The strapline of Faithroots is “What we believe affects how we live.” This is because Faithroots is first of all, a theological website. One of my aims is to introduce readers to good, solid, rich and challenging theology. But Faithroots is also meant to be a practical, pastoral site and I don’t think those two… Continue reading Good news for the unsettled, uprooted and home sick
Category: Theology
Exiles and strangers
When Peter opens his first letter with the words, “o those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.”[1] It could be seen as just a literal and physical description of those Jewish believers who had been dispersed and scattered from their homeland. However, when you get to 1 Peter… Continue reading Exiles and strangers
Out of Egypt I have called my son – Jesus as exile
In Matthew 2::14 -15, we are told that Mary and Joseph fleeing from Herod with the baby Jesus to Egypt and then returning from there to Nazareth, when Herod died fulfilled the prophecy in Hosea 11:1 “Out of Egypt I have called my son.” Hosea 11 retells the story of the Exodus. It is God’s… Continue reading Out of Egypt I have called my son – Jesus as exile
It’s not banishment when God sends
In the first 11 chapters of Genesis, we see several examples of exile when people are banished from the place of God’s manifest presence. Adam and Eve are banished from Eden. Cain, their son is literally banished from the ground meaning that he can no longer live off of its produce as he has done… Continue reading It’s not banishment when God sends
Homeward bound: More on a Biblical Theology of death as exile
Yesterday I wrote about the theme of death as exile. In the Old Testament, it is that theme of banishment and exile that most visibly shows the consequences of death for humanity. However, it is important that we remember that this is about how death is the post-fall penalty for sin. Christ’s death on the… Continue reading Homeward bound: More on a Biblical Theology of death as exile
Death as exile
What does God mean when he warns Adam and Eve that on the day that they eat from the forbidden tree that they will die? We know that they didn’t immediately die physically, they lived for many years after, although they would now experience, sickness and mortality. This is where our Biblical Theology theme of… Continue reading Death as exile
God’s Big Story – an introduction to Biblical Theology
This week’s podcast was all about God’s people dwelling in God’s place or presence. You can listen to the podcast: We were looking at Biblical Theology. If Systematic Theology is about taking the whole teaching of Scripture, synthesising and systematising it into specific teaching topics or doctrines, then summarising them, Biblical Theology is about tracing… Continue reading God’s Big Story – an introduction to Biblical Theology
“This is my body” … what exactly do we eat at communion?
I want to return to something we looked at a bit earlier this week. What was it that Jesus said at the last supper and what does this mean for when we take communion today? Mark 14:22-25 reports: 22 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave… Continue reading “This is my body” … what exactly do we eat at communion?
What does your pastor need to know?
Every so often I see comments about what pastors and church leaders need to have studied, to know and be reading now. At one end of the spectrum is the view that “all we need is the Bible” and we don’t need to make it complicated. At the other end of the spectrum is the… Continue reading What does your pastor need to know?
In his name
Quite a few worship songs talk about “the name of Jesus.” Classics include: “There is power in the name of Jesus” “There is a name, who reigns without contention …” “What a wonderful;/beautiful/powerful name it is.” “I speak Jesus” There is a risk with these kinds of song lyrics that they could be perceived superstitiously… Continue reading In his name
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