Category: Christian Living

Pursuing a holistic expression of Christian faith that is true to the Bible and applicable for today’s world.

Don’t Be a Pharisee

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date August 24, 2014

These Characteristics of Pharisee Thinking

Jesus loves everyone. He accepts those on the fringe, the people who society dismiss. Jesus embraces people who do wrong and who live immoral lives.

Yet there was one group he criticized, and he did so often: the Pharisees. Don’t be a Pharisee.

Aren’t we glad we’re not Pharisees? We want God’s love, acceptance, and embrace; we don’t want his criticism. Isn’t it great we’re not Pharisees?

Yet what is a Pharisee? A Pharisee was a religious leader. Today, anyone who is a minister, elder, deacon, Sunday school teacher, or board member is a church leader. That means many of us are in danger of being a Pharisee, too.

Pharisees sought to maintain the status quo. They protected tradition; they desired to keep their jobs and enjoy the life those jobs provided. Pharisees resisted change. Does this sound like anyone you know? Does this describe you?

These Pharisees opposed the very work of God, the deity they thought they served. They, and their ancestors for centuries, longed for the coming savior.

Yet when the Messiah stood before them, they didn’t even recognize him.

When God arrived, they rejected him. They missed the exact thing they desired.

Don’t be like them. Don’t be a Pharisee.

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.

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Tags Pharisee

Christian Living

Should You Wear Your Sunday Best to Church?

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date August 10, 2014

Dressing Up for Church Versus Going Casual

Some people dress up for church to honor God by wearing their Sunday best. Others dress up to impress people. I, however, dress casually, sometimes to an extreme.

This isn’t because I’m lazy or rebellious. This is my way to honor God and advance his kingdom.

One Sunday morning many years ago, I stood at the church sanctuary entrance, wearing a blue pin-striped suit and a bold silk tie. My job was to pass out bulletins and seat people.

My goal was to make eye contact, give them my best smile, and say “Hi.” I took this job most seriously.

In walked a visitor. College-aged, he wore torn jeans, t-shirt, and tennis shoes. He carried a wide smile. We made eye contact. When he saw a friendly face, his smile brightened. He headed towards me.

Then he glanced down at what I was wearing, and his pace slowed. He looked left and then right. Seeing no one else dressed like him, he made an abrupt U-turn and left.

I should have followed him. I should have assured him his clothes didn’t matter. I should have invited him back and offered to sit with him. I didn’t. Instead, I felt duty-bound to remain at my post.

That was the last Sunday I dressed up for church. If my attire challenges conventions, I’d prefer offending those in my community, not those outside it.

May my clothes never again be an obstacle for a visitor feeling comfortable in church or a faith seeker encountering God.

I never again dressed up for church. And I do it to honor God.

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Tags church

Christian Living

Discussion Question: What is Church?

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date August 3, 2014

A few weeks ago, the church service kicked off with a discussion question: “What is church?” We broke into small groups with those sitting around us. After exchanging introductions (why hadn’t we already done this?), we stared in silence.

As a visitor, I didn’t want to go first, but the silence invited me. “I’ve thought about this a lot,” I said as I marshaled my words. “I think church is about community.”

I paused, waiting for more of my deliberations to form into cogent words, but they didn’t. Others nodded and voiced their thoughts. Before I had a chance to add more, the discussion time ended prematurely.

The groups’ dialogue formed the introduction to the message. I anticipated what the speaker would add to the topic. Alas, his words were of little substance.

I left the service, warmed by the bits of community we shared, but with no additional clarity on the question.

A few years ago, I answered the question, What is Church? in a blog post. My answer then is what it is now:

“Church isn’t about message or music; those are often distractions or settling for less than the best.

True church is about community, where we are all priests, with each one giving and receiving, mutually edifying and encouraging one another on our faith journey.”

Please think about this as you attend church today. And it you don’t go to church, I encourage you to seek ways to do this anyway—and that will be your church, not as a substitute, but perhaps as a superior alternative.

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Tags church, community, small group

Christian Living

What I Learned From the Parade of Homes

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date July 29, 2014

I’m not sure how widespread this is, but in our corner of Michigan, there’s an annual event in several cities called the Parade of Homes. It’s like a progressive dinner, but instead of eating at each stop, you look at the house.

This is an occasion for builders to showcase their work, in hopes of selling their house or finding new clients.

I’ve always been intrigued by the Parade of Homes but have never gone. I worried that seeing these houses, many with extravagant extras, would turn the satisfaction with what I have into an unhealthy desire for more.

When it comes to possessions, I seek contentment with what I have, not something bigger or more shiny.

However, this year—with plans to build a house for the first time—we decided it might be a good idea to check out this year’s houses in the parade, to get ideas of what to include and learn what to avoid.

Still, I worried this tour would skew my perceptions of what our new home should look like.

Overall, we enjoyed visiting these houses. Aside from being educational, it was an inexpensive outing that lasted four days. We did get some practical ideas for our house and saw some things we want to avoid.

