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Christian Living

I Am a Writer and Much More

Who Are You?

I started writing as a teenager. As an adult, many of my jobs involved writing, but I never thought of myself as a writer. Writing was something I did, not who I was.

That changed about five years ago when I realized writing was an ongoing thread in my life.

I had been a writer for a long time but had never verbalized it. Though I had to force myself to say it, I eventually croaked out the words, “I am a writer.”

I am a Writer

When speaking at writers conferences, at some point I lead new writers in saying, “I am a writer.” They smile. We do this a few times, each time louder and with more confidence than the time before. By the end, many are grinning.

For some it is sweet confirmation of their identity, while for others it’s the first time they’ve ever voiced their unspoken dream. At that moment they take their first step in becoming writers. They are affirmed.

It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy; we become who we say we are.

More Than a Writer

However, I am more than a writer; I am other things, too. I am also a son, a husband, a father, a grandfather, a friend, a volunteer, a magazine publisher, an editor, and more.

But my most important identity is as a follower of Jesus. Saying each of these labels, affirms me in those roles, cementing my self-image through positive identification.

There is also the opposite of this. Though unintentional, many of us cause ourselves pain with the negative labels we heap on ourselves.

Perhaps you’ve said or heard someone say some of them: “I am dumb,” “I am lazy,” “I’ll never amount to anything,” “I’m a failure,” “I can’t lose weight,” “I’ll never get out of debt,” “I’m a victim,” “I’m unlovable,” and so on.

Whether this is a dip into self-pity, an attempt to gain attention, or an admission with a sliver of reality, these statements are damaging.

With negative talk such as this, we inadvertently move ourselves closer to becoming what we say, whether we believe it or not, whether it’s true or not. Who we think we are is what we become.

A Writer Who Follows Jesus

Let’s use our words to become our very best. Although being a writer is laudable, my identity starts with “I am a follower of Jesus, a child of the king.”

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.

Bogged Down Reading the Bible?

10 Essential Bible Reading Tips, from Peter DeHaan

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Christian Living

Two Types of Church

Institutional Church or Organic Church

There are two types of church in the Bible, and there are two types of church today.

In the Old Testament, there is the temple. At the temple, the priests lead worship and guide the people, as instructed by God through Moses.

The Levites provide support to keep things functioning smoothly—at least that’s how God wants it to work.

Old Testament temple worship is institutional, with much structure and strict procedure.

Institutions mandate order, reward conformity, and maintain the status quo—whether it’s good or bad.

In the New Testament, the people who follow Jesus start meeting together.

They don’t have a building, so they just hang out in public places and meet in people’s homes. There are very few instructions for what they do, with little oversight in how they do it.

However, they do eat meals together, share their belongings, and encourage one another. They live in community; it is organic. New Testament church is organic.

Organic gatherings nurture spiritual growth, adapt to their environment, and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit—regardless of what’s planned or expected. Organic is, at times, also messy.

Today we see a plethora of options for church; most are institutions, few are organic. Most churches follow the pattern of the Old Testament: they have a building, paid staff, and leader-led worship; structure and procedure are their guides.

Few churches are organic, truly following the pattern of the New Testament. Though I do encounter these types of organic spiritual experiences, they aren’t frequent or regular—and they seldom happen on Sunday morning.

My wife feels it’s important to go to a church on Sunday morning; I feel it’s important to hone my faith in organic community.

If only we could do both at the same time.

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.

Bogged Down Reading the Bible?

10 Essential Bible Reading Tips, from Peter DeHaan

Get the Bible Reading Tip Sheet: “10 Tips to Turn Bible Reading from Drudgery to Delight.”

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Bible Insights

Do Angels Have Wings?

God’s Messengers

I’m not sure if I assumed it or someone taught me, but I always thought seraphim and cherubim were two special classes of angels.

Though seraphim and cherubim aren’t mentioned often in the Bible (2 and 69 verses respectively), angels make a much more frequent appearance, in some 290 places.

In none of those passages does the Bible call angels seraphim or cherubim. (The dictionary labels all three as “celestial beings.”) Although seraphim and cherubim have wings, no verses say that angels do.

Do Angels Fly?

The Bible never says angels fly, though there are some hints they are occasionally airborne, but as supernatural beings, they don’t need wings to go vertical.

