world to bring back news of the promised land. He says that we should be like the scouts who brought back grapes to the Israelites out of the promised land. We are to give the world a glimpse of God's Kingdom come to earth. We are to give feet to our Lord's prayer "Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven." This is to be the work of every Christian on this earth - feed the hungry, comfort the sick and weary, and care for the widowed.
Reading this book was extremely encouraging to me. It was not empty encouragement but rather an assurance of God's promise to us. Wright's zeal for the church was extremely refreshing, and I could truly sense his earnestness through his words. I highly recommend this book.