Almost a month since I told you I had finished chapter one of Tom Wright's Virtue Reborn I have now finished chapter two. (To read that previous post click here.) I can't decide the best way to read Tom Wright. Generally I read in small sections, but then I loose sight of the big picture. If I try and read in big sections my head explodes.
In this chapter Tom Wright starts to develop the argument that what Christians are supposed to be involved in between believing and death is the transformation of character, rather than learning a set of rules to live by. It isn't that rules don't matter - but character matters more. And this process of transformation of character is not automatic or easy - it's like learning a musical instrument or a new language, we practise and practise until, one day, we find that doing the right thing has become second nature.
When we choose to act a particular way in a given situation, it seems as if our brains learn that response, and it is then easier (and more likely) to do the same thing in that situation next time around. This obviously works both ways - I can, for example, develop a character where I habitually tell the truth, or where I habitually lie.
Tom Wright also talks in this chapter about anticipating the Christian goal, in the sense that I do something now in the light of what I expect in the future. [If I anticipate it will rain later then I will take my umbrella to work.] Therefore the time between believing and dying is not about 'good works' in the sense of keeping the rules, but about 'good works' in the sense of doing things which bring God's wisdom and glory to birth in the world - of course you get the good moral living thrown in as well.
My brain is hurting - I'll be back in a few weeks with chapter 3...