Angels are mentioned more times in the New Testament (182 times) than in the Old (108 times), with Revelation giving them the most coverage (77 times), followed by Luke (24 times) and Acts (22 times).

We don’t know if angels have genders or not, but one verse (Judges 13:21) implies that particular angel is masculine, so I refer to angels as “him” rather then “it.”

While we see seraphim as worshiping God and cherubim as hanging out with God in heaven and attesting to his glory, angels serve as God’s messengers to us. They show up unexpectedly, suddenly appearing and then disappearing.

Do Not Be Afraid

Apparently either their arrival or their form is frightening, because they often say, “Do not be afraid.”

If an angel ever visited me, I wonder if I’d shrink back in fear. I’d like to say I wouldn’t, but I suspect I would.

Regardless of how I react, I will want to listen carefully to what the angel tells me, receiving it as a word from God.

[Read through the Bible with us this year. Today’s reading is Judges 13-15 and today’s post is on Judges 13:21. See 290 verses that mention angels.]

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.

Bogged Down Reading the Bible?

10 Essential Bible Reading Tips, from Peter DeHaan

Get the Bible Reading Tip Sheet: “10 Tips to Turn Bible Reading from Drudgery to Delight.”

​Enter your info and receive the free Bible Reading Tip Sheet and be added to Peter’s email list.

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Christian Living

Whacking at a Spiritual Hornet’s Nest

Every Day I Poke a Stick into a Hornet’s Nest. It’s Like Playing with Fire

Not a real hornet’s nest, of course, but something far more dangerous: I confront people’s unexamined assumptions about God, the Bible, and church. I feel called to do this.

It’s like whacking at a spiritual hornet’s nest.

I know, I’m playing with fire.

Peter DeHaan plays with fire--on a spiritual level

And along the way, I upset a lot of folks. Some call me names and say mean stuff.

But those who don’t hate me for it, love what I have to say.

People willing to listen could get messed up—in a good way—in a life-altering, faith-building transformation that could change everything.

Not convinced? Consider three questions:

  • Does God ever disappoint you?
  • Does the Bible ever confuse you?
  • Does church ever leave you empty?

Your answer is probably “yes.” Yes, to all three. But it isn’t a sin to feel disappointment, express doubt, or wonder what’s missing. These things are a common reality for the serious spiritual seeker. And if this is your reality, you found a friend here.

Yes, I want to be your friend.

Journey with me to embrace the life God planned for us from the beginning.

I won’t give you slick answers. I won’t cram a narrowminded Christian theology down your throat. And I certainly won’t expect you to drink the purple Kool-Aid.

In my blog posts and books, I whack away at status-quo Christianity to uncover what’s real, what makes a difference, and what really matters for followers of Jesus.

I whack at a spiritual hornet’s nest.

Whacking at a hornets nest -Author Peter DeHaan

I’m playing with fire, so I can skim off the dross to find God’s gold.

Take a spiritual walk with me toward Jesus. Let’s travel together down the narrow path. Kneel with me to take a drink from God’s living water.

Move from a fragile faith to a firm foundation.

Let’s Get Started

Let the adventure begin today. Start with my Bible Reading Tip Sheet

Categories
Christian Living

What Is Postmodern Biblical Spirituality?

Embrace Biblical Spirituality

Biblical spirituality studies the Bible to inform our spiritual practices to make them relevant in today’s world, which has moved beyond a modern mindset. That’s where the postmodern part comes in.

Postmodern biblical spirituality considers the Bible as an authoritative narrative to reclaim a spiritual understanding that resonates with contemporary spiritual seekers.

It pushes aside unexamined practices to reimagine a relationship with the God of the Bible. In this way, biblical spirituality looks at faith in fresh ways.

Much of my writing is centered around postmodern biblical spirituality.

We are spiritual creatures, we have a soul (our mind, will, and emotions), and we live in a body.

The apostle Paul acknowledges these three parts of our being, as well as their order of importance in his letter to the Thessalonian church, when he writes: “May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless” (1 Thessalonians 5:23, NIV).

However, not everything that is spiritual is good. There can be good spirituality, bad spirituality, and inconsequential spirituality. To guide us in pursuing good spirituality and avoiding the rest, I advocate a biblical approach.

The Bible can—and should—be our guide in ascertaining a spiritual perspective that is positive and productive. A spirituality that’s not supported by the Bible is one that’s suspect and potentially dangerous.

