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After You Believe: Why Christian Character Matters |  | Author: N. T. Wright
Publisher: HarperOne
Category: Book
List Price: $24.99
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Rating:  26 reviews
Sales Rank: 3428
Media: Hardcover
Pages: 320
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.2
Dimensions (in): 9.5 x 6.4 x 1.4
ISBN: 0061730556
Dewey Decimal Number: 241.4
EAN: 9780061730559
ASIN: 0061730556
Publication Date: March 1, 2010
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
From the author of the acclaimed Simply Christian and Surprised by Hope comes a book that addresses the question that has plagued humans for centuries—what is our purpose? As Christians, what are we to do with that ambiguous time between baptism and the funeral? It's easy to become preoccupied with who gets into heaven; the real challenge is how we are going to live in the here and now. Wright dispels the common misconception that Christian living is nothing more than a checklist of dos and don'ts. Nor is it a prescription to "follow your heart" wherever it may lead. Instead, After You Believe reveals the Bible's call for a revolution—a transformation of character that takes us beyond our earthly pursuit of money, sex, and power into a virtuous state of living that allows us to reflect God and live more worshipful, fulfilling lives. We are all spiritual seekers, intuitively knowing there is more to life than we suspect. This is a book for anyone who is hoping there is something more while we're here on Earth. There is. We are being called to join the revolution, and Wright insightfully encourages readers to find new purpose and clarity by taking us on an eye-opening journey through key biblical passages that promise to radically alter the work of the church and the direction of our lives.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 26
 too many words July 27, 2010
Frank A. May
I liked the book; the message, but the same thing could have been said in fewer words. He must like to demonstrate his ability to write.
The Transformation of Character July 3, 2010
Bob Porter
([...])
The sub-title, Why Christian Character Matters, gives us insight into Wright's purpose in writing this book, which is the third in a series. He uses the idea of virtue as a framework and traces the classical concept back to Aristotle. The basic framework consisted of a goal and steps to achieve the goal. The steps were identification of moral strengths and training to turn these moral strengths into habits. For Aristotle, the goal was "human flourishing" and the moral strengths were four primary virtues: courage, justice, prudence and temperance.
Wright then carefully develops how Jesus and his followers redefined these elements into the transformation, which results in Christian character. He spends quite a bit of time developing the goal, which he locates in the Kingdom of God beginning now. He makes the point that if the goal changes, the steps will also need to change. He concludes that the goal is to become a royal priesthood (worshipping and reigning), which is, at the same time, becoming truly human as we were originally created.
Several of the moral strengths or virtues that Jesus adds to the list (love, kindness, forgiveness and humility) surprise everyone because they have never been very popular. Wright also makes it clear that these virtues exist as a set and must all be developed to be effective. (The fruit of the Spirit in Gal. 5:22-23 is singular.) He also reminds us of the special importance of love and unity.
The big question is how to build these virtues into habits. Here he makes the case that the process must begin with a renewal of heart and mind. "For Paul, the mind is central to Christian character: virtue is the result of thought and choice." (p.154). Through out the book, he warns against the temptations to think "keeping the rules" or "doing what I feel is right" will enable us to build these virtues. He concludes the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives is foundational, but concentrated, sustained effort on our part is also required. He recommends a "virtuous cycle" of scripture, stories, examples, community and practices. This book provides much food for thought and is strongly recommended.
 Excellent defense of Christian Virtue Ethics June 28, 2010
Brad4d (United States)
-I just wanted to add another five-star vote for this insightful work from a credible Christian scholar and practitioner.
-The author argues Virtue Ethics is a foundation for our main missions on earth, which include reflecting the Image and Likeness of God, and preparing to be a Royal Priesthood. He concludes Jesus' Character (rather than rigid rules or a shallow emotive/intuitive response) helps answer many apparent contradictions in the New Testament. Bishop Wright illustrates Virtue and Character by contrasting the well-crafted character of "Sully" Sullenberger with the poorly-crafted character of the banking executives (and government regulators) whose narrow selfishness and habitual moral incompetence helped produce the recent banking crisis. He also discusses the unique value of Christianity for Virtue Ethics, and why he considers it vastly superior to secular traditions.
-Any system of Virtue Ethics must answer two questions: first, who decides what Right Virtue actually is, and second, how do we develop Right Conduct (also called Character or Habit)? Bishop Wright clearly illuminates the first question by concluding Jesus' teachings, especially as interpreted by his disciples and by Paul of Tarsus, are the clear sources of Christian virtue. Alas, he seems somewhat less practically clear on the second question, although he suggests a patient, credible, loving, and intelligent evolution.
