95 Theses Reveals Our Past So We Can Reform Our Present
Five hundred years ago, Martin Luther’s supporters printed copies of his 95 theses and distributed them widely. The document essentially went viral.
Had Martin Luther lived today, his supporters might have taken to social media to get the word out. In doing so, 95 theses might have become 95 tweets.
Celebrate the five-hundred-year anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, when Martin Luther nailed his list of ninety-five concerns to the door of All Saints’ Church in Wittenberg on October 31, 1517.
Most Protestants Have Heard of Martin Luther, but They Know Little More
Discover what Luther said in his history-changing document that people talk about but have never read.
Learn what Luther’s ninety-five theses meant 500 years ago.
Understand the significance behind his work.
Explore how the ninety-five theses apply to us today.
Consider reformation as an ongoing effort.
Reassess your spiritual practices.
Martin Luther’s 95 Theses explains the meaning behind each of Luther’s ninety-five concerns. Then it updates the basic premise of each one, for today’s audience. 95 Theses concludes with a present-day list of ninety-five items for the modern church to consider.
The intent is not to criticize her but to encourage ongoing reforms.
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.
Here’s the situation. The prophet Samuel is dead. God has abandoned King Saul, and the once-promising ruler is losing his grip on power. Saul prays, but God doesn’t respond.
None of the ways Saul has heard from God in the past are working now. In desperation, he seeks a medium.
In his better days as God’s king, Saul expelled all the mediums and spiritualists from the country. Now he wants one. It’s his last option for supernatural guidance.
His aids tell him there is a medium in Endor. Some versions of the Bible call her a witch.
In disguise, Saul seeks her out. She is cautious, fearing execution if her skills become known. He persists, promising her safety. After some persuasion, she relents. Saul asks her to conjure up the spirit of Samuel. She does.
Then she realizes who Saul is—the king who outlawed and ousted everyone in her line of work. She screams at Saul because of his deception, but he urges her to proceed and serve as a link to connect him with Samuel.
For Samuel’s part, he’s not pleased at having his existence in the afterlife disturbed. He’s likely happy there and wants to remain there, not be sucked back toward the physical realm.
Samuel confirms it’s too late for Saul. God has left him for good. Furthermore, Samuel says the next day Saul and his sons will die in battle. The nation will be lost.
Saul is distraught, losing what little hope he has left. The medium of Endor urges him to eat, and she prepares a meal for him.
Saul eats and then leaves. The next day, Saul and his three sons die—his boys in battle and Saul by suicide.
Not all that’s spiritual is good. The medium of Endor is one such example. When our prayers seem to go nowhere, do we keep our focus on God or seek unwise alternatives?
Learn about other biblical women in Women of the Bible, available in e-book, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook.
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.
Don’t Hold a Church Business Meeting After the 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 #23.
It’s challenging to get members to attend a church business meeting during the week, as it requires an extra trip to church that’s squeezed into an already busy schedule.
So it’s understandable when churches hold business meetings at the end of their service.
However, conducting church business as part of a Sunday service often provides an uncomfortable experience for visitors. This church business meeting is no exception.
One member questions the makeup of the pastoral selection committee. Other members, either aroused or emboldened by this first comment, join in to voice their dissent. As emotions rise, so does the tension in the sanctuary.
Just as civility threatens to escalate out of control, a conciliatory remark ends the discussion. Then they approve the committee slate with only minor murmuring.
The leader dismisses us, and my final memory of the church service is the rancor of their business meeting, not their worship of God. In the spirit of expediency, they forgot the purpose of church.
Church Business Meetings on Sunday
It’s a common practice at many churches to conduct church business on Sunday at the conclusion of the church service. We do this to our shame.
We forget the Old Testament commands to keep the Sabbath holy (which today’s church now views as Sunday) and not do any work. By my account, holding a church business meeting on Sunday violates both of these commands.
Jesus, however, came to fulfill the Old Testament Law and prophecies. That means these two Old Testament commands may no longer apply.
In this way, some may now feel the freedom to work on Sunday and not regard it as holy. In doing so they freely conduct church business after a church service.
Even so, tacking a business meeting onto a church service removes us from a worshipful connection with God and replaces it with an often-contentious connection to worldly concerns.
We must save our church meetings for during the week and not detract from our Sunday experience.
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.
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.
In the short book of Malachi, there is a reoccurring phrase “but you ask” (along with a few of variations thereof). This turns into a Question and Answer monologue, with God voicing the people’s unspoken questions and then responding.
