Biblical Christianity from Peter DeHaan

Whacking at a Spiritual Hornet’s Nest

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date March 25, 2015

Peter DeHaan: Confronting status quo Christianity to live a life that matters.

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

Christian Living

What Is Postmodern Biblical Spirituality?

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date March 25, 2015

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.

Bible Insights

Are Cherubim Angels?

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date March 19, 2015

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.

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Tags God, heaven, King David, supernatural

Christian Living

The Importance of Being in Community

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date March 15, 2015

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]

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Tags church attendance, community, Heavenly Father, Holy Spirit, Jesus

Bible Insights

Worship God as Holy, Holy, Holy

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date March 5, 2015

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.

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

Tags holy, worship

Christian Living

There Are Multiple Ways to Win

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date March 4, 2015

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.

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.

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Tags leadership

Christian Living

Be Careful What We Sing at Church

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 22, 2015

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.

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Tags church, faith, good music, pray, theology, worship

Christian Living

Is Church When Two or Three Are Gathered?

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 15, 2015
2 Comments on Is Church When Two or Three Are Gathered?

Meeting in Jesus’s Name

Jesus says that whenever a few people get together in his name, he will be there. Isn’t this what church is? Jesus shows up when we collectively meet and treat him as the main attraction; this is the church at its most basic and purest level.

Though we typically think of this as involving hundreds of people, Jesus says it only takes a few. And he says nothing about it being at 10 a.m. on a Sunday or requiring music and a message—just people.

So can church occur with a friend at a coffee shop? I say yes!

How about in a park, at a museum, or on a nature walk? Yes!

Can church happen during dinner at a friend’s house? Yes!

How about watching TV, playing a game, or just hanging out? Yes, yes, and yes!

Does any gathering that fosters community, constitute a church? As long as Jesus is the intention, the answer is yes.

Two or three gathered in his name. That’s what we did last Sunday at a friend’s house; it was church; and it was better than most any Sunday service.

Church can occur anytime a handful of people get together. All we need to do is make Jesus the focus. Shouldn’t we be doing that anyway?

[Matthew 18:19-20]

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Tags church, Jesus

Christian Living

What Does Your Bucket List Say About You?

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 11, 2015

Identify What Is Important to You

The 2007 movie Bucket List followed two terminally-ill men facing the end of their lives. They each listed things they wanted to do before they “kicked the bucket” (died), which they called their “bucket list.”

Then they set out to do as many of those things as possible.

This movie inspired many people to make their own bucket list.

Some bucket list items are extravagant and expensive, while others are simple tasks that could be done at any time and for little money. Some people list dreams outside their control, such as falling in love or getting married.

Others write down goals or resolutions, such as graduate from college or lose weight. Some items on people’s bucket lists are things I’ve already done, but most are things I don’t care to do or figure aren’t worthwhile.

A Sign of Commitment

As for myself, I don’t have a bucket list.

This bothered me. Did the absence of a bucket list portray a lack of imagination? No, left unchecked my imagination swells to Walter Mitty proportions. Does it mean I’ve already done everything I want to do?

Far from it, I have much remaining on my to do list. Even more worrisome, does an empty list reveal a lack of ambition? I hope not.

I have many goals and dreams, but none of these are bucket list material; they are merely living life to its fullest.

I think my lack of a bucket list is simply a sign of contentment.

It’s not that I don’t want to do more and don’t strive to accomplish things, it’s that I’m content with who I am and were I am. This contentment isn’t natural for me but a reflection of the God who is at work in me.

While I thank God for the imagination, work, and ambition he gave me, I also thank him for contentment that fills me with peace and removes an unhealthy yearning for what I don’t have.

I don’t have a bucket list, and I’m okay with that.

Thank you God!

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Tags writing

Christian Living

What Does The Sword of the Spirit Mean?

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 8, 2015

Understand the Word of God

In the letter Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus he tells them to put on spiritual armor. Included in his list of gear is only one offensive item: “the sword of the Spirit,” which he says is the word of God.

Many people understand this as a reference to the Bible, the written word of God. Until a few years ago, I did, too (even though the Bible as we know it today didn’t exist back when this was written).

We are then to use the words of the Bible to combat evil and the evil one; it is our weapon to fend off the attacks of the devil and his minions. Sadly, too many people do use the Bible as a weapon, but against each other.

They fling Bible verses like rocks, attempting to advance their point and subdue all disagreement. They forget the real enemy is not in the physical world but in the spiritual one. They forget to listen to each other and to love one another.

Other people see this instruction as a reference to the spoken word of God: the words of the Holy Spirit who directs each of us.

Though a bit jarring to many, this understanding seems more consistent with the text, since it says the word of God is the sword of the Spirit, connecting word with Spirit.

While I think this is a correct understanding, it’s also a risky one. What if we hear wrong? What if what I hear contradicts with what you hear? Then we have a problem.

However, we must keep in mind that the spoken word of God should align with the written word of God. If the two are in conflict, then what we think we heard must be in error.

With so much at stake, some people bypass the Holy Spirit and go straight to the Bible. While this might be safe, it falls short of God’s intent.

Instead, we should listen to the spoken words of the Holy Spirit, confirming them with the written words of the Bible.

This is what the sword of the Spirit means to me.

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Tags Bible, God, Holy Spirit, Sword of the Spirit