Viola is missing the point in new book-From here to Eternity

Having finished reading Frank Viola's new book- From here to eternity, I must say I was disappointed in the way it developed and the way it ended with no serious treatment of the 'humanity' of God's creation. He reminds me a lot of the latter rain writers who were preoccupied with the symbolic meanings of the OT in particular- Viola has extended this to the NT. What I was looking for was a 'human interest' -God so loved...-story but all I got was some insights into jargon and 'hidden spiritualities' . Viola uses the various symbolic representations of the scripture to talk about US -yes you and me- the people of God but without bringing then fully down to earth- in humanity.

He starts with the 1st Eve and then US the 2nd Eve. Jesus is seeking a bride - a woman if you will- to love and He the lonely bachelor finds it in US. A wife worthy of Himself.

The Father is seeking a dwelling place- yes that's US as well. Finally He gets it in a city Whose maker and builder is GOD, well US for sure.

He is also seeking a family it appears and sons ( and daughters I presume) to carry on His name. AND He finds His family in Christ- US.

Then finally we have the 'new species' a Viola calls US.. the 3rd race - 'Jew'-'Gentile' and the 'church of God' ( 1 Cor 10:320) we the body of Christ are the new species if you will. or US again.


Okay then were moving now.....
We have women(Eve ? & the Bride?) and children and marriage and sons and daughters and new buildings the city of God, the temple and a new body for His Son Jesus.

BUT I guess if we take an overview of the eternal purpose of our God I think we can say this- He created a world- physical and earthy and populated it somehow with ordinary human beings ( not Martians) and because of sin and our downhill story we ended up in a mess only to be rescued by our great God and through and in Jesus He has reconstituted humanity- a new humanity if you like- a humanity that is the original intention of God. God set out from the beginning to have earth populated by ordinary human beings who live in harmony with Him and each other- where peace reigns and love rules. The Resurrection does not usher in some new form of humanity or produce a new new race with Jesus as the head of some 'spiritual' body of a new race people BUT cements the reality of the eternal purpose of God which was a people who would live for ever and share His life.

Humanity was and is the central occupation of our God- He loves this old world that is US ( he loves the creation as well) BUT it is the people who live on earth that he gave His life for to restore that fallen imprint of the creator -Jesus.

All the symbolic representations are surely about our God seeking to live in relationship with His creation. I think if anyone makes something -anything- it is important to the maker that the intended use/ purpose is fulfilled. God created mankind to have a bunch of people to hang out with and who also liked hanging out with each other.

His purpose was not to create some horrible 'spiritual' reality where people separate their human lives from their 'spiritual lives'. A life where our humanity is subjugated to so called 'spiritual' callings and realities. Viola dealt adequately with the symbols BUT did not transform them into the actual realities they were speaking about.