Category: Christian Living

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

Why Can’t Christians Get Along With Each Other?

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date August 25, 2013

It’s a shocking stat, but there are 42,000 Christian denominations in the world!

Yes, the church that Jesus started is currently divided into 42,000 factions. Notice I didn’t say Jesus’ churches (plural), but Jesus’ church (singular).

How do I know Jesus intended there to be only one church? Quite simply because he prayed we would be one, just as he and his father are one.

Jesus even said why he wanted us to be as one: so that the world would believe. Succinctly, our unity maximizes our witness.

The implication is our disunity—our disagreements that have divided us into warring denominations—serves to weaken our witness.

Our divisions and petty squabbling over theology and tradition, lessen who we are, what we stand for, and why we’re here.

Oh, how our disunity must grieve the God we claim to serve.

As Christians, why can’t we all get along? That’s what Jesus wanted and that’s what he prayed for. Let’s ditch our divisions and unite for the sake of Jesus—so that the world may know.

Our factions and denominations don’t matter, Jesus does.

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 denominations, unity, witness

Christian Living

Beware of Spiritual Incest

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date August 18, 2013
2 Comments on Beware of Spiritual Incest

When at a business convention, I once spouted off a grand sounding idea, but it was really a bad suggestion that warranted immediate rejection.

Yet I proclaimed it with passion and the air of authority (I had just finished speaking on the subject, and this new added thought added to the discussion).

I presented my spontaneous brainchi l d with logic. The person I said this to, nodded his comprehension.

Intellectual Incest

However, before the convention was over, several people approached me to discuss this same thing. I doubt we all had the same notion at the same time.

I’m quite sure it was my one bad idea, merely recirculated within a tight group, with no one questioning its wisdom.

I later labeled this phenomenon as intellectual incest: reproducing a bad idea within a close group of like-minded thinkers, who blindly accept it as true.

Spiritual Incest

The same can occur in a close group of like-minded spiritual thinkers. I’ll call this spiritual incest. I see it happen often. One person shares an insight or experience with their inner circle.

Everyone accepts it as reliable, without scrutinizing its validity or testing its wisdom. When this happens, people are misled and unhealthy conclusions result.

I recently blogged about theological silos: the natural tendency of people to surround themselves with others who hold to the same spiritual perspectives.

An unhealthy progression of this is spiritual incest. It’s easy to spot by listening to the words and phrases used.

A localized dialect of Christianese emerges.

Theological Incest

A bit harder to notice is when this creeps into our theology. It occurs easily enough when a respected leader makes a passionate statement, sounding wise and maybe even backed up with a sound bite from the Bible.

This moves into heresy, but most don’t realize it. The close-knit faith community reproduces this one bad idea, blindly accepting it as fact, but it’s really spiritual incest.

We need to beware of spiritual incest.

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Tags biblical Christianity, heresy, religious language

Christian Living

Do You Live in a Theological Silo?

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date August 11, 2013

In farming, a silo is a tower used to store grain.

The business world, however, turned silo into a metaphor, such as information silos or organizational silos, symbolizing assimilation and isolation.

These business silos function as a repository of information or power—hoarded and not shared, either by plan or by practice.

With silos, there’s an inner circle, with everyone else kept at a safe distance.

Most organizations, including churches, have silos. Many churches also have theological silos. A theological silo, usually the product of a homogenous faith community, holds to a certain set of beliefs as sacred and non-negotiable.

These may include explicit baptism beliefs, how someone becomes a Christian, a certain understanding of the end times, the role of the Holy Spirit today, a particular stance on a societal issue, and even which version of the Bible to use.

(One historical silo occurred over the requirement for men to wear neckties to church.)

Those who agree with the beliefs of the silo are invited in (usually only after they prove themselves worthy), whereas all others are kept at a distance or even shunned.

Historically, denominations formed around theological silos and then later became silos themselves, often exclusive, closed-minded, and dogmatic to a fault.

Jesus desired unity; he prayed we would be as one. Let’s tear down our silos and embrace one another—especially those who are different—just like Jesus did.

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Tags community, denominations, faith, theology

Christian Living

Puppy Therapy

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date August 6, 2013

Last week our daughter came over for the day. Her intent was not so much to see us but to enjoy our air conditioning. Being pregnant and midway through her third trimester, she had added reason to seek relief from the heat.

She didn’t come alone, however, bringing with her Zane, an adorable bundle of energy and delight. Zane, our kids tell us, is our grandpuppy.

In three plus decades of marriage, my wife and I have never had a dog. She is allergic and so is our daughter. Zane, however, is a mix of hypoallergenic breeds (I didn’t know there was such a thing), so it’s all good.