It’s like having a Q and A with God.
Malachi records the whole thing, allowing us to explore the exchange and consider what God has to say. Although Malachi’s culture is vastly different from our reality, there are still lessons we can learn—if we are willing.
Q: How have you loved us?
A: Consider your ancestors Jacob and Esau. I loved Jacob and hated Esau. Do you get it now? (Malachi 1:2-3).
A: By withholding some of your tithes and offerings (Malachi 3:8-10).
Q: What have we said against you?
A: By saying it is futile to serve me when I don’t bless you for doing what is expected (Malachi 3:13-14).
Summary of a Q and A with God
These eight exchanges address the people’s relationship with God, discussing love, defiling, and contempt. It talks about offerings that don’t matter.
About the people wearying God, robbing from him, and speaking against him. And buried in the middle of the exchange is a prescription for how to return to God.
Now, let’s apply the Q and A with God to us today.
Learn more about all twelve of the Bible’s Minor Prophets in Peter’s book, Return to Me: 40 Prophetic Teachings about Unfaithfulness, Punishment, and Hope from the Minor Prophets
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.
The People of Israel Ask Samuel To Intercede for Them
Throughout the Old Testament, the Philistines show up as a recurring nemesis for God’s chosen people, the nation of Israel. The Bible mentions the Philistines 191 times in seventeen of the Old Testament’s books.
In most of these cases the Philistines are doing something to harass the Jewish people.
Today’s passage is one of many such examples.
Pray for Us
The Philistine army advances to attack Israel, and the people fear what will happen. They go to the prophet Samuel and ask him to “pray for us,” to intercede and seek God’s provision for deliverance from their enemy.
“Do not stop crying out to the Lord our God,” they beg, “so that he will rescue us from the Philistines.”
Though the Bible doesn’t specifically say that Samuel prays, we can assume he does. Then Samuel offers a burnt offering to God.
When the enemy army draws near, God produces a mighty thunder and the Philistine army goes into a full-scale panic. In complete disarray, the Israelite army easily routes them, killing many and winning a significant victory.
Then Samuel sets up a stone as a monument to commemorate the event. He calls it Ebenezer, which means “stone of help.” This serves as a reminder to the people of how God worked through nature to bring about a victory for the Israelite army.
Pray for Yourselves
This passage is a tribute to God’s power and of Samuel’s intercession for the people. Yet why did the people need Samuel to pray for them? Why did they need him to be there liaison to God?
They could have sought God directly and personally asked him for deliverance. But they didn’t. It could be that their faith was weak, and they didn’t feel they could approach God.
Another explanation is that their theology was in error, and they didn’t realize they could pray directly to God.
Today, we can go right to God in prayer. Do we do this or ask someone else to pray for us? What does this say about our faith and our theology?
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.
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.
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 #22.
During the public sharing time that wrapped up the message at church, one of the members stands up to celebrate a person I know.
Several decades ago my friend made a lasting impact on this person while she taught Sunday school.
Affirmed as offering acceptance, giving understanding, and providing much needed guidance, my friend forever changed this person’s life. I’m not at all surprised to hear this.
A few months later, at church #52, I see my friend and share this with her. Her eyes mist over with joy. Her lip trembles.
Then my eyes grow misty as well. “And this is nothing,” I assure her. “When we get to heaven, we’re going to hear all kinds of stories like this.”
She nods and smiles in acknowledgment.
This is what affirming one another is like. One woman publicly affirmed my friend. Later I was able to affirm my friend, offering her encouragement.
This is how church should be and what church family is all about. Among other things, we should excel in affirming one another.
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.
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.
The book of Zechariah contains prophecy given by God to the prophet Zechariah about future events.
A few centuries later the apostle John also had a revelation from God in the form of a dream, which he recorded in the book of Revelation. Consider the similarities between the books of Zechariah and Revelation.
What is interesting is reoccurring images that are found in both:
Four horses: a black horse, a red horse, and a white horse. (The fourth horse is dapple in Zechariah and pale in Revelation).
Four winds
Seven eyes
Two olive trees
Gold lampstand
Several of these images are only found in these two prophecies, while the others are found predominately in these two prophecies.
There are also other parallels, though not as exclusive
horns,
measure,
stone,
temple,
bowl,
mountain,
fountain,
scroll,
chariots,
spirits,
Jerusalem,
Holy Mountain, and
earthquake, among others.
I’m not sure if this means that we can use one passage to interpret and better understand the other, but the similarities are intriguing and compelling.