For the last 500 years, modern thinking people have focused on the tangible and quantifiable, ignoring the spiritual roots of the pre-modern and ancient peoples. Those folks viewed everything as spiritual.

It was modern-thinking people who tried to separate the spiritual from the secular. Following that, modernity effectively shoved spirituality under the bus.

Fortunately, postmodernity has come to the rescue, reclaiming our true spiritual nature. Most postmodern people are open to spiritual things, which I covered in my dissertation.

The problem is that not all that’s spiritual is good. The goal of my writing is to point spiritually receptive people to a wholesome spiritual perspective.

When I launched my blog in January 2011, I had been struggling to find a phrase to describe the focus of my writing.

I’d been contemplating the concept for quite a while and the three words—postmodern biblical spirituality—came together when I started this blog.

When I strung those three words together, it was a perfect fit for who I am and how I write.

Free Gift

With this in mind, let our adventure begin. Start with my Bible reading tip sheet.

Categories
Bible Insights

Are Cherubim Angels?

Last week we asked if seraphim are the same as angels? We discovered there is no biblical evidence to suggest they are. Now we ask the same question about cherubim.

The Bible mentions cherubim much more than seraphim. In fact, there are 69 verses (in the NIV) with either cherubim (the plural form) or cherub (the singular form).

All but one of these mentions are in the Old Testament, many relating to the construction of the tabernacle and temple.

Just as with seraphim, none of these 69 verses says that cherubim are angels. The dictionary defines them as “celestial beings,” just as it does for seraphim.

Cherubim have wings and fly, but they also have hands. Their wings make a loud sound and can be heard from far away. Some are in heaven, around the throne of God. David even writes about God riding them.

Although cherubim are not angels, they are some amazing supernatural beings.

Next we’ll look at what the Bible teaches us about angels and then archangels.

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.

Bogged Down Reading the Bible?

10 Essential Bible Reading Tips, from Peter DeHaan

Get the Bible Reading Tip Sheet: “10 Tips to Turn Bible Reading from Drudgery to Delight.”

​Enter your info and receive the free Bible Reading Tip Sheet and be added to Peter’s email list.

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Christian Living

The Importance of Being in Community

The Myth of Self-Sufficiency

The ideal in the United States is personal self-sufficiency. But this is a myth, an unattainable pursuit that will eventually leave us broken or alone—or both.

John Donne understood this. He said “No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent.” We need others; we need community.

God knows this, too.

God Lives in Community

The Father with the Son, the Son with the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit with the Father. We call this the Trinity, God as three in one. Though we don’t fully understand how one entity can be three, we accept it. It is community at its finest.

God Created Us to Be in Community

In community with him and in community with others.

One of the descriptions of community from the Bible tells us to encourage each other to love and help people and “not give up meeting together.”

While a quick reaction to the phrase “meeting together” implies going to church, this is an oversimplification.

Although meeting together can happen at church (though it’s not guaranteed), these times of meeting together can also happen in homes, at work, in coffee shops and restaurants, and even when we play.

When done with purpose, our meeting together can produce meaningful community, the community God created us for, the community we need to thrive and be complete.

May we pursue community with great intention; may we embrace it as God’s plan for us.

[Hebrews 10:24-25]

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.

Bogged Down Reading the Bible?

10 Essential Bible Reading Tips, from Peter DeHaan

Get the Bible Reading Tip Sheet: “10 Tips to Turn Bible Reading from Drudgery to Delight.”

​Enter your info and receive the free Bible Reading Tip Sheet and be added to Peter’s email list.

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Bible Insights

Worship God as Holy, Holy, Holy

Give God Our Adoration

The Bible says God is holy, holy, holy, repeating it three times for emphasis to make sure we get the point. God is not merely holy—that is, virtuous—nor is he holy times two, but he is holy times three. He is holy, holy, holy.

When referring to God as holy, holy, holy it is to worship him. This occurs two times in the Bible, appropriately enough once in the Old Testament (Isaiah 6:2-3) and once in the New Testament (Revelations 4:8).

Therefore, both the old covenant and the new covenant view God as holy, holy, holy; it’s not just an Old Testament thing or just a New Testament thing. Furthermore, in Revelation, they say this over and over, never stopping.

The interesting thing is who is worshiping God by calling him “holy, holy, holy.” It is not people but spiritual beings. They are six winged creatures, which Isaiah calls seraphim.

