Category: Christian Living

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

Not Going to Church

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 5, 2012

I think it was Reggie McNeal who first said, “People…are not leaving the church because they have lost their faith. They are leaving to preserve their faith.”

That statement may be shocking—even heretical—to some, but I suspect that for many it is enlightening, effectively explaining declining church attendance, albeit in a disconcerting and confronting manner.

For a growing number of folks, this quip either gives voice to the ache in their hearts or offers credence to their faith journey.

When I first heard this statement, it immediately resonated with me, explaining spiritual angst that I saw around me. Today, however, my comprehension of this idea has grown to underscore my own spiritual angst.

Though I still attend an institutional church, I suspect that I no longer belong there.

An amazing friend is seeing this played out. Increasingly she is meeting those who love Jesus, but no longer “go to church.”

Although they long for meaningful community and connection with other like-minded believers, they do not find it in the typical Sunday morning church service—so they give up.

How sad.

However, there are a growing number of viable alternatives. For my friend, it is a house church.

For others it may be a “small group,” a parachurch organization, or simply an intentional meeting with others who share their faith journey or faith questions.

To the disenfranchised, I encourage you not to give up. Keep seeking until you find the spiritual community that your heart longs for. It is out there.

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 church, church attendance, house church, small group

Christian Living

Where is the Tree of Life?

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date January 29, 2012

Lately I’ve been meditating on the phrase “tree of life.” It occurs in only three books of the Bible: Genesis, Revelation, and Proverbs.

In Genesis, we find the tree of life in the garden of Eden, while in Revelation the tree of life is mentioned in the book’s concluding chapter, which addresses the new heaven and the new earth that will be created once all things have been made right.

Some people see the tree of life as a reference to Jesus, be it symbolically or literally. He was there at creation and will be there at the culmination of all things.

Proverbs puts a different twist on tree of life, preceding it with an indefinite article, as in a tree of life. According to Proverbs, a tree of life is:

Wisdom (Proverbs 3:13-18)
The fruit of righteousness—that is, the results of doing good (Proverbs 11:30)
A longing fulfilled (Proverbs 13:12)
A tongue that brings healing (Proverbs 15:4)

Is there a connection between this list (a tree of life) and Jesus (the tree of life)? Perhaps the link is that those who follow Jesus will become more like him, exemplifying these, and other admirable, characteristics.

While we will never be the tree of life, I think that we can be a tree of life; we will never be the Christ (the Messiah), but we can become a Christ or “little Christs,” that is, someone who is a Christian in actual practice.

Then, as a tree of life, we can effectively point people to the tree of life.

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

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Tags life

Christian Living

Meditating on God

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date January 22, 2012

The word meditate is a verb. Verbs are action words; they are doing words. To mediate means to reflect on; to contemplate; to think about something deeply (especially spiritual matters).

I often meditate on what God tells me in the Bible and through his Spirit.

The result of one such season of meditation culminated in some insight that I passed on in my post, “God is Omni.” In it I shared three characteristics of God and made three corresponding conclusions about our relationship to him.

Interestingly, the first two conclusions occurred to me quite quickly, while the third did not show up for several months.

During that time, I would periodically meditate the three “omni” characteristics of God and the two insights he had given me, pondering—meditating—on what I was sure would be a third insight. Then one day, God revealed it to me.

Had I not been meditating on it, I am quite sure it would have remained hidden. More recently I began meditating on the phrase “tree of life.” I will share more about that next week, as I continue to cogitate—that is, meditate—on it.

When I was meditating on God’s “omni” characteristics, it was generally for less than a minute at a time, but occurred almost every morning.

Then one day the sought after insight was suddenly given. Other times, I will meditate while in prayer, asking God for his input—and then listening.

On still other occasions, I jot down ideas that I revisit from time to time, adding any new thoughts that have been revealed. Lastly, I meditate by writing, be if for a book, a blog, an article, or a journal entry.

However, regardless of the form that my meditations may take, the eventual result is always a deeper and more fuller understanding of God.

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Tags meditate, prayer

Christian Living

Not Doing What I Want to Do

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date January 15, 2012

My typical day is divided between three activities: writing, job, and personal (which includes work around the house and leisure pursuits). To make matters more complicated, each of these three tasks takes place at home.

Sometimes I am self-disciplined enough to attend to each undertaking in its apportioned time, but not always.

