Jesus said, «Blessed are the peacemakers»–but in our increasingly polarized communities and nation, where can a person of faith begin? In Reconciling Places, pastor and scholar Paul Hoffman introduces laypeople and ministry leaders to a «theology of reconciliation» that equips Christians to act as reconcilers and bridge builders, wherever they are and whatever issues divide their communities.
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Paul A. Hoffman. Reconciling Places
Reconciling Places
Table of Contents
Foreword
Preface
Acknowledgments
Introduction: Our Place—the Divided States of America
1 Your Place
2 The Foundation: The Relational Nature of the Trinity
3 The Substructure: Reconciling Theology
4 The Superstructure: Reconciling Practices
Conclusion: A Redux, Recasting, and Reconciling Commission
Bibliography
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To the people of
Evangelical Friends Church of Newport,
.....
Chapter 2 is called “The Foundation: The Relational Nature of the Trinity.” As the book’s subtitle is “How to Bridge the Chasms in our Communities,” in this chapter I will start unpacking the crowning analogy of reconciling as building bridges across difference. Engineers tell us most bridges are composed of three major sections: the foundation, substructure, and superstructure.13 All three areas are interconnected and necessary for a bridge to function properly. Likewise, each section represents a vital theological category required to construct a reconciling place: the relational nature of the Trinity (foundation), reconciling theology (substructure), and reconciling practices (superstructure).
Reconciliation starts with the foundation of the character of the Trinity. One way Christians can better comprehend the triune God is if they read Scripture through a particular lens, what I call a “relational narrative.” This lens helps us recognize the reconciling DNA inherent in God’s being. I suggest it opens our eyes to see the relational nature of God: both the way God relates facing inward (to himself internally) and facing outward (externally to the world). Reconciling is rooted in the character and personhood of the triune God and his relationship with the created order.