We saw the finishes and treatments we liked and some we can take off our list.

We also confirmed we don’t want a big house that will be costly to run and take too much time to maintain; I don’t want a bunch of fancy, impractical things that are likely going to break.

I feel sorry for the people who will buy these huge houses. I don’t think they will find peace there. A big house may be impressive, but I don’t see happiness in their future.

But mostly I learned that an affordable, comfortable house is the right one for me.

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Tags creative, life

Christian Living

A Weekly 24-Hour Fast

Confessions About Fasting

Last Sunday’s post about sharing our spiritual struggles was really the introduction for this week’s post, my groaning to reach what I strive for: a 24-hour fast. My confession is that my normal joy of fasting has been mired in a season of misery.

For most of the past ten years, I’ve pursued a 24-hour fast from food once a week. I often talk about this, not to call attention to myself, but to encourage others to pursue it: if I can do it, so can you.

Fasting has not been a burden, but a pleasure that draws me closer to God, heightens my prayers to God, and focuses my thoughts.

Most weeks, I look forward to it, and most of those weeks, I find what I seek. While not every fast goes as anticipated, most do—until last winter.

I fast on Thursdays, so when Thanksgiving rolls around, I skip that week. Last Thanksgiving was no exception, but afterwards I struggled mightily to resume my routine of fasting. More times than not, I fell short.

It took six months of effort, agony, and despair to reverse my fasting failures, but once again, I have mostly resumed my weekly fast.

Though my fasts do again draw me to God, sharpen my prayers, and focus my attention, they have not been easy. I must strive to start my fast, strive to maintain it, and strive to end it well.

I don’t know if this is the new normal or if, with persistence, things will one day return to the old normal.

What I do know is that for those who struggle with fasting, you are not alone.

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Tags fasting, Thanksgiving

Christian Living

Do We Share Our Spiritual Struggles as Much as Our Triumphs?

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date July 20, 2014

Don’t Celebrate Your Successes and Hide Your Shortcomings

A friend once told how he gave his TV away; he didn’t want one anymore. It was a spiritual act, a voluntary fast from television and the distractions it provided, in order to give him more time for God and family.

He reveled in his decision and had no plans to ever own a TV again. I admired his fortitude and wished I could do the same. But I could not. Surely he was more spiritual than I.

Imagine my surprise a few years later when I learned he again owned a TV. I asked why. He dismissed my confusion with a wave of his hand and a mumbled explanation that reframed his original intent.

He had been quick to share his spiritual prowess but silent over his retreat.

Yet before I criticize him, let me admit to doing the same thing.

I once heard the reason there’s satanic activity at night is because Christians aren’t praying. I decided to do something about it.

When I’d wake up in the middle of the night (a regular occurrence), I decided to spend an hour praying and then go back to sleep.

The first night was a powerful experience, lasting well beyond an hour; the first week was good, too, but not as great. Excited, I told my friends about my nighttime prayers, encouraging them to do the same. They shook their heads in dismay.

However, after two weeks, my hour of nighttime prayer had become a struggle.

Twenty-five days later I could no longer withstand the fatigue it produced: falling asleep while praying and stumbling through my days in a sleep-deprived stupor. I stopped but didn’t tell anyone.

It’s far easier to celebrate our spiritual triumphs than to acknowledge our failings.

Yet, we must do both. Others benefit when we encourage them with the highlights of our spiritual journey, yet they may benefit even more when we acknowledge our spiritual shortcomings.

It’s an act of healing for us and reassurance for them, establishing a strong spiritual bond. Honest sharing is being real before others—and with God.

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Tags community, pray

Christian Living

Mowing Lawn and Theology

God Hears Us When We Pray

Many years ago my dad gave me his twelve-year-old riding lawnmower. “If you’re careful,” he advised, “you might get a couple more years out of it.

The first time I used it, I prayed. I thanked God for his provision and for my parents’ generosity. I asked God to keep the mower running. Most every time I mowed lawn since then, I repeated that prayer.

With my prayers, regular maintenance, and a few repairs along the way, the mower kept running—for another fifteen years.

When my friend moved, he sold me his riding mower for a great price, and I retired my faithful, worn out one.

Out of habit, I continued praying when I mowed lawn, thanking God for his provision and my friend. I’d ask God to keep the mower running.

That was ten years ago. With my prayers, regular maintenance, and a few repairs along the way, the mower has kept running.

Last week I was in a hurry when I mowed lawn. I forgot to pray. After a few minutes, the mower broke, leaving me with a partially groomed lawn.

Fortunately, the repair was easy, and soon I was back on the mower, praying as I finished my work.

It would be wrong to make an absolute theological conclusion from me forgetting to pray and having my lawnmower break, but there is a lesson. God used this to remind me that, “When you pray, I listen.”

Thank you Jesus for this reminder, your provision, and my friend’s generosity. Please keep my mower running.

(In two weeks, I’ll give my lawnmower to my son. If he’s careful, he should get a couple more years out of it.)

