2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Simply NTW, This review is from: Tom Wright for Everyone - Putting the Theology of N.T. Wright Into Practice in the Local Church (Paperback)
Nicholas Tom Wright (NTW) is recognizably one of the most influential biblical theologians of our time. His fresh proposals for reading Jesus and Paul and some of the key biblical doctrines such as biblical authority, resurrection, eschatology, salvation, holiness and mission and so on have been nothing short of breathtaking. Yet, his proposals have also stirred up no small amount of storms among detractors on the one hand and a dismissive wave of the hand on the other. Stephen Kurht, a fellow British pastor seeks to help bridge the divide and coax people out of their nonchalance. Whether we agree with NTW or not, his is a voice we ignore at our own loss. Whether we lean towards the left or right of the age-old divide between liberals and conservatives, here is a thoughtful and serious scholar who might be charting a path beyond the old impasse in things biblical and controversial.
So, Stephen Kurht takes us through some biographical materials concerning Wright as well as the questions raised by Kurht's own evangelical background and the key concepts of his theology in the first half of the book. It is presented in a very accessible way, and reads at times like an 'NTW for dummy' book. This is immensely helpful for those who have been raised up in a different paradigm in which the biblical terms are understood and for those who are lost sometimes with the wordiness that we find in Wright's own writings. Kuhrt himself of course may not agree with the latter comment, being a respectful and ardent fan himself, but frankly Kurht's clear, concise overview of Wright's thoughts will be much appreciated by those who need a handle in gaining access into NTW's prolific and sometimes dense writings.
In the second half, using his own church as the ground for testing out Wright's theology, he shows us how his theology impacts, reshapes and even revamps the church's posture in its various contexts - pastoral, missional and sacramental. This is the part that i enjoy the most and i resonate with much of the challenges as well as rewards in commending NTW's vision to people who have been formed in a different way in their understanding of the christian hope and calling. Kurht also thoughtfully teases out the practical implications of Wright's theology that are not immediately obvious even to those who have a better grasp of his ideas. This is 'rubber meets the road' stuff. Would that more of such applied theology books be written to bridge the divide between serious scholarship and the daily walks of the ordinary followers of Christ.
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