-Here are suggestions for a "first scan" of the book, to help you with a more detailed examination. The first two chapters discuss the validity of Christian Character as the foundation for Christian Ethics, and if you already favor this idea, you can skim these chapters fairly quickly. IMHO, the third chapter (how the Royal Priesthood concept is a major ethical, liturgical, and social goal) and the fifth chapter (the task of transforming our lives through the development of habitual experience) are the most effective ones in the book, and I greatly enjoyed reading them again. I thought the cogency and development of the final chapters were less brilliant, although they did not detract from the book's overall value.
-In summary, the author provides an excellent case for Virtue Ethics as the foundation for Christian life-development and as the method for building a life which best reflects the goodness of God. I hope this review encourages you to examine this book.
3rd in the Series: Christian Virtue June 17, 2010
MasterAP (Maryland, USA)
N.T.Wright's work usually takes me a few months to chew through. After You Believe took me much longer.
His writing style is chock-full of meaty ideas that you can't calmly skim through a book by Wright. And being a British Bishop adds to the layers of complications.
After You Believe is the 3rd book of a trilogy. First there was Simply Christian which dealt with why Christianity made sense, second came Surprised by Hope which touched on heaven, and the resurrection.
After You Believe answers the question: once you become a Christian, what do you do? This is Wright's version of human Virtue.
With 8 chapters, N.T. Wright uses his typical style of building each chapter on top of the previous chapter's idea.
1. What Am I Here For?
2. The Transformation of Character
3. Priests and Rulers
4. The Kingdom Coming and the People Prepared
5. Transformed by the Renewal of the Mind
6. Three Virtues, Nine Varieties of Fruit, and One Body
7. Virtue in Action: The Royal Priesthood
8. The Virtuous Circle
Wright is never without extensive biblical examples and exegesis. You will put this book down feeling as if you've sat through a summer's worth of sermons. For those of us who enjoy fleshing out our theology, this book is worth the read.
This book was provided for review by HarperOne Publishing
Beautifully Written, Rich With Insights and Lined With Thought-Provoking Material June 16, 2010
FaithfulReader.com (New York, New York)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Those who think of becoming a Christian as nothing more than a fire insurance policy --- guaranteeing a flame-retardant eternity --- reduce the journey of faith to its lowest form and miss the richness of becoming a follower of Jesus. But exactly what does one do after one chooses to become a Christian? How should we live? And what is the point of it all?
In his newest book, AFTER YOU BELIEVE, N. T. Wright tackles these and other questions that accompany the journey of faith. His latest work serves as a sequel to SIMPLY CHRISTIAN and SURPRISED BY HOPE. He suggests that as followers of Jesus we are meant to develop virtue, but it doesn't come easily. Just as learning a language or how to play a musical instrument takes time, patience, commitment, practice and hard work, so, too, does growing the goodness of God in all of its forms.
He writes: "Learning to navigate this world wisely, and to grow toward complete and mature human life in and through it all, is the challenge we all face. And the point of this book is to suggest that the dynamic of `virtue' in this sense --- practicing the habits of heart and life that point toward the true goal of human existence --- lies at the heart of the challenge of Christian behavior, as set out in the New Testament itself. This is what it means to develop `character.' This is what we need --- and what the Christian faith offers --- for the time, whether short or long, `after you believe.'"
Wright suggests that growing in virtue is more than just doing good works or embracing moral living, but recognizing that Christian behavior is about good works in the sense of "doing things which brings God's wisdom and glory to birth in the world." The good works and moral living are thrown in, too, but by viewing ourselves in these terms, our motives, purpose and response change powerfully.
Though Wright's academic nature and tone emerge at times, AFTER WE BELIEVE is beautifully written, rich with insights and lined with thought-provoking material. Drawing on a rich well of scripture from Genesis to Revelation, Wright demonstrates how God works in and through us. As we practice, practice, practice virtue, we find that our church communities are empowered to grow into all they were meant to be as we eagerly anticipate that which is still to come.
Sometimes compared to a modern-day C.S. Lewis, N. T. Wright is an author not to be missed. Though his prose will be heady for some, his rich theological insights are worth savoring and point to a faith that is so much more than mere fire insurance, but the flood of transformation that comes with knowing and following Jesus. Highly recommended.
--- Reviewed by Margaret Oines
Showing reviews 1-5 of 26
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