CICW Vital Worship feature story on eschatology and worship

This "Vital Worship" feature story, "Eschatology: Our hope for a new heaven and new earth," posted at the website of the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, where I work, discusses my book and includes comments from two key readers, Laura Truax and Judy Congdon, on the implications of eschatology for worship. It also includes a profile of a scholar of liturgy and eschatology in the Reformed tradition: Martha Moore-Keish. The article begins with a thorough and helpful rundown of heaven-minded lyrics in well-known hymns.

Eschatology: Our hope for a new heaven and new earth
Text by Joan Huyser-Honig
Photography by Steve Huyser-Honig
Print this story for study and discussion

How does your story fit into God’s story? The way you answer this question likely influences what you believe about heaven. And your view of heaven makes a big difference in how you live and worship.

Jerusalem the Golden, with milk and honey blest. Bread of heaven, feed me till I want no more. When the hungry gather for the feast, we will rejoice. Lord, I want to be in that number.

I'll sing with a glittering crown on my brow. How lovely is your dwelling place. Here from all nations, all tongues, and all peoples. Rest, eternal, grant them, Lord. Those endless Sabbaths the blessed ones see. Finish, then, thy new creation…

Composers have been writing songs about heaven for centuries. Yet, according to pollster George Barna, the more income or education you have, the less likely you are to believe that heaven or hell exists. Even among Christians who say they believe in heaven, there's wide disagreement on what that means. Most Christians, including preachers, stay away from the topic.

And that's a shame, because without a vivid sense of God's future, you're missing out on a great blessing of Christian life—and great opportunities to bless other lives.

In his book Bringing Heaven Down to Earth: Connecting This Life to the Next, Nathan Bierma discusses the difference between small gospel and big gospel perspectives.

continued...

Hoekema on Amillennialism and OT Prophecy

I found this relevant article online by Anthony Hoekema, who figures centrally in my Chapter 3.

Amillennialism: The Interpretation of Old Testament Prophecy
By Anthony Hoekema

Catapult on 'Citizens and Aliens'

The e-zine catapult has a special issue out on the theme of "Citizens and Aliens," which is one of the central themes of my Chapter 8. Articles include:

Gone south
by David Howard Malone

Into exile
by Kirstin Vander Giessen-Reitsma

Uprooted
by Michelle Van Loon

'Tis the season to remember my citizenship
by Deborah Leiter

Late night thoughts on being a disciple of the Kingdom
by Reverend Lawrence W. Farris

Related Post:
NT Christians and Empire: 'A Sly Civility'

'Dragon Stories': a series of worship services based on Revelation

More on preaching Revelation, from Reformed Worship magazine:

Dragon Stories: Ideas for a series for adults--and children--on the book of Revelation
by David Koll
Reformed Worship #50

In the continuing challenge to keep our evening worship fresh, our congregation recently embarked on an unusual study of the book of Revelation. This book—full of dragon stories, horsemen, and angels—provided an intriguing series of nine worship services.

As a pastor, I’ve heard numerous requests for a sermon series on this book. Admittedly, I’ve been hesitant. So much is said from this book that I am not comfortable saying. So many of its passages are difficult to explain. I’ve rarely gone past preaching from the letters to the seven churches. In effect, I have let the last book of Scripture remain closed. This spring, after seventeen years in ministry, I felt compelled to try an overview study of this book, and I’m glad I did. ... Revelation is a book that in a certain sense needs to be reclaimed by Reformed Christians.

continued...

'View the Present Through the Promise"

We sang this anthem from Sing! A New Creation (#90) this morning in our summer seminar. Thomas Troeger says in three stanzas what I was trying to say in my whole book:

View the present through the promise, Christ will come again.
Trust despite the deepening darkness, Christ will come again.
Lift the world above its grieving through your watching and believing
in the hope past hope's conceiving: Christ will come again.

Probe the present with the promise, Christ will come again.
Let your daily actions witness, Christ will come again.
Let your loving and your giving and your justice and forgiving
be a sign to all the living: Christ will come again.

Match the present to the promise, Christ will come again.
Make this hope your guiding premise, Christ will come again.
Pattern all your calculating and the world you are creating
to the advent you are waiting: Christ will come again.

