A few posts ago I mentioned that I was hoping to read Virtue Reborn by Tom Wright - having failed to read any of the books on my 2010 'to read' list.Well, I've started. I've only read one chapter, the first 24 pages, but that chapter was enough to make me want to read more.
What is the book about? I think it is going to be about developing character, specifically Christian character.
Tom Wright has set himself a few questions to try to answer, and they are really good questions.
There is the 'what am I here for?' question - what is a Christian supposed to be doing between the point at which they become a Christian and the point at which they die.
Then there is the tension/balance between those who believe that life is about following a set of rules, or should that be Rules; and those who believe that following Jesus frees us from rules and that we should be true to ourselves and authentic.
There are the questions related to the moral choices we make.
And then there are the questions of how this relates to our wider world which is reeling from the financial crisis, and (within the UK at the time of writing) the MPs' expenses scandal.
Tom Wright argues that what we are supposed to be doing as Christians between belief and death is the transformation of character - so that we do indeed keep the rules, but not out of a sense of duty but out of the character that has been formed within us; and we do indeed follow our hearts, but only as those whose spontaneous decisions and actions reflect what has been formed deep within. And in the wider world how do we develop a fresh generation of leaders in all walks of life, whose character has been formed in wisdom and public service, not in greed for money or power.
To be continued...
