Wrightians and the Neo-Reformed: 'All One in Christ Jesus'
But I think Wright would also do well to show the Reformed side a bit more respect and not write them off for "asking late medieval questions," let alone dismissing the very idea of schism within the church (isn't schism appropriate in some cases? As in, if the Gospel truly does become "adjusted" in significant ways?).
However intellectually at odds Piper and Wright might be (which is fine), they are first and foremost brothers in the house of God. I hope they—and their respective supporters in the fray—can begin to model a more unified spirit. Imagine the witness of that!
The highlight of T4G for me was the singing of classic hymns like "And Can it Be" and "It is Well" with 7,000 fervent voices all in one accord. And at the Wheaton conference, I was most moved by a final prayer in a packed auditorium where hands were laid on Wright as we prayed for him and his ministry. It strikes me that unity is most viscerally experienced in moments like this: singing songs together, praying in concert, in fellowship with one another.
What if both conferences had merged and two seemingly antagonistic groups of Christians put aside their differences for a few minutes to just sing (in both conferences the hymn "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty" was sung), side-by-side, in worship of the triune God who gives the same grace through which all who follow Christ have been saved? That would be a unity the rulers of the world would truly be afraid of.
Brett McCracken blogs at The Search and is the author of Hipster Christianity: When Church and Cool Collide, which comes out in August. "Speaking Out" is Christianity Today's guest opinion column and (unlike an editorial) does not necessarily represent the opinion of the publication.
Related Elsewhere:
Together for the Gospel and the Wheaton Theology Conference have posted audio and video recordings of the conference sessions online.
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Josh Carroll
Good Job Brett! I'm glad that there is somebody that is willing to address these issues. The flack you are receiving is "unjustified":) It's my experience that the majority of people that criticize N.T. Wright (especially at our mutual institution of higher learning) have no idea what he is writing about. They hear "New Perspective on Paul", "covenantal nomism" or "inclusion of the Gentiles" and immediately react with pithy statements focusing on where Wright breaks from the reformed tradition rather than a thought through scriptural response. Sadly, most of these reactions are the are also NOT based on a firsthand encounter with the works of N.T. Wright. Typically they are just parroting some derogatory parabolic comment they heard from a professor or pastor. We would all do well to know what we are talking about when we criticize others "in love". If anything Wright is opening up valuable conversation that is causing a new generation to think for themselves in a scriptural context.
Ted Bjorem
I think Robert E. Webber's book COMMON ROOTS addresses this issue well
archi dude
Via Media is wrong to think that the simple act of honoring a fellow worker (Wright = great thinker) equates with McCracken embracing Wright's thesis . . . I know this is definitely the godly way of offering comment ;-) . . . and I could tell there are no axes to be ground here . . . Sorry, just having fun. We need good exegesis and good dialogue. What does scripture say? How do we love one another through this debate? This is tough stuff, and we need to have a good, healthy fight over the issues. I for one will be at the ETS and then the SBL - it's gonna be a blast and a bit uncomfortable . . . at times. And if it gets to docile, we can have a fist fight. We'll tell everyone we were fighting the good fight of faith - I'm sure the world will understand . . . It's a good thing us real Christians are unbiased. Don't you think?