[Publisher info]

CTLibrary on Heaven

Rich Tatum's roundup of eschatologically-minded articles at CTLibrary.com includes:

Heaven: Not Just an Eternal Day Off
As if anticipating the question, Will life on the new earth be boring? the Bible points to much activity there.
Anthony Hoekema
[excerpt of The Bible and the Future]

What Will Heaven Be Like?
Thirty-five frequently asked questions about eternity.
Peter Kreeft

Bookshelf: 'John's Use of the Old Testament in Revelation'

Beale, G.K. John's Use of the Old Testament in Revelation (Jsnt Supplement Series, 166) (Sheffield Academic Press, 1999). [A-r]

Related link

Bookshelf: 'Paradise Interpreted' and 'Classic Sermons on Heaven and Hell'

Luttikhuizen, Gerard P., ed. Paradise Interpreted: Representations of Biblical Paradise in Judaism and Christianity (Brill Academic Publishers 1999). [A-G-toc]

Wiersbe, Warren W., ed. Classic Sermons on Heaven and Hell (Hendrickson Publishers, 1994). [A-G-toc]

Bookshelf: 'Augustine's City of God: A Reader's Guide' and 'Theology of Social Life in Augustine’s De civitate Dei'

Related to Chapter 5:

O'Daly, Gerard. Augustine's City of God: A Reader's Guide (Oxford UP, 1999). [P-A-G-toc]

Ruokanen, Mikka, Theology of Social Life in Augustine’s De civitate Dei (Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 1993). [P-A]

More on my heritage

Chapter 7 includes my tribute of sorts to my great-grandfather Watse, an immigrant from Friesland. That page is actually the top result when you search my last name at Amazon.

I have more on my heritage posted now at my personal website, including my family tree and more about the Frisian language.

Review in The Banner

Wayne Brouwer's brief review of my book in the current issue of The Banner has just been posted (8th item). I'm a little skittish about that term "worldly Christianity" without more context, but the blurb gives the gist of the book:

Over against consumerist worldliness, Bierma urges a worldly Christianity. Christians often dwell on a speculative future existence; we need more realism and seriousness regarding the earthiness of our created condition. Bierma probes the implications of Revelation-inspired visions of a new creation.

Report on 'With a Shout!' Ascension conference

xpost with CICW Worship Weblog

Scott Hoezee began the conference 'With a Shout: What Difference Does the Ascension Make for Everyday Life?' conference with a stirring meditation this morning entitled "Ascension Audacity."

"This is not a day for modest claims," Hoezee said, asserting that to celebrate Christ's ascension is to celebrate his rule over the entire cosmos.

In an equally passionate plenary address following worship, Gerrit Scott Dawson sketched out the significance of the Ascension (introducing Dawson, Smit called his book Jesus Ascended one of the best things she's read on the Ascension--and she's read up on this topic). Dawson said the ascended Christ is like Valjean in Les Miserables, who descends into the sewers of Paris with the wounded Marius on his shoulders, then resurfaces to bring him to a place of healing. "God descends to where we are, enters our filth, finds our mortally wounded humanity, carries us through the sewers of this world, and up to heaven."

The fact that Christ continues to have a bodily existence in heaven, baffling as that is--"you have to admit, the Ascension is bizarre," Dawson said, later calling it "the most challenging intellectual doctrine ever created"--represents an exalting of our humanity, and keeps us from "spiritualizing the Ascension," he said.

Dawson quoted Karl Barth on the Ascension; Barth said Christ's human body was "a clothing he does not put off. It is His temple which He does not leave. It is the form which He does not lose." He also quoted Calvin, whose body was prone to constant ailments and looked to Christ's glorified body in heaven as what we will become after the resurrection of the body:

Although I am weak, there is Jesus Christ ... powerful enough to make me stand.
Although I am feeble, there is Jesus Christ who is my strength.
Although I am full of miseries, Jesus Christ is in immortal glory and what He has will some time be given to me and I shall partake of all His benefits.

Thomas Boogaart then presented the Ascension from an Old Testament perspective. He gave the poignant metaphor of "the road between heaven and earth," a metaphor that encapsulates both the Old and New Testaments--the Israelites, the angels, and the prophets (such as Isaiah in Isaiah 6 and Paul in Acts 8) traveled that road. The end of the road is God's house, where we belong, where we will feast, where we long to be. And so, "the Ascension is not just an idea, it is a way of viewing the world." Seeing ourselves as travelers on that road--and making our own houses as much like God's house as we can, practicing hospitality--is how we live out our witness to Christ's ascension.

