A Moment With N.T. Wright

Professor, doctor, the Right Reverend, Bishop… he has many titles, but you may know him as N.T. Wright, or perhaps, Tom Wright. He’s a brilliant mind and he cares about children in the kingdom, too! Recently, Tom released a magnificent children’s Bible entitled, My Big Story Bible, and soon after another title, The First Christmas!

Our Director of Curriculum, Natalie Frisk, interviewed The Right Reverend-Bishop-Professor-Doctor Wright to learn more about this book, his thoughts on teaching the nativity to children, and some words of encouragement for each of us.

What do you recall about learning the story of the nativity when you were a child?

It was part of life, as a churchgoing family, and of course inseparable from all the other sides of Christmas — Christmas tree, snowy weather, carols, dark evenings with relatives visiting, presents of course! So, the whole story was part of an exciting larger occasion.

What do you think we miss sharing or emphasizing to kids about the Christmas story?

I think it's easy for it to become a cosy fairy-tale. But actually, in the gospels it is part of a sharp contrast: in Matthew's gospel, with Herod; in Luke's, with the Roman emperor Augustus. Jesus is a different kind of king — and that doesn't mean a 'purely spiritual' truth, but launching a different way of being human...

When we read books with children, sometimes we will ask them, 'What's your favorite page?' As such, I ask you, 'What's your favorite page in this book?'

I love the Wise Men looking surprised, with their camels behind.

Imagine for a moment, you're having tea with a deeply devoted children's ministry leader who serves diligently week in and week out. What encouragement do you have for them? What would you like to see emphasized to the children they lead?

I think I'd want to encourage them to realise that they are planting seeds which, with prayer, may grow and become strong plants. There's a wonderful mixture, in the stories, of intimate domestic moments and huge political implications; important not to lose the hints of the latter (Herod, Augustus) in the delight of the former.

Similar question, a different teatime. You're now seated across from a senior church leader. What would you like to say to them about the importance of children's ministry and/or shaping the faith and theology of children?

As we always say, the church is only ever one generation away from extinction. We need constantly to be folding our children's work into the whole life of the parish, with specific teaching obviously catering for different ages and stages; but with the whole message coming through at least by implication. The newborn Jesus, with all his vulnerability, is God-in-person, God-with-us, and this very moment is itself challenging all the world's assumptions about power.

Tom Wright is Research Professor Emeritus of New Testament and Early Christianity at the University of St Andrews and Senior Research Fellow at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. He is the author of more than 80 influential books, including The New Testament for Everyone, Simply Christian, Surprised by Hope, The Day the Revolution Began, Paul: A biography, The New Testament in its World, On Earth as in Heaven and Into the Heart of Romans (all published by SPCK)