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Christian Living

Never Just Say a Quick Prayer

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date July 6, 2014
2 Comments on Never Just Say a Quick Prayer

Don’t Rush Your Time with God

I cringe whenever someone says, “Let’s just say a quick prayer.”

Prayer is holy communication with the Almighty. It is a hallowed honor that we, as mere human beings, are granted the privilege to experience with the Divine.

I’ve never comprehended why God bothers to listen to us or why he cares about what’s troubling us.

Why does the Creator condescend to the created?

Yet he does.

He wants to hear from us, but not just to ask for things. We can thank him too; we can praise him—even though we often forget.

Prayer is such a sacred act. It’s bad enough when we forget to check in with God or take our communion of words with him for granted.

I think it grieves him even more when we minimize the solemn act of prayer by preceding it with “just.” To “just pray,” trivializes prayer. We need to stop it and treat prayer as serious business.

Equally appalling is when we suggest saying a “quick prayer.” Yes, there are times that warrant short prayers, such as when an out of control car careens our way or when we don’t know what to say in a volatile situation.

We can also breathe our praise for a beautiful sunset, a kindness experienced, or God’s provision for another day.

However, a “quick prayer” generally dishonors God. It implies we don’t have time for him or feel obliged to squeeze in some obligatory words before doing something we think is more important.

What could be more important than connecting with God? Surely, a “quick prayer” distresses him.

Yes, I have said, “Let’s just say a quick prayer,” and I hope to never say it again.

God expects better and deserves more.

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Christian Living

Leave the Lights On

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date July 1, 2014

Good and Bad Habits

My wife and I have our house for sale. Our realtor advised us to turn on all the lights throughout the house prior to a showing.

The theory is this makes the house more inviting and keeps potential buyers from searching for light switches, possibly in the dark.

Though this makes sense, it so goes against my nature.

As we prepared for our first showing, I dutifully went through the house turning on lights. Then I subconsciously turned half of them off. Even after a second pass, I still turned one off as I walked by the switch.

Realizing I could not be trusted with such an important task, my wife told me to not move as she retraced my route and checked my work.

After multiple showings, I’m finally able to fully accomplish this task, but my wife still feels she should verify my work. In this case it’s probably a good idea.

After spending decades turning off lights to save money and conserve energy, I’ve developed a firm habit of turning off lights—call it a compulsion, a good habit.

I have other good habits, too: exercising, saving money, living in moderation, preparing for the future, maintaining our home and cars, going to bed at a decent time, and so forth. I’m grateful to have these good habits ingrained in me.

I also have a few bad habits, too, but I’m not so aware of them. When I do uncover one, I try to retrain myself. One such area is my tendency to turn on the TV, not to watch a specific show, but to fill time.

Sometimes I do well avoiding this habit and other times, not so much. A

nother is eating because there’s food in front of me, not because I’m hungry. I’m sure there are more.

We all have habits, some good and some not so good.

Let us celebrate and preserve our good habits, just as we seek to discover and correct our bad ones.

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Tags habits

Christian Living

Why Don’t You Go To Church?

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date June 29, 2014
2 Comments on Why Don’t You Go To Church?

Examine Your Reasons for Staying Home on Sunday

Last Sunday I asked the question, Why do you go to church? Today, I ask the opposite question to everyone else: Why don’t you go to church?

Though I’m not in this group, I’ve talked to many who are. They have multiple reasons, some of them good, some of them warranted. Here’s what they say:

I don’t get anything out of it. (In our Western-world culture we approach church with a consumer mindset, looking to get something. What if we went with the goal to give something, be it to God or someone else?)
It’s boring. (The true wording is “I’m bored by it.” The reality is we choose to be bored or seek to be engaged. However, this is far easier to do at some churches than others.)
No one talks to me. (Yeah, this can happen, but we greatly increase the odds of conversation if we’re approachable. Even better, initiate the conversation.)
It’s full of hypocrites. (In one way or another, aren’t we all?)
They don’t talk enough about _____. (Maybe that’s because we’re preoccupied with a certain topic, perspective, or issue; seek balance.)
They talk too much about _____. (Maybe they’re out of balance. Or Perhaps God’s trying to convict you of something.)
All they do is ask for money. (Some churches do a lot of that, too much, in fact. People who go often learn to tune it out, but it can really make visitors squirm. I’m sorry.)
I don’t like the minister. (Yeah, personalities can get in the way, just like in all aspects of life.)
I don’t like the messages. (There may be a reason. Is God trying to tell you something?)
I don’t like their style of music. (Personally I don’t like the music at most churches, but going for entertainment is the wrong reason; sometimes music connects us with God, and sometimes we need to push through the music.)
It’s superficial, full of phony people putting on a false front. (Yes, there are poseurs in our world, including church; just make sure you’re not one of them.)
I’m too busy. (We make time for what matters.)
I don’t experience God’s presence there. (Whose fault is that, the church’s or yours?)

I understand what they’re saying and agree with much of it. Yet I persist in going.

For all its limitations, church is worth the effort.

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Tags church attendance, church baggage