That was just the morning! The afternoon continued with plenaries and breakout sessions, many of which will be available soon at the Calvin Seminary audio lecture archive. Also see this Vital Worship feature story and links on the Ascension.

NT Christians and Empire: 'A Sly Civility'

That's "NT" as in "New Testament," not N.T. Wright, but I draw on Wright's statements about empire on page 170. A special issue of the Journal for the Study of the New Testament last year on Christians and empire explores this theme. A couple highlights:

A Sly Civility: Colossians and EmpireHarry O. Maier
Journal for the Study of the New Testament, Vol. 27, No. 3, 323-349 (2005)

This article relates Colossian vocabulary, motifs and theological themes to the cultural situation of the cult of the emperor. The author’s language and conceptualization of reconciliation as a cosmic and earthly peace (Col.1.15-23) reflects an imperial backdrop and utilizes civic vocabulary typical of Greek and Roman treatments of concord. His representation of Jesus’ death as a Roman triumph (2.15), and the incorporation of all humankind—including barbarians and Scythians—in a trans-ethnic unity (3.11) similarly reflects the geopolitical notions of a worldwide Roman Empire. The imperial imprint on the Household Code (3.18-4.1) is recognizable through attention to numismatic representations of Nero and his consort enjoying a divinely appointed familial concord. Though used by court theologians like Eusebius of Caesarea to legitimate a Christian application of Empire, the letter may be read as a destabilization of Empire inasmuch as it derives imperial-sounding ideals from the crucifixion of Jesus.

Re-mapping the Universe: Paul and the Emperor in 1 Thessalonians and Philippians
Peter Oakes
Journal for the Study of the New Testament, Vol. 27, No. 3, 301-322 (2005)

This article considers three texts that are frequently cited in relation to Rome: 1 Thess. 4.15-17; 1 Thess. 5.3; Phil. 2.9-11. Four options for the apparent parallels between Christian and Roman terminology are considered: (1) independent use of common sources, (2) Christian imitation of elements of Roman discourse or practice, (3) Christian writing in reaction to conflict stemming from Rome and (4) Christian writing that conflicts with Roman discourse or practice. The article concludes that 1 Thess. 5.3 and Phil. 2.9-11 conflict with Roman ideology. However, in neither case is Paul either writing polemic against Rome or specifically arguing against participation in the imperial cult. Instead, he is re-drawing the map of the universe in order to encourage Christians who are suffering under pressure from Graeco-Roman society.

Visit to Shawnee Book Group

On Sunday I met with a book group from Shawnee Christian Reformed Church that had studied my book, at the home of two of the members (coincidentally, just about a quarter mile from the home where I met the Neland book group). The group was made up of older readers, and I was struck by one comment one reader made about my generation. She asked if my generation thought more about heaven and the kind of questions I raise in the book. I said that honestly, I thought my generation was very technology-oriented, and thus less prone to think about the transcendent. She commented that her generation didn't ask these kinds of questions at all; they were more inclined to just accept the doctrine that was handed down to them and not worry about any remaining questions they had. My generation, by comparison, she said, felt free to ask big questions. Readers around the room generally agreed, and some said that this was the first they had thought this long and hard about the afterlife. I had assumed that thinking about the afterlife came a little more naturally as you get older, with some of your biggest life decisions behind you, more more funerals of your friends to attend. I was struck by the potental for discussing heaven in an older generation.

Bookshelf: 'Hope in the Midst of a Hostile World'

New from P&R, my publisher for BHDTE:

Schwab, George M. Hope in the Midst of a Hostile World: The Gospel According to Daniel (The Gospel According to the Old Testament) (P&R Publishing, 2006). [P-A]

Michael Barrett packs some good eschatology into his endorsement:

God reveals the future to affect the present. Prophecy glorifies the One in control, inspires believers’ confidence, intensifies hope for God’s will to be done, and moves people to repentance and holiness. This study of the book of Daniel highlights these essential aspects of prophecy. Given the mysterious symbolism throughout Daniel, not every reader will agree with Schwab’s interpretation of this or that detail. But his focus is clear: God’s absolute control and unrelenting resolve to accomplish his redemptive purpose in Christ should give God’s people in every age ‘hope in the midst of a hostile world.’

