NT Wright on the Church
NT Wright talks about the Church.
“According to the early Christians, the church doesn’t exist in order to provide a place where people can pursue their private spiritual agendas and develop their own spiritual potential. Nor does it exist in order to provide a safe haven in which people can hide from the wicked world and ensure that they themselves arrive safely at an otherworldly destination. Private spiritual growth and ultimate salvation come rather as the byproducts of the main, central, overarching purpose for which God has called and is calling us. The purpose is clearly stated in various places in the New Testament: that through the church God will announce to the wider world that he is indeed its wise, loving, and just creator: that through Jesus he has defeated the powers that corrupt and enslave it; and that by his Spirit he is at work to heal and renew it.”
Thanks to Daryl Dash for the quote
May 12th, 2006 at 1:58 pm
Now there’s a great quote…nice if it caught on!
May 12th, 2006 at 3:29 pm
ok, I’m a self-confessed N T Wright fan — I think he has a knack of pricking our bubbles of self-centred individualism and reminding us that we were saved for God’s glory, and to love and serve one another, and only then for ourselves! The church isn’t about supporting some leader’s vision (where DO they get these “vision statements” from?!) it’s about God doing His work in His world through His people
May 23rd, 2006 at 9:52 am
Excellent reminder - much needed (by me).
June 15th, 2006 at 12:19 pm
[…] via signposts. […]