Biblical Christianity from Peter DeHaan

The Warning Signs of a Preacher Gone Bad

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date November 3, 2020

How to Identify a False Teacher

Peter writes to caution the early church about false teachers, leaders who misguide, doing more harm to the church of Jesus than good. We need to watch out for them.

Here are some of the characteristics of a preacher gone bad.

False Teachers

Scoff at what they don’t understand
Act instinctively (like unreasoning animals)
Indulge in evil pleasures
Are a disgrace to the church
Commit adultery with their eyes
Lure others into their own insatiable desire for sin
Are greedy, cursed, useless
Brag or boast about themselves
Have twisted sexual desires
Promise freedom, while being enslaved to sin and corruption

I’ve known preachers like this. I’ve heard their sermons.

Whenever I hear a preacher mock what he doesn’t understand, my ears perk up. I am on high alert. Is he a false teacher? Then I look for other common characteristics:

Does his close mindedness disgrace Jesus and his church?

Is he greedy? That is, are his pleas for money insatiable?

Does he promote himself and his ministry?

Does he promise his followers freedom and then enslave them in rules?

False teachers are not someone we disagree with. Differences in opinion are fine. False teachers have identifiable traits, and I fear our church today has many more false teachers than we realize.

Watch out for them. Don’t follow them. Leave their influence at the first indication of these signs.

We’ve been warned.

[Read through the Bible with us this year. Today’s reading is 2 Peter 1-3, and today’s post is on 2 Peter 2:12-19.]

Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

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Tags church, early church, heresy, minister

Peter DeHaan News

52 Churches Boxset: Discover How to Make Church Matter

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date October 30, 2020

The Visiting Churches Series Books 1 to 4

Visit fifty-two churches in a year? No way!

Peter DeHaan and his wife did just that. They spent a year visiting a different Christian church every Sunday: Protestant mainline, evangelical, and charismatic; Roman Catholic too.

He visited a congregation just like yours. Count on it.

You’ll laugh. You’ll cringe. You’ll cry.

Church-reform proponent Peter DeHaan is a strong advocate of forming meaningful Christian community. And he shares his discerning journey of discovery to inspire ministers, members, and attendees to build personal connections that matter.

This isn’t a church-shopping romp or a mean-spirited critique. Peter doesn’t rip at today’s church. Instead he offers a gift of encouragement, hope, and insight to all of Jesus’s followers. Plus, he shares astute observations and makes spot-on suggestions.

Then build on the narrative of 52 Churches with the thought-provoking follow up: The 52 Churches Workbook. In it, consider 200 challenging questions to grow your faith. Ideal for group discussion or individual introspection.

But that’s not all. Read more church encounters in More Than 52 Churches. Followed by The More Than 52 Churches Workbook. More experiences and more reflective considerations.

Read the 52 Churches Boxset for education, read it for entertainment, and read it for the vision gained only from visiting a diverse array of churches.

These books are ideal for ministry leaders, members, and spiritual seekers.

Get your copy of the 52 Churches Boxset to begin your own exploration of religious practices!

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

Tags Peter DeHaan book

Visiting Churches

Reflecting on Church #29: Let’s Pursue a New Testament Model for Church

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date October 29, 2020

A Laity Led Church Service

With our journey of visiting fifty-two churches over, I can reflect more on the complete experience. Today, I’ll add to my thoughts about Church #29.

With their minister gone, church members lead us in the service, the entire service. They don’t need paid staff or a guest speaker to conduct the service. They can do this on their own. And they do it quite naturally, with ease.

52 Churches: A Yearlong Journey Encountering God, His Church, and Our Common Faith

I always appreciate seeing laity—that is, nonprofessional, nonpaid people—take part in leading a church service. It’s more personal and real, less of a performance or show.

Some churches aren’t able to conduct a service without their pastor present (or at least have a guest preacher to give a message), while others manage just fine.

Having paid staff and professional clergy is an Old Testament mode of church. It distracts us from the example set forth in the New Testament model, where we are all priests, ministering to one another.

Our churches would all be better off if we learned how to conduct services on our own, without the need of trained ministers to lead us.

Given the chance, I think we’d do just fine.

[See my reflections about Church #28 and Church #30 or start with Church #1.]

My wife and I visited a different Christian Church every Sunday for a year. This is our story. Get your copy of 52 Churches today, available in ebook, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

Tags 52 Churches, church services, reflecting on church

Christian Living

There’s No Shortcut to Heaven: Buying Full Indulgences Won’t Help

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date October 28, 2020

Martin Luther Worried That Buying Full Indulgences Served to Hinder Salvation

What most raised the ire of the Church against Martin Luther and his ninety-five theses, however, was not his claim of salvation through Jesus alone or the pope having no power over purgatory, but his bold statement that full indulgences served to hinder salvation.

