"(T)he resurrection stories in the four Gospels aren't about going to heaven when you die. In fact, there is almost nothing about "going to heaven when you die" in the whole New Testament. Being "citizens of heaven" (Philippians 3.20) doesn't mean you're supposed to end up there. Many of the Philippians were Roman citizens, but Rome didn't want them back when they retired. Their job was to bring Roman culture to Philippi.
That's the point which all the Gospels actually make, in their own ways. Jesus is risen, therefore God's new world has begun. Jesus is risen, therefore Israel and the world have been redeemed. Jesus is risen, therefore his followers have a new job to do.
And what is that new job? To bring the life of heaven to birth in actual, physical, earthly reality…Jesus' resurrection is the beginning of God's new project, not to snatch people away from earth to heaven, but to colonize earth with the life of heaven...With Easter, God's new creation is launched upon a surprised world, pointing ahead to the renewal, the redemption, the rebirth of the entire creation."
N.T. Wright
This doesn't leave very much comfort for those whose loved ones have died, or for those who themselves are about to die, if they're resigned to just this mortal existence, with their only chance of immortailty being how they are remembered (if at all) and what works or progeny they left behind (if any).
I think there's plenty of New Testament scripture arguing for heaven as a destination for the believer, at least until the coming of the last dispensation (as recorded in the end of the Book of Revelation).
Posted by: Hank Gross | April 14, 2006 at 12:43 PM
Hey Hank, just seeing that one section of NT Wright's quote I can see how you might mistake that he was arguing against an afterlife.
I read it as not saying that at all, but arguing the Ressurection gave great meaning, importance and hope for change for HERE, as well as hope for beyond here.
He makes that point, and spells out more clearly his belief in a post-mortal life as well later in the essay:
Quote of the Day, Continuted:
"When Paul wrote his great resurrection chapter, 1 Corinthians 15, he didn't end by saying, "So let's celebrate the great future life that awaits us." He ended by saying, "So get on with your work, because you know that in the Lord it won't go to waste." When the final resurrection occurs, as the centrepiece of God's new creation, we will discover that everything done in the present world in the power of Jesus' own resurrection will be celebrated and included, appropriately transformed."
Posted by: Tim C | April 14, 2006 at 06:55 PM