I too often find myself wanting to do work when I should be writing, wanting to do household projects when I should be working, and wanting to write or work when it is time for household tasks. (And leisure activities always tugs on my time.)

Given this, some might label me a malcontent or simply bad at time management, but I resist those assessments.

To me my malady is merely human nature. And given my assessment that all things are spiritual, this becomes a spiritual issue.

Succinctly, will I use the time God has given me to its widest and fullest potential or will I squander it with undisciplined disdain?

My dilemma reminds me in something that the Apostle Paul said. In writing to the people in Rome, he agonizes over a similar quandary, noting that he doesn’t do what he wants to do and does do what he doesn’t want to do.

His answer to this struggle is simple: Jesus.

[Romans 7:15-25]

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Tags Jesus, Paul, sin

Christian Living

Where is Church?

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date January 8, 2012

Where is Church?

Over the holidays I reconnected with a valued friend. Although our paths had diverged for a couple of years, we easily picked up where we left off. We talked about writing and family and faith—and eventually, church.

He had taken a time-out from attending, only recently returning for the sake of his kids. After bouncing around a bit, he eventually “settled” on one.

He says it’s okay. He likes the pastor and the people are nice, but he longs for more than “surface” relationships.

Given my own questions about church (see Church Attendance and Spiritual but not Religious), I had mostly kept silent, but when he mentioned a longing for deep connection, I simply said, “Like this.”

We agreed that our Tuesday morning restaurant meal had more spiritual significance than what we normally experience on Sunday mornings.

This is church, I thought—except that the words also tumbled out of my mouth. He nodded, though I know not if out of politeness or agreement.

While I appreciate that many bristle at the suggestion that church could happen during the week, in a restaurant, without a pastor, and sans music or sermon—I do know the God was there with us.

Another of my “church” experiences is my twice-monthly volunteering at the local food pantry. There I worship God through my acts of service to those who Jesus said we are to help. There I fellowship with others as we work together.

Though we come from different churches—and no churches—we are there forming relationships, helping others, and being united as one “church”—just like Jesus prayed (John 17:23).

So I went to church last Tuesday and then on Saturday. I will go again this Sunday. But I’m sure my Sunday experience won’t match what I relished on Tuesday and Saturday.

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Tags church, poor, worship

Christian Living

Is New Years a Spiritual Experience?

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date January 1, 2012

Make This Year Different Than Last

Christmas is (or at least, should be) a spiritual event. It is a grand celebration of Jesus. In my prior post, Reimagining Christmas, I encouraged a reclamation of the day’s true meaning and making it a spiritual experience.

Now, seven days hence, another holiday is upon us: New Year’s Day and by implication, a new year.

Is New Years a spiritual experience? For most the answer is “no,” but I think that there is meaningful significance that can be gained from this day as well.

For many, New Years is a time of making resolutions, of implementing changes with the intent of fostering a better or more fulfilled life.

While I don’t want to dissuade anyone from this practice and reaping the benefits—assuming that the resolutions are actually kept—I do want to suggest an even better approach.

Instead of waiting until January 1 to change a habit, introduce a new one, or remove a bad one, why not make changes throughout the year as the opportunity arises?

Why accumulate a list of resolutions for the new year, when incremental improvement can be made throughout the year?

Although I typically forgo New Year’s resolutions, I do use this time of year as an opportunity for annual goal setting.

(Although some may see little difference between making a resolution and setting a goal, I do. A resolution focuses on activity, while a goal addresses outcome.)

Goal setting can (and should) have spiritual ramifications, achieving things that will produce lasting and significant differences in your life, your family and friends, your community, and your world.

With that in mind, I sincerely wish you a happy, prosperous, and wonderful new year.

Happy New Year!

Do you like this post? Want to read more? Check out Peter’s book, Bridging the Sacred-Secular Divide: Discovering the Spirituality of Every Day Life, available wherever books are sold.

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Tags holiday

Christian Living

Why We Need to Reimagine Christmas

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date December 25, 2011

Like most people, I have expectations for Christmas: spending time with family and friends, giving gifts, reaching out to others, enjoying festive food at advent gatherings, and so forth.

Much of my Christmas spirit is triggered by sights, sounds, and smells that conjure up happy memories of Christmases past.

