outWORD by Matte Downey

In Matthew 6, we find what is commonly known as the Lord's Prayer (a shorter version also appears in Luke 11). For centuries, the church has recited these words both publicly and privately, many viewing them as the ultimate example of prayer. But was Jesus actually offering his disciples a perfect prayer for them to copy? A template for all future prayers? It might be helpful to start with a more basic question: What does it mean to pray? When we look closely at Jesus' communication with his Father in heaven, we notice that all of it is based in relationship. For Jesus, prayer is never an attempt to control or manipulate the divine will. In other words, prayer is not magic, not a formula or an energy force to be employed to shift circumstances in one's favour. When Jesus prays, he is cultivating union with God. He is abiding in God. One could say that when Jesus prays, he is getting on the same page as his Father. Jesus invites his disciples into this same type of union...

Our contexts have major implications for how we live our lives and engage with our world, that much is obvious. However, we sometimes overlook how much they inform our concepts of God. For those of us occupying the central or dominant demographic in society, we often associate God with power and truth. As a result, our theology is characterized by confidence, certainty, and an expectation that others should be accommodating. For those of us living on the margins of society, our sense of belonging stranded in ambiguity, God is seen as an advocate for the powerless. Our theology leans more toward inclusivity, and we talk less about divine holiness and righteousness and more about a God who suffers. On the margins, the priority is merciful and just action, not correct beliefs.  There are significant theological incongruences between Christians who occupy the mainstream segment of society and those who exist on the margins. The world of theology has been dominated by Western mal...