Perspectives on Paul
August 6th, 2005 by Carl Thomas.On Adrian Warnock’s UK Evangelical Blog, he >posted a link to an article by N.T. Wright titled “New Perspectives on Paul.” One of his readers said
Look, wrong is wrong. If you look hard enough you could possibly find something good in most things.
That is not what it is about.
In the Bible we are not told to look for the good things about Judas.
We are not told to find the good things in different religions
It is quite possible that this poster has seen what errant theology can do and wants to squash it before it spreads. I, of all people, would have no problem with that.
I honestly do not know why he posted this article but I read/scanned it and here are my impressions.
Early in the speech turned essay, I think a telling sign appeared in this quote,
Like America looking for a new scapegoat after the collapse of the Cold War, and seizing on the Islamic world as the obvious target, many conservative writers, having discovered themselves in possession of the Pauline field after the liberals got tired of it, have looked around for new enemies. Here is something called the New Perspective;…
His statement says that people don’t agree with him because they need an unpopular enemy. This is disingenuous at best, but more likely just an ad hominen attack used to undermine the motives of his critics. I can understand his defensiveness but this is not fruit of the Spirit and certainly is not the byproduct of a true revelation from God.
That being said, I would say my greatest disagreement would lie in the teaching that one is not truely converted until their works are judged in the afterlife. I think a good question would be, “What do you believe about subsequent baptism? ie. baptism in the spirit? On being born again? What are your thoughts on the popularly used term ‘quickening of the sirit?’” His point seems to be that some have heard the proclaiming that Jesus is Lord and are then able to do works righteous enough to be justified. My point is, those that have been converted are then invited into a spiritual relationoship with the Lord of Heaven and earth that transcends mere behavior. I honestly have a hard time entertaining the revelations of people that do not recognize this life in the spirit.
His theology seems almost void of the direct connection with our creator that conversion to Christianity affords. It is then in this cerebral, works-driven ethos doctrine that fellowship with the living God is squelched and true disciples cannot be made.
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