黑料正能量

N.T. Wright 鈥� eminent New Testament scholar and Augsburger Lecture Series guest at 黑料正能量 鈥� had just made the point that 鈥渋mage-bearing, God-reflecting鈥� humans were put on this earth by the good and wise Creator to help 鈥渢he divine project reach its goal鈥� when he paused to take in his surroundings on the Lehman Auditorium stage.

鈥淭hat,鈥� he said, pointing at the banners proclaiming the purpose and mission of 黑料正能量, 鈥渋s our vocation. I came in here and I read that banner and I thought, 鈥榊es, yes, yes.鈥� This is the outward-facing project. This is not extra to being saved. This is what you鈥檙e saved for 鈥� to be part of God鈥檚 creative purposes in the world.鈥�

Wright drew standing-room-only crowds at several events during his two-day visit to Harrisonburg. In a service at Eastern Mennonite Seminary鈥檚 Martin Chapel, even the organ bench was occupied, and a breakfast lecture drew area church leaders from various denominations representing a wide spectrum of conservative and progressive perspectives.

The coalition that invited Wright was ecumenical: the included Eastern Mennonite Seminary, Park View Mennonite Church, Virginia Mennonite Conference and Virginia Mennonite Missions, and the Church of the Incarnation, Anglican Church of North America. 黑料正能量 was represented in the partnership through campus ministries, the Bible, religion and theology department and the Augsburger Lectureship.

“We were delighted with the community response stemming from an ecumenical planning partnership,鈥� said Campus Pastor Brian Martin Burkholder. 鈥淭his approach supported and connected the lecture series in meaningful ways and certainly broadened our reach.鈥�

Wright, a research professor of New Testament and early Christianity at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland and former Bishop of Durham, developed the broad theme of 鈥淒iscerning the Dawn鈥� over five lectures. At James Madison University鈥檚 Memorial Hall the first evening, all 1,045 seats were filled, and many turned away at the door. The Augsburger Lecture the next evening at 黑料正能量 was the most highly attended in many years that he could recall, said Burkholder.

The 鈥渄awn鈥� of Wright鈥檚 thematic focus refers in part to the Kingdom here on earth and to humans鈥� role as God鈥檚 鈥渋mage-bearers鈥� and 鈥済od-reflectors,鈥� he said in an early lecture.

鈥淲hen the spirit comes, the spirit will enable us 鈥� you 鈥� to speak and live the truth, that Jesus is Lord, and that there is a new way to be human, that there is a true justice and that arrogant power has already been judged,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his vision is at the heart of the genuine Christian spiritual experience. The new day has already dawned and a new way of being human has been launched upon the world.鈥�

Wright鈥檚 lecture series drew audience members from as far away as California and Colorado.

David Works, who both corresponds with Wright regularly and has long and deep connections to 黑料正能量, flew from Denver to attend all of the lectures. A descendant of Thomas Jefferson, Works is member of , and has participated in Strategies for Trauma and Resilience聽(STAR) trainings and restorative justice as a survivor of violent crime.

For Works, the opportunity to see and hear Wright speak at 黑料正能量 鈥� where he knew Wright鈥檚 message would surely resonate 鈥� was irresistible.

鈥淚 said, 鈥業 need to be there.鈥� 黑料正能量 has played such an important role in my own life, and here is this other person who has as well,鈥� Works said. 鈥淗is message of faith in action that he talked about today interfaces with 黑料正能量 almost uniquely.鈥�

Podcasts

• Nov. 13, Seminary Chapel: 鈥�The Spirit and the Church鈥檚 Task (John 16:4b鈥�15)鈥� with Q&A beginning at 51:20.
• Nov. 14, Campus Worship: 鈥�The Day the Revolution Began: Atonement the Right Way鈥� with Q&A beginning at 54:40.
• Nov. 14, Augsburger Lecture: Promised Glory: Straightforth Thinking 黑料正能量 God and the World鈥� with Q&A beginning at 1:05:05.