At the end of my series ‘Setting our Stories Straight,’ I suggested that of the biblical idea of Shalom, or ‘peace’ — understood as wholeness, integrity, and the presence of healthy, reciprocal relationships — could be the best way of understanding the internal goals of Christian faith. Inspired by the thought of theologians like Walter … Continue reading Standing for Shalom: Peace as the Heart of God
A few weeks ago, I had a difficult conversation with a friend, who was quite upset that I continue to identify as a Christian, when, in his mind, ‘Christianity has done nothing good for the world’ and is ‘just a bunch of baseless stories’ that are ‘inherently damaging to everyone’ who hears them. The good … Continue reading Christianity and the West Gone Wrong: How Did We Get Here? (and How Can We Make It Right?)
It’s been a while since I’ve done one of these regular reflections on the Sunday readings. I had to smile when I was preparing for today’s post, since the process felt so familiar. Looking at the world around me, it’s hard not to think “Wow, things are really hard and all signs point to them … Continue reading Audacious Trust: A Reflection on Jeremiah 32.1-3, 6-15
September 30 will mark Canada’s second annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. It’s intended to be a time for national recognition and remembrance, especially of “the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools” on Indigenous communities across the country. Of course, this is just one, very small, piece of what reconciliation … Continue reading Pathways of Peace: Towards a Decolonizing Theology
When I started this study on Ephesians, I framed it in terms of a desire to see what it would be like to apply the ‘Integral Hermeneutic’ framework I developed a few years ago to a whole book of the Bible. And, while I definitely did this in terms of preparation, thought process, and ultimate … Continue reading The Life in Christ, Putting it All Together: Ephesians in Integral Perspective
Matthew Root 