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After You Believe: Why Christian Character Matters (2010)

by N.T. Wright(Favorite Author)

4.16 of 5 Votes: 1

ISBN

0061730556 (ISBN13: 9780061730559)

languge

English

genre

Nonfiction

publisher

HarperOne

review 1: Early in the book, Wright retells the story of the pilot who successfully landed an airbus in the Hudson River in 2009, after both engines had become disastrously crippled by flying into a flock of geese shortly after takeoff. Capt. Chesley Sullenberger III and his copilot had, in the 2–3 airborne minutes they had remaining, made instant decisions that, against all odds, enabled them to land the plane safely in the river with no loss of lives. While Wright would agree, on one level, with those who called it a miracle, and acknowledges that it was also a matter of "right habits," the power of many years of training and experience, on another level, he uses it primarily as an illustration of "character" — right behavior that has been learned and practiced until it become... mores "second nature." In this book Wright explores the process of getting from the stage of consciously making right choices in day-to-day life situations to that of appropriate behavior that has become second-nature, for which he uses the ancient term "virtue" more or less synonymously with "character"; but he also compares and contrasts Christian virtue with the pagan virtues praised by Aristotle. Wright, a renowned Pauline scholar, reminds me of the Apostle Paul in the way he presents his arguments, beginning at a point already familiar to his readers, carefully building his case from there in small steps and from various angles, and recapping often along the way. Wright delves deeply into his subjects, often referring to the original Greek terms used in scripture, and tends to write in long, complex sentences. In light of that, I found his repetitive style helpful, so that I never got lost in the details... well, hardly ever.This book would make a good group study, though I do not know of a published discussion guide.
review 2: As I read more works by N.T. Wright and reflect upon his underlying themes of the interlocking nature of Heaven and Earth, the proclamation of the new Heavens and the New Earth through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the mission of the Church and the body of believers to proclaim Christ risen and the Kingdom come at last, the more I begin to understand both Scripture and not only my place, but the place of all Christians in the grand story. Mr. Wright's gift is to weave all of these together into a comprehensive whole while pointing out certain facets, or sub-topics if you will. This book is in regards to Christian character through the practicing of the three virtues (faith, hope, & love), the 9 fruits (see Galatians 5 and similar passages), and the one body (the Church as explained in 1 Corinthians 12). Mr. Wright treads the fine line of the world between authenticity and rule-keeping to insist that Christians, in league with the Holy Spirit, should be practicing these virtues so that, when trials come, doing the right, or Christian, thing becomes second nature. But for those of you who are looking for a Christian self-help guide in this book will be sadly disappointed. While Mr. Wright does devote the last chapter of the book on ways Christians can practice "putting on" the virtues, the subtitle of this book, "Why Christian Character Matters" says it all. This is a book about why Christians should practice things like holiness and charity, not how to practice them. Mr. Wright also walks a tight rope between rule-keeping and "follow-your-heart" faith and when he errs, he seems to err slightly to the rule-keeping side. Admittedly, it can also be hard to keep in line what he said before with what he is saying now not because he is contradicting himself, but because he is trying to pull many different ideas together, and it doesn't always come off cleanly. But, for the most part, his idea of Christian character as something to be practiced throughout because of the calling to a royal priesthood that all Christians have received is compelling. I highly recommend this book to Christians who have matured past their initial conversion phase and are wondering what the Christian life should look like over the long haul. less

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