From Albert Mohler's blog:

"I have friends who I am quite sure are Christians who do not believe in the bodily resurrection," says the Right Reverend N. T. Wright, Bishop of Durham. . . .

"Marcus Borg really does not believe Jesus Christ was bodily raised from the dead. But I know Marcus well: he loves Jesus and believes in him passionately. The philosophical and cultural world he has lived in has made it very, very difficult for him to believe in the bodily resurrection.

"I actually think that's a major problem and it affects most of whatever else he does, and I think that it means he has all sorts of flaws as a teacher, but I don't want to say he isn't a Christian.

"I do think, however, that churches that lose their grip on the bodily resurrection are in deep trouble and that for healthy Christian life individually and corporately, belief in the bodily resurrection is foundational."

. . . Bishop Wright does affirm the bodily resurrection of Christ. Indeed, he has published one of the most significant treatises on the resurrection of our times. Nevertheless, if he is genuinely to defend the resurrection of Christ against its denial, and if he is to affirm the faith as handed down by the Apostles, he must defend the resurrection of Jesus Christ as essential, and not merely as foundational.

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What is the difference between essential and foundational? Having a background in construction, and having built houses, I can testify to the essential nature of a foundation. Houses that don't have solid foundations don't stand over time.

Furthermore, even without my knowledge of construction, I can read Jesus' illustration in Matthew 7 of the difference between a foundation of rock and one of sand, and it is apparent that Jesus considered a foundation to be essential.

Dr. Mohler is correct to say that the bodily resurrection of Christ is essential; but he is incorrect to distinguish between essential and foundational. Wright's definition of foundational is deficient.

Nathan Casebolt, a sharp fellow from Montana, student at the Master's Seminary, and a newlywed to boot, has also written an astute post on this subject. In fact, he writes such consistently good material that I'm blogrolling him. Call it a wedding present.