When they arrived, I hugged my daughter and played a bit with Zane. Then I went back to work. Awhile later, Zane showed up in my office, carrying his favorite toy. He wanted to play.

I didn’t need much convincing. Puppy love is so much more inviting than article editing.

At eight pounds, the pup carries a lot of spunk. We soon engaged in a robust game of tug. Eventually, he wearied of the sport and trotted off. Did I mention how cute he is?

He repeated this throughout the day, providing a welcome interruption to my toil. Sometimes he showed up with a new plaything, other times just to be petted, and once or twice for me to merely acknowledge his existence.

Now I understand why animal lovers like to have their dogs at work, especially when their office is at home. Although Zane is too rambunctious to curl up at my feet, I do envision him doing so when he grows older.

I also had a talk with him, explaining that in a few months, I wouldn’t be paying him as much attention, instead focusing on his new baby brother. Though I’ve mentioned this before, I’m not sure he comprehends it.

I didn’t accomplish as much work as I wanted, but it was a good day—a really good day. Puppy therapy can do that.

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Tags family

Christian Living

Should a Christian Community be Homogeneous or Heterogeneous?

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date August 4, 2013

It’s fun to be in the company of likeminded individuals. It’s comfortable to hang out with people similar to us. But are fun and comfortable, necessarily good things? Do they promote personal growth and advance understanding?

Being with people like us?—uniform or at least similar in perspective—is a homogeneous experience. The opposite of homogeneous is heterogeneous. A heterogeneous community is diverse, comprised of dissimilar people.

They might look, talk, dress, or act differently. Perhaps they hail from distinct neighborhoods, cultures, or even countries. They could be rich or poor or somewhere in between.

They might embrace diverging priorities, worldviews, political alliances, or (gasp) even hold to an alternate theology.

How comfortable are we spending time with people who view God differently than we do? Will we bask in a diversity of perspectives or cringe over perceived heresy?

One of the things I learned from visiting 52 churches in a year is the grand variations in Jesus’ family.

Our vastness and distinctions are beautiful. I’m delighted to have had the experience— and I miss it now that it’s over.

I’ve heard that if two people agree on everything, than one of them isn’t needed. We must apply this to church. How can our faith grow if everyone agrees on everything?

Most churches today are homogeneous, but I think we should be heterogeneous. We need to embrace, pursue, and celebrate diversity in our faith communities.

I learn the most from those whose ideas and understanding differ from mine—or even contradict them. It’s not always a fun or comfortable place to be, but I think that’s where Jesus wants us—and where he would be.

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Tags church, community, diversity, family, heresy

Christian Living

What Should Sunday Look Like?

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date July 28, 2013

For some people, Sunday is a day like any other, while for others, their regimented list of dos and don’ts reduces it to boring idleness. I want neither extreme, hoping for a happy middle ground. Yet what that looks like eludes me.

From a practical perspective, I need a periodic break from the routine; from a spiritual standpoint, I need a Sabbath rest. While I do take my break and seek my rest, I feel I do Sundays badly.

Though I think I’m on the right path, I’m far from my destination, missing what the day can offer. Mired in something that’s okay, I fail to grasp the grandness that awaits.

Most of what I think Sunday should look like comes from my upbringing, with biblical support from Old Testament Law.

Though the answer to my quest for a God-honoring Sunday likely resides in the New Testament, I can think of nothing that applies.

My Sunday typically starts out like the rest of the week: writing, exercise, and time with God. Then there’s church. After lunch is TV, a nap, and then wondering what to do next, which typically defaults to more TV.

The evening is usually a couple hours spent with friends, often followed by even more TV. I generally end the day in frustration over squandering time, anxious for Monday so I can do something meaningful.

This isn’t the Sunday God expects or the day I want to offer him, but I’m clueless in how to improve it.

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Tags Sabbath rest, Sunday

Christian Living

I’m Glad I Missed the Sermon

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date July 21, 2013

Last Sunday I only made it halfway through the church service. I completely missed the sermon—and it was the best church experience I’ve had in a long, long time.

That’s not to imply I didn’t like the speaker (I do) or that his words lacked substance (my bride gave me a recap, so I know it was good), it’s just that I ended up doing something far better.

Unplanned and unexpected, I spent that time in our church’s prayer room.

I sat with a stranger as she cried incoherent tears, then listening while she shared her anguish, and finally praying for her and giving her a father’s blessing—one she will not likely receive from her own dad but deeply desires to hear.

The service ended, but our time together didn’t. As most people left, we remained. Thirty minutes after the scheduled end to the official church service, we finally stood to leave, my heart breaking for her, but not nearly as much as our heavenly father’s.

I’m neither counselor or clergy. I lack the training to handle things like this. I had no idea what to do, but the Holy Spirit set all this in motion and then whispered instructions each step of the way.

