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davehershey's review against another edition
4.0
The central question this book seeks to answer is, what is the purpose of the Christian life after you first believe? (Hence the title!) This book serves as a sort of third part in a trilogy following Simply Christian and Surprised by Hope. Wright's answer to the question is that we live as followers of Christ with the goal of having a distinctly Christian character formed within us.
Before getting to how this works, Wright dispels two false notions of the Christian life. First is the idea that focuses on rules: Jesus died to forgive us for not following the rules well enough, now we are forgiven and should follow the rules again. Second is the idea, very common in our culture among both Christian and secular people, that we need to be true to ourselves. Here the focus is on feelings: how you feel is who you are so be authentic by following your feelings. For Christians, the assumption is that we are filled with the Spirit so our feelings are directed by the Spirit and thus we follow them. Wright argues that while both of these two ideas have some truth in them, the biblical truth is different (and better).
Wright argues that after we believe we are supposed to experience a transformation of character, becoming the true humans we were created to be (and in this, becoming more like Jesus who is the quintessential human). It is important to note that Wright in many places emphasizes that everything he says in this book assumes the empowering of the Holy Spirit and grace. If read shallowly or not closely, or if the point of the book is missed, or simply if the reader has an agenda, the accusation of a "works-righteousness" may be made. Yet Wright is very clear that without the help of the Spirit, without being saved by grace, the transformation of character is not possible.
Wright shows how developing Christian character is both different and similar to Aristotle's ideas of virtue, popular during the early Christian movement. Echoing early Christians who saw Greek philosophy as preparing the Greeks for Christ, Wright states that if confronted by Aristotle's work the apostle Paul would have said that, like the Law, it was good for its time and what it was trying to do, but it does not go far enough. The goal is the same, developing human flourishing, becoming truly human. The difference is that Christian character looks outside oneself and puts others first, including things like humility and self-sacrifice which were unheard of to the pagans.
Wright grounds his work deeply in scripture, spending chapters looking at God creating humans to rule over creation, Israel as a kingdom of priests, the kingdom of God and so on. This may be a difficult section of the book for some readers but it is necessary for providing background and foundation to the more practical chapters on creating Christian character.
Overall, Wright argues that Christian character is developed bit by bit, little by little over the course of many years through effort (strengthened by the Spirit) and decisions to live in the way of Christ. So rules may have a place, as we need instructions on how to live in specific situations. But of course, there are situations for which no rule has been written which shows rules are not enough. As living this way becomes more habitual, second nature, we can truly trust our feelings and live by the Spirit as we have become conformed to the Spirit. Wright emphasizes that this does not just happen, just as we cannot sit down with no experience and play Bach so we cannot simply live with Christian character without working at it. Over time though, it becomes easier.
There is a lot more to say about this book. If you want to boil it down, perhaps we could say it is a theological foundation for spiritual disciplines. Wright does not go into practices as Richard Foster did in Celebration of Discipline. But he does show how practicing disciplines can form a distinctly Christian character, making us into the people God created us to be and pointing us towards the people we will become in the new creation.
Before getting to how this works, Wright dispels two false notions of the Christian life. First is the idea that focuses on rules: Jesus died to forgive us for not following the rules well enough, now we are forgiven and should follow the rules again. Second is the idea, very common in our culture among both Christian and secular people, that we need to be true to ourselves. Here the focus is on feelings: how you feel is who you are so be authentic by following your feelings. For Christians, the assumption is that we are filled with the Spirit so our feelings are directed by the Spirit and thus we follow them. Wright argues that while both of these two ideas have some truth in them, the biblical truth is different (and better).
Wright argues that after we believe we are supposed to experience a transformation of character, becoming the true humans we were created to be (and in this, becoming more like Jesus who is the quintessential human). It is important to note that Wright in many places emphasizes that everything he says in this book assumes the empowering of the Holy Spirit and grace. If read shallowly or not closely, or if the point of the book is missed, or simply if the reader has an agenda, the accusation of a "works-righteousness" may be made. Yet Wright is very clear that without the help of the Spirit, without being saved by grace, the transformation of character is not possible.
Wright shows how developing Christian character is both different and similar to Aristotle's ideas of virtue, popular during the early Christian movement. Echoing early Christians who saw Greek philosophy as preparing the Greeks for Christ, Wright states that if confronted by Aristotle's work the apostle Paul would have said that, like the Law, it was good for its time and what it was trying to do, but it does not go far enough. The goal is the same, developing human flourishing, becoming truly human. The difference is that Christian character looks outside oneself and puts others first, including things like humility and self-sacrifice which were unheard of to the pagans.