Perhaps the God who revealed both messages intended for us to connect the dots—or maybe they’re just some really powerful images that are worth repeating.
Either way, there is a sense of awe and wonder contained in the messages in both Zechariah and Revelation.
Learn more about all twelve of the Bible’s Minor Prophets in Peter’s book, Return to Me: 40 Prophetic Teachings about Unfaithfulness, Punishment, and Hope from the Minor Prophets
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.
Ezekiel Prophesies to Dry Bones and Breathes Life into Them
One of the most evocative images in the book of Ezekiel is him speaking to dry bones scattered before him. It’s a valley of dry bones.
The bones animate and reassemble. Tendons connect them. Flesh covers the skeletons. Breath enters these reconstituted bodies, mere corpses, and they live again.
It’s powerful imagery, the dead becoming alive. But what does it mean?
Fortunately, God explains it to Ezekiel
The bones represent the people of Israel. They are dried up. Their hope is gone. Cut off. Effectively, they are dead.
God will open their graves, resurrecting them to bring them home.
In addition to restoring their physical life, he will give them a spiritual life too. He will put his spirit in them. Then they will live. Truly live.
As with most prophecies, this one contains multiple applications.
Israel
The first is for his audience of that day, Israel. The people overflow with discouragement and are without hope. God reminds them that they can place their hope in him. He will restore them as a nation and bring them back from captivity and return them to the land he promised for them.
Jesus
We can also see this passage looking forward prophetically to Jesus. Consider two items: the prophecy of graves opening and God putting his spirit in his people so they can truly live.
When Jesus dies the curtain in the temple rips in half from top to bottom, symbolically allowing us to directly approach God. There is an earthquake and tombs break open.
Bodies of many holy people come to life. We don’t know who they are or have a count, just that there are many, and they lived holy lives (Matthew 27:51-53).
Next, consider Pentecost. Jesus’s squad waits in Jerusalem for the special gift that Papa will send them.
A violent wind sounds. Something like tongues of fire hover over each person. And the Holy Spirit fills them with supernatural power (Acts 2:1-4).
End Times
In John’s epic vision as recorded in the book of Revelation, we also see dead bodies become alive (Revelation 11:7-11 and Revelation 20:11-13), just like Ezekiel said.
To wrap things up, the Holy Spirit and Jesus invites them—and us—to come and receive the gift of life (Revelation 22:17).
These are some of the key things we can learn from Ezekiel and the valley of dry bones.
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.
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.
Answer: Throughout my life I’ve sat through thousands of sermons and most all of them talked about the men in the Bible. They ignored women or gave them a mere footnote in the message.
If a sermon was ever about a woman, the director of women’s ministry might have given it, or it popped up on Mother’s Day. And frankly we don’t need another sermon about the Proverbs 31 Woman. All the messages I’ve heard about her miss the point.
The women of the Bible deserve more attention, and I want to give it to them. There’s so much they can teach us.
Q 2: What drew you to the women in the Bible?
A: Women make up slightly more than half the people on our planet, yet we don’t talk about biblical women too much in church. That is to our shame and our discredit.
I desired to discover more about the women who appear in the Bible. I wanted to learn from them and share the insight that God gave me with others.
Q 3: In all due respect, how can a man write about women? What makes you qualified?
A: I’m glad you asked this question so that we can talk about it, but at the same time I wish it weren’t necessary. The short answer is that I believe God has given me a heart for women.
Obviously, I can’t understand everything women go through, but that doesn’t disqualify me from writing about them, to encourage and inspire others.
In researching and writing this book God gave me a curiosity to ask questions other people would skip, to seek to understand these women’s circumstances, and to draw lessons from their lives. I put all those insights in the book. The outcome is what matters.
Q 4: What was your intent in publishing this book? How do you expect people to use it?
A: My goal was to compile and provide the information for readers to use as they saw fit. Some have treated it as a devotional and others as a Bible study. I’ve heard from people who’ve bought it as a reference and were glad to have it.
One reader intended to read one chapter a day but couldn’t put it down and kept turning pages. She read it in a couple of days. Many have told me they kept reading, with the pledge to read “just one more chapter.”
I also hope small groups or classes will use it for a study or discussion guide.
Q 5: Is this book just for women, or can men read it too?
A: I wrote the book for everyone.
The fact that it’s about women, doesn’t mean it’s only for women. The truths it covers are universal, applying to both women and men.
Q 6: What did you learn about yourself as you worked on this book?
A: It seemed perfectly natural for me to write about women in the Bible, but I was surprised at how many people thought it was strange.