CAS book reception

Yesterday I was honored to be invited to a book reception hosted by the Calvin CAS department for Bob Fortner's new book Radio, Morality, And Culture: Britain, Canada, And the United States 1919-1945 and my book. I majored in CAS at Calvin, and as I said in my remarks at the reception, the CAS professors, course material, and way of framing questions about worldview, culture, and vocation, had a pervasive influence on my faith and on this book. I was also humbled by Quentin Schultze's gracious introduction yesterday, and delighted that I could thank him and Bill Romanowski in particular at this event for their influence on the ideas of this book. I've posted an MP3 of Quin's introduction and my remarks.

Postcard from 'Paradise' in Orlando

Here in Orlando (where I'm awaiting the start of EPA '06), I had lunch (and am now writing this entry--score one for wireless Web access) in the hotel restaurant, which goes by the name "Paradise." This allows the servers to invariably greet guests by saying, "Welcome to Paradise." I'll reserve more comment on "paradise" and its connotations of tropical leisure (in addition to what I have in chapter 1) for later. As for the aptness of this name to my dining experience today, all I can say is I enjoyed a side salad the size of an LP record, topped with carrots cut into little curlicues, while I gazed at the palm trees right outside the window (the third and fourth ones on the left, I think, in the picture).

Perversely, I didn't pack short sleeves or sunglasses, so I'll be spending all but a few minutes of my stay here in the airport, the airport shuttle, and the airport Mariott. And thanks to the prevalence of our artificially controlled climates, which I discuss in the introduction to chapter 3, I'll hardly notice the change from the chilly Midwest to central Florida. (Except for the sight of those palm trees.)

Preaching Apocalyptic resources online

Speaking of preaching Revelation, I do hope my book motivates pastors to crack open the often-neglected pages of the last book of the Bible, and commentaries on it. But for the real heavy lifting of exegeting and preaching these thorny texts, be sure to see resources from the Preaching Apocalyptic Texts conference held last year at Calvin Theological Seminary. I helped compile this resource site, which now includes the full text of all plenary addresses and sermons as published in the Calvin Theological Journal.

The opening plenary address by Gordon Fee was entitled "Preaching Apocalyptic? You've Got to Be Kidding!" Fee said his purpose was "to urge you to recapture this great book for the sake of the contemporary church, because here indeed is a biblical book that is not only worth recovering for today's church, it is absolutely crucial that it be heard in our day. Here is a truly prophetic word, spoken with power and insight into a world dominated by a secular power." Fee said his task was to "whet your appetite, create in you a longing to preach and teach" from Revelation, and to offer practical tips for doing so.

May this conference, and the reflections of all of us who have written about Revelation, help inspire the church to rediscover its witness and its future as revealed to John in this “awakening” (apokalypsis) letter.

Visit to Neland Faith and Writing group

This past Thursday I was honored to be invited to join the Neland Church “Faith and Writing” book group, which had interrupted its long to-read list of reputable titles in order to read Bringing Heaven Down To Earth. I grew up at Neland and knew most of the members of the group, and I couldn’t help but think that no matter how many copies the book sells, no matter who reads it (easy for me to say, I’m not in marketing!), I would cherish the feedback of these readers more than most; their positive comments would be the most validating and their critical comments most useful. Sharing a book you’ve written with people you’ve never met is an amazing thought, but sharing it with people in the worshiping community that formed you is most rewarding.

I was right about the quality of both the positive and negative comments from the group. A few members said that while the ideas of the book were fairly familiar to them–-because they shared with me the influences of the Reformed tradition and the writings of the key authors I refer to—-they generally found it a useful, plainspoken overview of these ideas. One member remarked that she could hand this book to a pastor and say, “Preach a sermon series on Revelation” (see this). One member wondered about the exegetical precedent for the ships of Tarshish analysis in chapter 4; I said that I once asked Richard Mouw at a conference in Chicago for his exegetical paper trail on his work on Isaiah 60 in When the Kings, and he told me only that it was largely based on his own reading and reflection. This member also thought I may have left my section on the Rapture too brief, especially since I avoided the premillennial doctrine of the tribulation and thousand-year reign of Christ. I agreed that I could have spent more time directly confronting these tenets of premillennialism, although I had wanted to keep it simple and focus only on the meaning of apentesin, and leave the more thorough debunking of premillennialism and Left Behind to others (Hoekema, and book-length critiques of the LB series, to which Thomas Thompson, a Calvin College professor and cousin of Jerry Jenkins, will notably add his later this year).