Wright grounds his work deeply in scripture, spending chapters looking at God creating humans to rule over creation, Israel as a kingdom of priests, the kingdom of God and so on. This may be a difficult section of the book for some readers but it is necessary for providing background and foundation to the more practical chapters on creating Christian character.
Overall, Wright argues that Christian character is developed bit by bit, little by little over the course of many years through effort (strengthened by the Spirit) and decisions to live in the way of Christ. So rules may have a place, as we need instructions on how to live in specific situations. But of course, there are situations for which no rule has been written which shows rules are not enough. As living this way becomes more habitual, second nature, we can truly trust our feelings and live by the Spirit as we have become conformed to the Spirit. Wright emphasizes that this does not just happen, just as we cannot sit down with no experience and play Bach so we cannot simply live with Christian character without working at it. Over time though, it becomes easier.
There is a lot more to say about this book. If you want to boil it down, perhaps we could say it is a theological foundation for spiritual disciplines. Wright does not go into practices as Richard Foster did in Celebration of Discipline. But he does show how practicing disciplines can form a distinctly Christian character, making us into the people God created us to be and pointing us towards the people we will become in the new creation.
sofer_mahir's review
5.0
If I could put this book in the hand of every modern (or post-modern) Christian (along with the will to read it), I absolutely would.
I don't think I've whole-heartedly agreed with NT Wright as much as I have here. So much of what he has to say here is, I think, massively important to the circumstances of contemporary Christianity: Why we ought to develop ethical character, how we do it (in a general sense; he isn't trying to write rules), and why it HAS to be done in community rather than individually.
Stylistically, it can get repetitive. Not in a way that bothered me -- it came across like the repetition utilized by a public speaker who wants to make sure you come away from his message remembering something. And, as usual, Wright's analogies are top-notch.
I don't think I've whole-heartedly agreed with NT Wright as much as I have here. So much of what he has to say here is, I think, massively important to the circumstances of contemporary Christianity: Why we ought to develop ethical character, how we do it (in a general sense; he isn't trying to write rules), and why it HAS to be done in community rather than individually.
Stylistically, it can get repetitive. Not in a way that bothered me -- it came across like the repetition utilized by a public speaker who wants to make sure you come away from his message remembering something. And, as usual, Wright's analogies are top-notch.
jesswaymayread's review against another edition
4.0
Wright does a great job of contrasting his theological background and utilizing common metaphors in order to convey His studies on the ideas of virtues, the church, and what it means to embrace our life in Christianity in order to simultaneously recognize the Kingdom and our temporary home on this Earth.
jpwright87's review against another edition
3.0
This book provides very needed answers to questions it seems that most Christians have about how to live their lives. It wasn't necessarily amazing to read, but was very sensible and often inspiring, so much so that it's hopefulness takes a jaded modern reader by surprise. And to top it off, Wright makes his case in such a way that his decency and kindness clearly shines through, this in a world full of angry blurbs and dismissive conceit.
timhoiland's review against another edition
5.0
In After You Believe: Why Christian Character Matters, N.T. Wright lays out his understanding of how Christian character, or virtue, is formed. While none of us are naturally inclined to live like Jesus, the goal is that as we mature as Christ-ians, we begin to look more and more like the one with whom we identify. Living like Jesus, then, may even seem to be “second nature” eventually. Like his other books, Wright doesn’t exactly put the cookies on a low shelf, though compared with some of his other works (like the ones in this series), he’s trying...
- See more at: http://tjhoiland.com/wordpress/2011/12/wright-christian-character
- See more at: http://tjhoiland.com/wordpress/2011/12/wright-christian-character
bibliobiophile's review against another edition
5.0
It's good to see Christian thinkers who don't dismiss the ambiguities and complex nature of living. Wright weaves a clear (albeit repetitive) argument for what a flourishing life means abstractly and practically.
klkramer2's review against another edition
4.0
Helped my understanding of the role that virtue plays in the life of the believer.
mjarmel's review against another edition
5.0
It's good to see Christian thinkers who don't dismiss the ambiguities and complex nature of living. Wright weaves a clear (albeit repetitive) argument for what a flourishing life means abstractly and practically.