Emerging from the spiritual realm, these beings, who surely know God better than we do, revere him as holy, holy, holy. They acknowledge him as holy, holy, holy. They praise him as holy, holy, holy.

May we do the same.

Read more about the book of Isaiah in For Unto Us: 40 Prophetic Insights About Jesus, Justice, and Gentiles from the Prophet Isaiah available in e-book, paperback, and hardcover.

Read more in Peter’s devotional Bible study, A New Heaven and a New Earth: 40 Practical Insights from John’s Book of Revelation.

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.

Categories
Christian Living

There Are Multiple Ways to Win

I ran track throughout high school, earning four varsity letters in the sport. I relished the comradery and loved the competition. We won many more meets than we lost, which was a great bonus.

As a sophomore, I ranked number five in points on my varsity team. My future as a track standout looked bright.

However, injury produced a different outcome. Though in great pain, I persisted in competing my senior year. With each step causing me agony, I did the minimal requirement for practice. When it came time to compete, I struggled.

Knowing my on-field contribution would be minimal, I decided to support my team in other ways.

I became an encourager to my teammates: pumping them up when they were down, celebrating races won and commiserating over disappointing finishes.

Lessons learned in treating my own injuries became skills I could share with others. Soon teammates were bypassing the coach and coming to me to tape their legs, apply ointments, and seek advice.

I organized the sprinters to ring the track during long-distance events to cheer on our runners as they clicked off lap after lap.

When something needed to be carried, I carried it. When a teammate required help, I helped. When the coach asked for volunteers, I stepped forward. I did whatever I could.

My example must have rubbed off on others. Once, an opponent fell in agony during a race. It was our team, and not his teammates, who carried him off the track and made sure he would be okay.

leadership trophy

Though we came in third that competition, we walked off with the sportsmanship trophy.

I barely won enough events my senior year to earn a letter, an outcome that remained in doubt until the next to the last meet of the season. My team did well that year, and though I produced little on the track, I did what I could to help.

At our concluding sports banquet, the coach handed out honors. Before he announced the sportsmanship award, he showered glowing accolades on the recipient.

I assumed he was talking about someone else and was shocked when—based on the vote of my teammates—he presented the trophy to me. I gladly received it as their way of saying thanks.

Though the season didn’t turn out as anticipated, it was my best year of all.

In retrospect, injury should have sidelined me. I could have given up or quit the team. I might have become bitter or even worked to sabotage their efforts.

Thankfully God directed me to a different course, to be a positive influence to my teammates and serve them as best I could.

God, I dedicate this award to you.

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.

Bogged Down Reading the Bible?

10 Essential Bible Reading Tips, from Peter DeHaan

Get the Bible Reading Tip Sheet: “10 Tips to Turn Bible Reading from Drudgery to Delight.”

​Enter your info and receive the free Bible Reading Tip Sheet and be added to Peter’s email list.

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Christian Living

Be Careful What We Sing at Church

Be Careful What We Sing at Church

The tempo was upbeat and the song was inviting. Though new to me, I picked it up quickly. On the third time through the chorus, I started really contemplating the words—and I stopped singing.

Really, I did—right in midsentence. The words were wrong.

Though it’s technically illegal for me to quote song lyrics (and I don’t want to out an accomplished songwriter), the gist was that when things go bad, God will immediately rescue us.

I don’t see that happen very often in the Bible. Usually, God waits. I don’t often experience instant resolutions in my own life, either. Usually, he says to be patient.

Yes, God provides, and he does answer my prayers, but he does it in his own way and in his own time. Seldom are the heavy things resolved immediately.

The song paints the expectation of instant gratification. Though appealing to modern society, it’s a bad way to understand God. The song should have said that when things go bad, we need to be patient; in the end, God will come through.

That’s good teaching.

My concern is for people who base their understanding of God from the songs we sing in church. If they believe he will always immediately rescue them, as the song says, will their faith suffer a crisis when their experience is different?

When God tarries, as he sometimes does, will they give up on God and walk away?

I hope not, but I fear so.

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.

Bogged Down Reading the Bible?

10 Essential Bible Reading Tips, from Peter DeHaan

Get the Bible Reading Tip Sheet: “10 Tips to Turn Bible Reading from Drudgery to Delight.”

​Enter your info and receive the free Bible Reading Tip Sheet and be added to Peter’s email list.