New Creation: A Primer on Living in the Time Between the Times

by Rodney Clapp

New Creation introduces readers to the thrilling, biblically-based vision of a whole world created by and to be redeemed by God. Written at an eminently accessible level, it shows how endings (or eschatologies) animate our lives. It rehearses the biblical story from an eschatological angle, emphasizing that Christian eschatology entails a politics. It then delves into how eschatology affects the priesthood of all believers, peace-making, prayer, and creation (including the rocks and trees, dogs and bees, and maybe even sex). With a light hand, it provides biblical cultural background where needed. Throughout, it connects theological groundings to present-day life, Christian discipleship, and contemporary issues. Here is a view of eschatology that bypasses escapist Rapture theology and puts forward a robust, exciting life now and in the age to come, very different from New Yorker cartoons featuring the afterlife as a bland, boring affair of strumming harps on clouds. "New Creation is simply a wonderful book about a crucial topic in Christian hope. We Christians are so conflicted about eschatology, while our secular age is wrapped in future visions of destruction. Clapp cuts through speculative debates to clarify what it means to hope in the God who acts. He may surprise you with his gleanings from Scripture and culture on crucial matters like peace, prayer, creation, and sexuality. I found myself buoyed by hope in Christ while reading these pages." --Alan G. Padgett, Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota "I try to read everything I can by Rodney Clapp. His writing has been instrumental in the radicalization of my own theology and life. This book is extra special because he's written it in a way that is readable to theological rookies and veterans alike. It is both simple and beautiful, and characteristically profound." --Shane Claiborne, Founder, Red Letter Christians "Rodney Clapp has a knack for making complex subjects not only clear, but exciting. Touching on topics like zombies, the heat death of the universe, and sex in heaven, he adeptly guides the reader through the core biblical vision of God's desire to renew the cosmos and restore human flourishing. His reflections on the implications of this vision for living in the present are especially inspiring. This is a book to share widely with others." --J. Richard Middleton, Professor of Biblical Worldview and Exegesis, Northeastern Seminary at Roberts Wesleyan College "What I love about Clapp's book New Creation is that he succinctly brings together a host of fellow travelers in dialogue with all of Scripture to dispel any notions that eschatology is merely about what happens in the end. In fact, what makes this book essential for disciples of Jesus is what Clapp does to help us see the implications of eschatology for our lives now in everything from sex to politics, climate change to Black Lives Matter, and all else that has to do with contemporary life. He accomplishes what he sets out to do--to demonstrate that eschatology is the key to understanding the biblical story into which we have been baptized." --Dennis Okholm, Azusa Pacific University, Author of Learning Theology through the Church's Worship Rodney Clapp is an editor for Cascade Books. Formerly a columnist for The Christian Century, his award-winning books include A Peculiar The Church as Culture in a Post-Christian Society and Tortured Christian Spirituality for People, Not Angels. His most recent book is the novel The Second Baptism of Albert Simmel.

152 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 10, 2019