I was touched by the warm hospitality of the group (thanks again to Jan for the magnificent spread of tea and snacks), and by their responses to the book, which were both affirming and unsparing. And I’m grateful again for the major influence of the Neland community on my faith and on this book.

'Coming Home' at LaSalle

Last weekend my wife and I were in Chicago for 'Coming Home,'a reunion of former members of LaSalle Street Church. LaSalle set up a 'Marketplace' room featuring artwork and books by former members, and I enjoyed a spot for BHDTH right next to DVDs of the history of LaSalle. The DVDs, and the books of longtime LaSaller Philip Yancey, drew the most interest, of course, but some attendees were very gracious in their interest in my book. In many ways, the book's main idea--that we shouldn't just sit back and wait for heaven, but should actively await what will be an active eternity--resonates well with LaSalle's bottomless heart for hands-on ministry in downtown Chicago.

Eschatological Hymns: 'Alleluia! Jesus is Risen'

'Alleluia! Jesus is Risen' (SNC 150)

City of God, Easter forever
golden Jerusalem, Jesus the Lamb,
river of life, saints and archangels,
sing with creation to God the I AM!

Eschatological Hymns: 'Christ the Lord is Risen Today'

'Christ the Lord is Risen Today'

Soar we now where Christ hath led, Alleluia!
Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!
Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!

Related:
'Soar We Now': Sermon by Scott Hoezee

The Real World

I have some doctrinal differences with the Rev. David Feddes, but I noted an echo of N.T. Wright's fascinating "imperial parody" idea I talk about on page 170, in this bulletin announcement:

THE REAL WORLD: Have you ever noticed that when we talk about "the real world," we usually mean something bad? The so-called "real world" is where bad things happen and bad people succeed. But what if the real world is where good wins out and happiness reigns? Don't miss the April 16th Easter Back to God Hour. Check out our new website at BacktoGod.net for local stations and times.

Presumably this refers to a re-airing of Feddes' 2002 sermon on "The New City":

I know what some of you are thinking at this point. You're thinking, what about the real world? What's the use of talking about a future fantasy, when right now we're surrounded by greed, filth, and violence, by gangs and drugs and pollution? Well, friend, what we've been talking about is the real world.

Granted, our cities have many problems (at least for the moment) and we need to deal with them somehow. But let me just ask: Who's in touch with the real world? Is it people who are so bogged down in broken families and addiction and violence, in sin and selfishness, that they can't even imagine anything better? Or is it those who are in touch with the one reality that lasts forever? I totally agree that we need to be in touch with the real world, but the ultimate reality is the eternal city of God.

When we're in touch with this reality, when we really believe in the city of the future, we can also change the future of the city. We can begin to make our cities better right now, starting with ourselves. Instead of caving in to despair, we can have new hope and new energy, knowing that the future is bright. The more of us who start living right now as citizens of heaven, the better our neighborhoods will be.

The most realistic thing you and I can do, both for now and for our ultimate future, is to recognize the living God as Lord of the universe, to trust his Son Jesus as the way, the truth, and to look eagerly to the city of the future. This glorious realism has moved God's people ever since Abraham. In Hebrews 11 the Bible says Abraham "was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God" (Hebrews 11:10). That’s what we need to do as well: look forward to the city with foundations, the city that lasts forever, the ultimate reality.

SIPs for BHDTE

One of my favorite features at Amazon.com is SIPs, or Statistically Improbable Phrases. These are two-word phrases that appear disproportionately frequently in a particular book. The SIPs for Bringing Heaven Down To Earth are:

impossible promotion, small gospel, destructive devotion, big gospel, cultural commission, worldly kingdom, eternal heaven, current cities, right alignment, heavenly city

Quote at ByFaithOnline

Dick Doster outlines an eschatological view of culture in his article at byFaithOnline, "In the End, God Redeems [Humans'] Work for the Sake of His Glory." He uses my quotes of Hoekema, Mouw, and others from chapters 4 and 7, and cites my book toward the end:

In his book Bringing Heaven Down to Earth, journalist Nathan Bierma quotes Robert McAfee Brown, who said, "God's message is never: Turn away from this sinful world and find me somewhere else. God's message is: Immerse yourselves in this sinful world that so desperately needs words and acts of healing, and you will find you are not alone, for I am already there, summoning you to help me."