What if we were removed to another culture that knew nothing of Christmas, that offered none of the customs that we are familiar with and lacked the resources needed to replicate the Christmas sights, sounds, and smells of our traditions?

What if we needed to essentially start over in establishing the celebration of Christmas? What would we jettison? What should we adapt to the reality of our new culture? What could we interject that has been missing or lacking?

Although few of us will ever be relocated to a culture that knows nothing of Christmas, it still might be a good idea to seriously contemplate these questions, essentially reconfiguring how we do Christmas so that it is more meaningful and has fewer superficial expectations.

Christmas, at its roots, is a spiritual celebration. We would be well-advised to reclaim those roots, to reimagine Christmas in a fresh and new way.

Celebrate Christmas in a fresh way with The Advent of Jesus. It’s a forty-day devotional that prepares our hearts to celebrate the arrival of Jesus in an engaging read. Begin your Advent journey now and gain a greater sense of wonder for the season.

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

Tags Christmas, holiday

Christian Living

Worship God in Spirit and in Truth

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date December 18, 2011

Learn How to Worship God in the spirit and in truth.

My wife once scored us great seats at a concert, front row and centered. I was elated.

Not only would we have the closest possible view, but there would be no one standing in front of me, so I could remain comfortably seated the entire show.

The Concert

But when the concert began, everyone stood—and so did I.

When the music commenced, everyone began clapping and moving with the beat. Being severely rhythmically challenged, I was dismayed, but felt obligated to try to do what everyone else was doing.

Not able to pick up the beat, I looked out of the corner of my eye for someone with a good sense of rhythm, timing my clapping to match theirs. Then I tried to make my body move like everybody else.

Three songs into the concert, I was mentally spent by trying to keep up my charade—and was completely missing the concert!

So I decided to not follow the crowd, but instead direct my full attention to the performer. I sat down and thoroughly enjoyed the rest of the show.

At Church

Sometimes I’m in that predicament at church. There are expectations to do what everyone else is doing and behave a certain way, but in doing so, I may take my focus away from worshiping God.

If we are to truly worship God “in spirit and in truth” as the Bible says (John 4:23-24), sometimes we may need to not do what everyone else is doing.

This might mean sitting while others are standing—or vice versa—praying while others are singing, raising hands even if you are the only one, and so forth.

Real worship is about connecting with God. Doing so honestly (“in truth”) means to follow his leading (“in spirit”) and not the crowd.

May we truly worship God in the Spirit and in truth.

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Tags worship

Christian Living

Who is Joachim of Fiore?

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date December 11, 2011

Why is He Important?

I recently happened upon an interesting understanding of time from Joachim of Fiore, of the past, present, and future. It identifies three major eras of the God who is revealed in the Bible.

From the perspective of medieval Christendom—as exemplified by Joachim of Fiore—history is prophetically divided into three eras, each lasting two thousand years.

There is the past age of the Father, with a primary emphasis of God the Father (circa 2000 to 0 BCE).
There is the present age of the Son, with a primary focus on Jesus, the Son of God (circa 0 to 2000 CE).
And there will be a future third age of the Spirit, with the primary attention given to the movement and influence of the Holy Spirit, (circa 2000 to 4000 CE).

Although medieval man, Joachim of Fiore saw the age of the spirit as the distant future, today’s followers of God are able to experience it as the nascent present.

A significant change is occurring in the workings of God—and we have a front-row seat.

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Tags Holy Spirit, prophecy

Christian Living

Are You Spiritual But Not Religious?

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date December 4, 2011

An increasing number of people say that they are “spiritual but not religious.” For some this is merely a trendy thing to say, but beyond making them sound hip and appear insightful, it is an empty platitude.

For others, claiming to be “spiritual but not religious” is an attempt to abdicate responsibility for their behavior and their soul. It is nothing more than a highfalutin way of saying, “leave me alone, and let me do my own thing.”

However, for most, a desire to be “spiritual but not religious” is a sincere yearning for more.

It simultaneously dismisses the institutions spawned by earlier practitioners of their faith and acknowledging that the actions and attitudes of many “religious” people are indeed wanting.

Formal religion is out. A personal, relevant faith is what they seek.

For Christians, this sentiment can be summarized by “We like Jesus, but not the church.” It is true that many people admire Jesus, but the institutions that his followers created leave them cold.

They inherently sense that there is a better way—and they desperately want to find it.

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Tags Jesus, religious