False Security

Martin realized indulgences instilled a false sense of spiritual security in those who bought them. It was as if they had purchased a pass to enter heaven; they were good to go. Then they could live their life as they wanted, without regard for what God wanted.

Instead, the people’s complete trust in papal indulgences to secure their salvation removed the requirement of repentance and damned them for eternity.

With their certificate of indulgence in hand, a full indulgence, the people no longer felt a need to repent, Mark 1:15, or to work out their salvation by doing good and helping the poor, Philippians 2:12.

Martin Luther’s 95 Theses: Celebrating the Protestant Reformation in the 21st Century

Help the Poor

Jesus, however, commends those who clothe the naked and care for the sick, Matthew 25:34-40. Yet all the attention given to buying indulgences removed the focus from those in need.

Jesus didn’t say, “Sell your cloak and buy an indulgence.” (He said to “sell your cloak and buy a sword,” Luke 22:36.)

Martin noted that when people paid for their indulgences, they in effect diverted money from the poor and even the needs of their own family. Instead, they redirected it to the Church. Full indulgences had the direct impact of producing less charity for those who needed it most.

Selling Full Indulgences Fund the Church

Instead it provided more money to those in power who already had too much. The Church wanted the people’s money. They had already downplayed helping the poor so they could receive more.

The sale of indulgences advanced their unethical quest to get more of their followers’ cash.

Full indulgences were also dangerous because they encouraged complacency.

God’s work in the lives of his creation unfolds in a strange way. Only when a person feels completely lost can the light of God provide the needed illumination.

Yet the crutch of indulgences kept people from ever feeling utterly lost and in need of God. True peace comes from faith in Jesus, not by receiving absolution through the purchase of an indulgence.

Faith in Jesus

As a response to placing faith in Jesus comes the need to carry our cross to follow him as his disciple, Luke 14:27. We die to self to live for God. We deny our wishes and become crucified with Jesus, just like Paul, Galatians 2:20.

The cross of Jesus, not an indulgence from a pope, provides the way to cover our wrongs.

The German people had long lived under the financial tyranny of the Church. They sought relief. Martin’s theses demanded financial liberation and resonated with them.

They understood it. It became their manifesto against the Church’s corrupt money grab.

Luther’s 95 Theses

What most of the German people didn’t grasp, however, was Martin’s call to be crucified with Jesus. The people rallied around a vision of financial release from the Church’s practices, thanks to some of Martin’s theses.

As a result, the other theses accompanied them. This pushed the group of ninety-five theses forward, even if the people didn’t understand them all.

Though Martin understood his 95 theses, he had no idea of the problems they would cause.

Read more about Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation in Peter DeHaan’s book Martin Luther’s 95 Theses: Celebrating the Protestant Reformation in the 21st Century. Buy it today to discover more about Martin Luther and his history-changing 95 theses.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

Tags 95 Theses, cross, Martin Luther, repent, salvation, trust

Visiting Churches

Reflecting on Church #28: The Allure of Christian Mystic

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date October 22, 2020

Embracing Tradition and Worship Ritual

With our journey of visiting fifty-two churches over, I can reflect more on the complete experience. Today, I’ll add to my thoughts about Church #28.

Steeped in ritual resulting from centuries of carefully protected tradition, the spiritual mystery of this tiny liturgical church presented me with an enigma I’m yet to fully comprehend.

With worship that both confronted and comforted me, I have much to contemplate as I wrestle with confusion over its practices that are so foreign to me. I call it Christian mystic.

I remind myself that different isn’t a bad thing. It’s actually good if the result draws me closer to God. This church did that for me.

They left me in awe of who he is and amazed at the diverse ways we can worship him. My admiration, however, didn’t end with the official service, the Christian mystic approach to God.

Though it only lasted an hour, the informal gathering afterward continued for another ninety minutes, as we immersed ourselves into community.

I learned much about the people and this church, enjoying our conversation and all they had to share.

These are good folks, fellow pilgrims who enjoy being with each other. I know that I must return for another visit.

My plan was to never tell people at the churches we visited that we might come back. And for fifty-one churches, I never did. However, I do tell them I’ll be back—just that it won’t be for quite a while.

We have twenty-four other churches to visit first.

[See my reflections about Church #27 and Church #29 or start with Church #1.]