Christians at work in the secular world are not biding their time, waiting for eternal retirement. Rather, they are looking forward to the consummation of Christ's kingdom when they will rule, fill, and subdue the Earth—free from every sin—and for no other reasons than to glorify God and love their neighbors.

Monday morning—in business offices and art studios—Christians are to be fully engaged in creating the world's culture. Their work is to illustrate the cosmic scope of Christ's redemptive plan. Their eight to 10 hours a day—in marketing, teaching, or governing—is, Bierma points out, a means of preparing themselves and the world around them for the end of worldliness. They are, as they make their way to work each morning, to ask God to transform them and their surroundings "from people and places of worldly pride to people and places of godly goodness."

Andrew Bandstra on "The Hope of Heaven"

Dr. Andrew Bandstra, with whom I worshiped at Neland Avenue CRC when I was growing up, wrote the article "The Hope of Heaven," which earned second place in the category of Biblical Exposition from the Evangelical Press Association in 2004. Dr. Bandstra doesn't specifically sketch a terrestrial and cultural framework for heaven the way Anthony Hoekema and Richard Mouw do, but his analysis of biblical texts about heaven and hope is thorough.

What the Old Testament hints at, the New Testament teaches clearly. Jesus, the high priest and guarantee of the new covenant, has introduced “a better hope” (Heb. 7:19). Hope is related to the future. Paul tells us that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing to “the glory that will be revealed in us” (Rom. 8:18-25). The whole creation groans “in hope,” and we believers also groan inwardly as we “wait eagerly” for our adoption as sons and daughters, namely, the redemption of our bodies. Paul explains: “For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what [they] already ha[ve]? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”

Judy Congdon response

I met Judy Congdon of Houghton College last summer in John Witvliet's summer seminar on teaching worship. I also appreciated reading her chapel reflection at Houghton on this summer seminar, and seeing her again at this past Symposium on Worship. So I was delighted and humbled to receive this note from her that said she had read my book, and glad that she agreed to have it posted here:

It was good to see you a few weeks ago at Symposium! While I was there, I took advantage of a few free minutes one afternoon to browse through the exhibits, and saw your book there. I had decided I wasn't going to buy stuff this year, but it drew my attention, mostly because I had met you last summer and was interested in what you might have to say. The title also grabbed me. Having grieved, during the past 2 months, the losses of 3 people who have been part of the fabric of my days ... heaven has been sort of on my mind.

I don't know what I expected to find when I opened the cover. Certainly I didn't expect the incredible life-affirming experience I've had in reading and processing the ideas you present. I felt such a witness of the Holy Spirit within my own spirit as I read. It's like a whole new room has been opened in my imagination, and my eyes have been opened to seeing bits (sometimes lots) of heaven every day. I'm so excited about it that I've ordered 5 more copies to give to friends and family, and may even get more than that before I'm through!

This note is a profound thank you for the beautiful, creative work you have done in writing the book! You have a remarkable gift for putting words together in compelling ways, and I am much, much richer for having read Bringing Heaven Down to Earth.

English department winter reading

The Calvin College English Department held a winter gathering last night for readings by authors from the department (I'm an adjunct). I read from the opening pages of chapter 3 of my book last night (minus the technical theological stuff on "kainos" and "heurisko").

A couple of lines got laughs, which I didn't fully expect ("I love thunderstorms. When I’m indoors, at least." and "We are most likely to hear the chirping of birds or gushing of water on a relaxation tape rather than firsthand")--but which I found encouraging. I must say, in all my revising and fussing over word choice, I never really imagined reading from my book before an audience. But I was glad that the prose seemed to me to be fairly readable--not too many dependent clauses.

As I read from this chapter I was also struck by the fear that these opening lines come across as romantic about nature, and anti-culture--which I'm not, as chapters 4 and 5 clarify thoroughly, I hope. Annie Dillard makes sure to write about the gruesomeness of nature as well as its glory, and that seems as honest as it is uncomfortable. I hope I spilled enough ink on the Fall in chapter 3 to cover all the bases. Either way, I still feel the thunderstorm vignette was the right way to make this pivot into Revelation. You have to hear that rain tapping on the window, I think, to hope for a new earth.

