N.T. Wright is my C.S. Lewis

Here's what I mean by that:  whenever a Christian thinker/preacher/teacher wants to pull out the big guns and shut down any potential disagreement with their ideas, they quote C.S. Lewis, right?  Maybe it's the quote about Aslan not being a tame lion (but don't worry, he's good), or the one about our pleasures being too weak (remember the mudpies?), or...fill in the blank.  If C.S. Lewis agrees with you, or if you can make something that he said seem to support your idea, then you're golden.  Whew!  That was a close one.  It's like throwing out the "race" card in a discussion about Tiger Woods, or throwing out the "I gave birth to your children" card when you're trying to pick what movie to watch on a Friday night.  It trumps everything in a heartbeat.  It's settled. 

I'm being a bit sarcastic, but I mean no disrespect to C.S.  His writings shaped the thinking of an entire generation (or two) of Christian thinkers so completely that it's almost impossible for them to formulate their faith without referring back to his words.  He put things in such a witty and succinct (and often funny) way that you put down the book, nod your head, and say, "You tell 'em, Jack!"

So, crazy props to C.S. Lewis.  But I'm moving on - to another British intellectual with two initials in front of his name (and this guy actually has had some theological training...smile). 

N.T. Wright has been around forever, I guess, but I'm just now discovering him (about two years ago, now).  In that time I've read four or five of his most recent books and have thoroughly enjoyed each one(Surprised by Hope literally changed my life - every Christian needs to read this book, agree or disagree) .  He writes in this very formal, British style that also is weirdly conversational at the same time.  He has shaped my thinking on so many different issues - so much so that I don't think I can express my beliefs or my convictions about what the purpose of life is without echoing his words at some point. 

His greatest gift to me has been to help me arrange doctrines into their proper places.  For example, I've always believed in the doctrine of the resurrection, and in the coming kingdom of God - but I never realized that those two pieces of the puzzle were inextricably linked together and each inform the other one.  Along the way, he's helped me question some of the cliches that have crept into my thinking and challenge them with Scripture. 

I'd go into more detail, but that would make this post much too long and ultimately unreadable.  I just wanted to come out of the closet, so to speak, and reveal my "theologian-crush" on N.T. Wright. 

(But I still like Aslan...I promise!)