Followup: My wife and I did indeed make a return visit to this church. Much of our experience the second time matched our first visit. The one key difference is that there were about four times as many people in attendance the second time.

My wife and I visited a different Christian Church every Sunday for a year. This is our story. Get your copy of 52 Churches today, available in ebook, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

Tags 52 Churches, church services, community, mystery, reflecting on church

Christian Living

The Latter Years of Martin Luther

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date October 21, 2020

Martin Luther Wanted to Work Within the Church to Bring About Change but They Kicked Him Out

Martin Luther intended to work out his ninety-five theses within the Church leadership. However, once the masses read and heard them in their own language—through no fault of Martin’s—an internal Church discussion became impossible.

A revolution brewed. The people, poised for change, saw to that. But the leaders of the Church had a different reaction. They saw Luther as a threat. His views opposed them, their power, and their profit motives.

Yes, Martin wanted a reformation. But he wanted it to occur in an orderly fashion, to work within the Church and discuss his concerns with its leaders. He loved the Church and desired to remain part of her.

He never planned to create a new church and certainly never wanted a Lutheran denomination named in his honor. To him there was one church, the church of Jesus, which Martin sought to fine-tune.

Later Luther would seek to reclaim key doctrines that had fallen away:

biblical authority,
justification by grace through faith alone,
preaching the good news of Jesus,
the true meaning of communion,
the priesthood of believers,
faith in Jesus, and
the universal church, as well as others.

He also began to question the addition of new practices that lacked biblical support. These included papal infallibility, the practice of Mass, penance, and indulgences.

In addition, he objected to the absolute authority accorded to the pope, along with the secularization and corruption of the Church’s upper leadership. To communicate his concerns, Martin spoke often and wrote volumes about these issues.

Luther didn’t desire to leave the Church, but to correct her errors. For several years he and his followers toiled to do just that. They believed their efforts would restore a pure Christian community.

He persisted despite the Church’s personal attacks on his character. Their opposition escalated to physical threats on his freedom and risks to his very life. Even after his church labeled him as a heretic and expelled him, he still hoped-for reconciliation.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

Tags 95 Theses, church, Lutheran, Martin Luther

Bible Insights

Women in the Bible: King Solomon’s Wives

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date October 20, 2020
2 Comments on Women in the Bible: King Solomon’s Wives

A Subtle Source of Distraction

King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, wasn’t so wise with his love life. In all he had 700 wives and 300 concubines.

Even worse, many of King Solomon’s wives were foreigners, something God prohibited because he feared they would distract his people from fully worshiping him (Deuteronomy 7:3).

Unfortunately, just as God feared, King Solomon’s foreign-born wives, who had vastly different views on spiritual practices, did lead him astray.

They caused him to turn from God. As a result, Solomon ruined his legacy and consequently his son would lose the kingdom.

When God tells us “no,” there’s a good reason for it. Will we obey him or think we know better? King Solomon thought he knew better and things didn’t work out so well for him.

Finish Strong

Though Solomon started off well, focusing on God and honoring him, he ended poorly, turning from God and pursuing other gods.

It doesn’t matter so much how we start life but how we finish (Luke 14:28-30, Galatians 6:9, Philippians 3:14. and Hebrews 12:1).

May we finish strong for God, serving as an example for others, both now and in the future.

[Read through the Bible with us this year. Today’s reading is 1 Kings 11-13, and today’s post is on 1 Kings 11:1-13.]

Learn about other biblical women in Women of the Bible, available in e-book, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

Tags King Solomon, Women of the Bible

Visiting Churches

Reflecting on Church #27: Worshiping God Despite a Bad Attitude

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date October 15, 2020

Physical Worship from a Pure Heart

With our journey of visiting fifty-two churches over, I can reflect more on the complete experience. Today, I’ll add to my thoughts about Church #27.

I thoroughly enjoyed the worship time at this church. The worship of the song leaders was pure and ushered me into the presence of God.

With arms raised I connected with the Almighty through song.

For me, this was the highlight of the service though I also appreciated the genuine community these folks had with one another and how they shared with and prayed for each other.

Despite this, I also had some concerns, several. The first was them not being friendly. For the most part, they ignored us and the best connection we made was with other visitors. And this wasn’t the first church were this happened.

Next was the message and attitude of the pastor. His words seemed to ramble at times and was hard to follow. He also made some critical comments about our worship, which he deemed inadequate.

Granted, in his defense he was functioning on little sleep, due to delayed airline flights the day before when returning from vacation.

Third was an unpleasant odor near where we sat. It stayed with me the entire service. (Though my wife said she didn’t smell anything, and she asserted I was just imagining it).