That may make me atypical, but I prefer to think of it as me having a little bit of God’s heart for the female half of his creation.
Q 7: What surprised you most when you researched this book?
A: The character of Mary Magdalene has taken a hit in recent years. But after studying what scripture says about her a different story unfolded.
Mary Magdalene was the one to carry the good news about the greatest event in the history of the world—Jesus’s resurrection of the dead—to the disciples.
God didn’t have a man do it, even those that’s what the society of the day expected and even demanded. This makes Mary Magdalene the first missionary for Jesus. Never forget that.
Q 8: Many people criticize the Bible for how it portrays women. Does this make God sexist?
A person who reads the Bible quickly without a discerning eye—or a person who has never read it at all—might claim that the Bible treats women badly or that God is sexist.
This, however, is far from the truth.
Remember that God created us in his image, male and female. When he finished, he pronounced it as “very good.”
Yes, the Bible reveals God to us, but the narrative takes place during a time when sin badly distorted what God had in mind for the human beings he made.
In this regard, the Bible reflects man’s mistakes, not God’s heart.
Q 9: Who is your favorite woman in the Bible? Why?
A: That’s such a great question. I have many favorites, so it’s hard to pick just one. Ruth is a longtime favorite because of her dedication to her mother-in-law and to God.
Esther is another cherished favorite for using her position to influence the king and save her people from an inevitable genocide. I also like Judge Deborah and Rahab in the Old Testament.
In the New Testament I especially appreciate Priscilla because she often received first billing over her husband.
And then there’s Rhoda. Her story, her faith, and her exuberance make me smile every time.
Q 10: Your subtitle is “The Victorious, the Victims, the Virtuous, and the Vicious.” Why did you select these words?
A: The overall arc in Women of the Bible is to celebrate the feminine half of God’s creation. This makes it natural to look at the victorious and the virtuous. But that’s not a complete picture.
Due to sin’s impact, some of them are victims. And there are a few who are just vicious.
This is a reminder that terrible behavior isn’t the sole domain of men. Women can fall into evil as well. That’s why we must all be vigilant, to protect ourselves from falling into their error.
Q 11: How many women does your book cover? Why did you include that many?
A: I cover 135 women in Women of the Bible. Most books about biblical women address only a handful, usually twelve or less. And that omits a lot of interesting women and ignores what we can learn from them.
Initially my goal was 100, but I quickly realized that wasn’t enough. Although I could’ve kept writing and gone beyond 135, at that point I covered what I felt was important.
To continue writing about some of the very obscure names that remained wouldn’t really add anything to the discussion. So, I stopped at 135.
Of course, that’s not to say there couldn’t be an expanded version of Women of the Bible in the future. An appendix in the book lists dozens more women I could add in the second edition—if there’s value in doing so.
Q 12: Will you write a counterpart to this book, Men of the Bible?
A: I’d never considered doing that, but some people have asked about it and one reader assumed I would.
So, there might one day be a book Men of the Bible.
Q 13: Will you be writing any more about women in the Bible?
A: I’m glad you asked. The answer is yes!
Women in the Bible is book one in the Bible Character Sketches Series. My next book in the series is Friends and Foes of Jesus. This looks at New Testament characters. Many of those in Women of the Bible will make a reappearance.
For them I offer new and expanded content. In this way their story continues. Then I repeat the process for a book about Old Testament characters: Old Testament Sinners and Saints. And I’m currently working on a sequel of sorts: More Old Testaments Sinners and Saints.
Beyond these, I have several more books planned for the Bible Character Sketches Series, such as prophets, priests, judges, kings and queens. And every book will include women.
Learn about other biblical women in Women of the Bible, available in e-book, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook.
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.
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 #21.
Of all the 52 churches we visited, this one deviated the most from current church practices. It was a unique church service and a memorable one too.
They used a shofar to start the service. It was loud, awe-inspiring, and a worshipful opening to our time together.
The teaching included interaction, so that true dialogue could take place between the minister and those of us gathered. This allowed for discussion, as well as being able to ask questions.
At the conclusion of the message, we spent time truly worshiping in God’s presence. And afterward we enjoyed extended community.
We had a most memorable time there. God was present. We worshiped him in Spirit and in truth. And we connected with each other after the service.
I suspect this version of church is more in line with what the early church practiced when they met together, spurring each other on and encouraging one another (see Hebrews 10:24-25).
This faith community had a unique church service, which is sad, because it should be the norm at every church, every Sunday.
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.
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.