His directions didn’t arrive all at once, but one at a time.

Listen, do, and then wait for his next prompt to arrive—at just the right time.

I wonder how often we miss the best church can offer because we’re content to receive something good. Bound by schedule and status quo, we place song and sermon above hurting people who need someone to listen and pray.

I helped someone last Sunday—and that’s what church should be.

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Tags church, good sermon, pray

Christian Living

Leave a Legacy

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date July 14, 2013

A legacy is something handed down from a predecessor. Yesterday in my blog about writing I shared ideas for leaving a legacy through words.

Even more important is leaving a spiritual legacy, of making a godly impression on people today and generations tomorrow. This starts at home, with family, and extends to friends, rippling out to other places and times.

Train Our Children

Through our words, actions, and priorities, we show our children what’s important to us. They’ll learn what we teach, so we need to teach the right things in the best possible way.

Moses offered wise advice, doing this “when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up,” (Deuteronomy 11:18-19).

Pray For Others

Jesus valued prayer, making it the primary component of all he did. We should do the same, praying not only for ourselves but also for others. Prayers can have a lasting impact, even an eternal one.

Support the Best Causes

There are many good causes with noble intents, yet with limited resources, we must choose the best areas to invest our time and money.

When done well, our impact can be significant, resulting in changed lives now and building the means to do so later.

In additional, how and where we use our time and invest our funds speaks loudly about our priorities, so our choices provide an example for others to follow.

Leave a Testament

A friend recently shared that today’s culture has forgotten the “testament” part of “last will and testament.”

Originally intended as written direction for a person’s family upon his or her death, it provided a means to leave final instructions.

Although wise to begin sharing our testament while alive, preparing a last testament could have a continuing impact on our family’s future.

Let’s first make sure we leave a spiritual legacy and then strive to make it a great one: lasting and significant.

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Tags children, pray

Christian Living

Another Way to Worship God

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date July 7, 2013

For the past few days I’ve helped on a home improvement project. I’ve urged my body forward, performing physical tasks long ago forgotten.

There’s an ache that permeates my muscles and reaches into my joints. But it’s a good ache; it’s an ache of accomplishment.

When God completed his creation, he said, “It is good.” When our remodeling project is finished, we will likewise take a step back to survey the results and say, “It is good.”

I think that will please our creator who will receive our work as an act of worship.

The opposite of work is idleness: watching too much TV, playing too many games, persisting in meaningless conversation, and sleeping when we don’t need it—wasting the time God gave us and squandering what he intended us to be.

Though we need rest and to guard against busyness, we also need to avoid the opposite.

God made us to do things: to work and to create. When we do as he intended, we sense fulfillment.

When we do so for his honor, we worship him. Then we rest.

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Tags creation, Sabbath rest, worship

Christian Living

What Do You Expect?

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date July 2, 2013

I generally expect things to work out—except when I’m traveling. Experience has conditioned me to expect the worst when I leave home.

I expect the airplane will be overbooked, the schedule delayed, or the flight cancelled. All these things have happened to me.

At the hotel, I expect they won’t have a room, will dismiss my confirmation number as meaningless, suggest I share a room with someone else, or direct me to a different hotel. All these things have happened to me, too.

When booking a recent trip, the travel site delighted me by offering a package rate for my airline and hotel. The deal was so good I almost felt guilty. I grabbed their offer but expected things wouldn’t work out.

The first sign of trouble came when checking into the hotel. The desk clerk’s easy banter soon gave way to concentration as he typed futilely on his keyboard.

Finally he called someone, talking in subdued tones about room availability. I overheard just enough to know there was a problem.

“I’m sorry, but we’re all out of the rooms you paid for.” I held my breath, expecting the worst. “So we’ll upgrade you to a suite.” This seemed like good news, but his tone suggested otherwise.

Was “upgrade to a suite” a euphemism for “we’ll stick you in a crappy room because we’re going to lose money on your package deal?”

I thanked him for the “upgrade” while wondering what “upgrade” really meant. At least I had a room. I trod down corridors of nondescript doors that surely opened to ordinary rooms.

These were not my destination. What awaited me?

Then the hallway widened. Spotlights revealed a walkup, double door entrance to a special place, one displaying my room number. I checked and double-checked.

Still unconvinced, I tried the keycard. It didn’t work. Figures. I tried the second key and on the third try, the green light flashed.

I opened the doors to a grand sight, spacious and sophisticated, something I’d only seen in movies. It took some exploring, but eventually I found the bedroom.

The whole place was bigger than our first house, elegantly furnished, boasting two bathrooms, three TVs, and a baby grand piano.

This was certainly not what I expected.

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Tags personal, travel