Granted, I arrived knowing some of this church’s background and baggage, and my wife claimed I had a bad attitude.

Despite my concerns, I yearn to make a return trip or perhaps attend one of their Thursday night worship times. Of all the churches we visited, they were perhaps the freest in their worship and the most authentic.

I think God was pleased with their approach to him and the way they turned their praise to him.

[See my reflections about Church #26 and Church #28 or start with Church #1.]

My wife and I visited a different Christian Church every Sunday for a year. This is our story. Get your copy of 52 Churches today, available in ebook, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

Tags 52 Churches, reflecting on church, worship

Visiting Churches

Reflecting on Church #26: A Fresh Experience

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date October 8, 2020

Embrace Active Worship

With our journey of visiting fifty-two churches over, I can reflect more on the complete experience. Today, I’ll add to my thoughts about Church #26.

Beyond their worship of God and approach to him, two other things stood out about this minority congregation.

First, the kids were an active presence during the service, both in their participation and in their can’t-sit-still bouncing from seat to seat.

Although at times distracting, I’m glad for their involvement in the service.

The other item is their view of time is different from mine. Though the service started when specified, the crowd was sparse. For the next fifteen minutes, people wandered in, eventually doubling our numbers.

The last family showed up thirty-five minutes after the service started. I know this is a factor of culture, but it’s hard for me to understand.

Likewise, their service lasted longer than most, scheduled for two and a half hours, and extending beyond that with an after-service meal to celebrate the baby dedication.

Though we stayed to eat and talk, we were still the first to leave; everyone else seemed content to stay even longer.

Expand Our Worship of God

This was one of the two non-white churches we visited. (The other was church #20.) At both, I felt, for a brief time, a hint of what it’s like to be a minority. Yes, these experiences were shallow in that respect, but it’s all I have to go on.

More importantly, however, is that their worship of God was fresh to me, invigorating my soul. I desire to return and spend more time with them.

As we celebrate the Almighty with others who have different practices than we do, our worship of God is enhanced and our understanding of him is broadened.

[See my reflections about Church #25 and Church #27 or start with Church #1.]

My wife and I visited a different Christian Church every Sunday for a year. This is our story. Get your copy of 52 Churches today, available in ebook, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

Tags 52 Churches, reflecting on church, worship

Christian Living

The Excommunicated Martin Luther Gets Married

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date October 7, 2020

Luther Saw Marriage, Not Celibacy Vows, as the Preferred Option for Most Clergy

As Martin Luther’s ordeal wore on, he eventually left the castle where he was hiding. He returned to Wittenberg, some five years after he posted his ninety-five theses. Though still a wanted man, some powerful people offered him a degree of protection, so he no longer lived under constant threats.

Even so, he needed to watch for traps and guard where he went. Because of this, he often opted to remain in seclusion. With care, he resumed his teaching and preaching.

Aside from the abuse of indulgences, Luther went on to find no biblical support for the celibacy vows of priests and nuns. He saw marriage as the biblical preference.

Excommunicated and therefore no longer bound by his pledge to the Church, he married Katherine von Bora, a former nun, on June 13, 1525. It was a small, private ceremony. She was 26 and Martin, 41. He called her Katie.

A suitable complement to Martin, Katie was both strong and intelligent. Her outspoken nature matched her husband’s. Though they often lacked money, their union stood as a happy and successful example of ministerial marriage.

Over the years they had six children—three boys and three girls—and raised several orphans.

Now ousted from the Roman Catholic Church, in 1526 Martin set about to organize a new church based on biblical principles.

This isn’t what he wanted, but the Church left him with no other options to pursue his faith in community. In doing this he sought to avoid excessive change, lest he confuse or upset people.

In addition to establishing a reformed church structure, Luther wrote catechisms, a German liturgy, and a German Mass—though he intended it to supplement, and not replace, the Latin Mass.

He established his famous doctrine of the priesthood of all believers and authored the Augsburg Confession to clarify essential beliefs and practices. The Augsburg Confession continues as a formal expression of Lutheran teachings today.

Having a lifetime of writing to his credit, his voluminous output could fill a hundred books.

With his lifelong love of singing, Martin emerged as a prolific songwriter, too, authoring many hymns.

Having completed his New Testament translation of the Bible into German earlier in 1522, he (with the help of others under his direction) finished his Old Testament translation in 1534.

However, he continued to refine it throughout his life. The principles he used to guide his translation work would later influence other Bible translators.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

Tags 95 Theses, Lutheran, Martin Luther, priest