Oh 'great'

This poll at Crosswalk.com really surprised me. At first I thought, maybe I didn't have to write this book! I had envisioned my audience as the respondents to #2 or #3. Of course, that audience would be less likely to frequent a site like Crosswalk. I still think the majority of North American Christians have more of a lukewarm, vaguely-defined faith that desperately needs a more dynamic, more deeply biblical vision of heaven.

And actually, it's likely that the same need exists among some of the 77 percent here who think heaven will be "great." My book argues that heaven will be much more than respite, much more than leisure, much more than worship. It will be a cosmos where everything is made right. "Great" doesn't begin to describe it.

Sin: "as the leech sticks to the skin ..."

I write in Chapter 3 that "sin oozes, [it] creeps...", but this is even better (quoted in a forthcoming publication of CICW):

The Zaire rite offers its prayer of confession this way: “Lord our God, as the leech sticks to the skin and sucks human blood, evil has invaded us. . . Who will save us, if not you, our Lord?”

• Related Chapter: 3

Course on The Medieval City

Speaking of urban studies, here's a delectable course at St. Olaf: The Medieval City: History and Historiography.

In this course, we will explore both the history and historiography of the medieval urban environment, focusing on the period after 1100. We will begin with two general surveys of medieval European cities, then read a series of articles and books on specific topics, accompanied by selected primary sources. The last third of the class will offer you time to work on a major research project and prepare a twenty minute presentation on your work.

• Related Chapter: 5

"Urban Paradise" at CTLibrary.com

Melody Pugh at CTLibrary.com:

In the popular imagination, the city often represents society's vices: violence, crime, sexual deviance, drugs. With the heightened visibility of suffering through homelessness, poverty, and racial discrimination, we see the more extreme effects of living in a sinful world. And though certainly not exclusive to the city, these realities are, like everything else in an urban environment, more concentrated. ...

To urban church leaders, led by nationally recognized figures like Ray Bakke in Chicago and Tim Keller in New York City, cities are more than just a present-day Sodom and Gomorrah, quietly awaiting their downfall, or crying out for salvation from the redeemed rural world. Instead, they're concentrated centers of transformation, communities with the opportunity to demonstrate God's grace. They're opportunities for individuals from diverse backgrounds to live, work, and play in near proximity, and in so doing, to participate in the authentic work of the gospel. Cities allow close-knit networks of churches to provide vital resources, for Christians to share the news of God's desire to break down barriers to justice, responsibility, and brotherly love.

Also see my B&C online article: Why There Will Be Sidewalks in Heaven

• Related Chapter: 5

Theologically suspect Blog Heaven banner

This Beliefnet banner gets cute with its subtitle, "Where faith blogs go if they're good," enforcing the erroneous and harmful notion (as I argue at the end of Chapter 8 and elsewhere) that going to heaven depends on how good you are. The Bible is clear: No one is good enough. So God made entrance to heaven a matter of whether you're saved, not whether you're good.

Howard Vanderwell response

I was honored to have my colleague, Rev. Howard Vanderwell, read my book over Christmas break and stop by my office yesterday to share his reflections. He said he appreciated the book, especially the point about "the artificial heaven of retirement" in Chapter 7--since Vanderwell works full time in his retirement--and the big gospel/small gospel distinction in Chapter 7. Small gospel believers, he agreed, are missing out -- "it's like standing in front of a skyscraper and looking only at the 1st floor," as he memorably put it. Vanderwell said the book's title may suggest the book is going to be mostly about heaven, when he thought "it's more about the 'bringing' and the 'connecting.'" I was a little worried about the same thing, but I figured the "bringing" and the "connecting" were the important parts, anyway--at least more than speculating about the nature of eternal life.

First Things recommendation

My former editor John Wilson mentions my book in the company of three other works of apologetics, including Debra Rienstra's So Much More, in his year-end books roundup in the December issue of First Things (the article is not yet available online) (update: now it is). I hadn't really thought of my book as apologetics before this, but I guess the theological framework the book lays out can and should serve as a defense of the Christian faith. In any case, I'm honored by the mention.