Category: Christian Living

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

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.

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 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.

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

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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

Christian Living

How to Pray Yourself Out of a Prayer Rut

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date November 27, 2011

People who pray on a regular basis, at some point, are likely to end up in a rut—a prayer rut. (Conversely, people who don’t pray on a regular basis may also be in a prayer rut of sorts, albeit a different kind.)

A prayer rut may be likened to trying to extricate a stuck car: the wheels are spinning, but you’re not going anywhere. Or it may feel like nothing more than vain repetition or that God isn’t listening—or worse yet, that he doesn’t care.

Whatever the cause, the associated emotions are overwhelming and the way out, seemingly impossible. I suspect that being in a prayer rut is a function of our own doing, not God’s.

When I feel my prayers are going nowhere or I privately ponder if they are a waste of time, my solution is to switch things up, to place temporary limits or goals on what I will or won’t pray.

In one particularly difficult season, I pledged that my prayers would contain no petitions for myself, only for others.

After a few weeks had passed and I felt that the runt was sufficiently behind me, I again allowed myself to make personal requests—but only for spiritual issues, not physical ones. Eventually, I removed this limit as well.

For smaller ruts, I have resorted to uttering prayers with no requests—only praises to God…or just giving thanks…or only offering confession (a particularly challenging effort).

Sometimes I use the Lord’s prayer as a template, forming a more balanced and God-centric focus. There are also times of praying without words—just listening.

Regardless, I eventually find myself no longer trapped in the rut and my prayer time with the almighty has returned to a balanced and appropriate exchange.

This gives me joy, peace, and contentment, which I suspect may be God’s perspective as well.

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

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Tags pray

Christian Living

Pray for our President—Regardless of Your Party

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date November 20, 2011

In the United States, the presidential race is well underway, with the election not until next November, almost a year away.

Most people who follow such things—and frankly, it is hard to ignore—have polarized positions about who should be our next president, rather it is to re-elect the incumbent or to elect anyone but the incumbent.

However, it’s not important how many people will vote for our president and how many will not. What is really important is how many people are praying for our president.

Yes, we need to pray for our president—and all our elected officials. But don’t pray that they will decide in favor of the issues that you support, instead pray that they will act justly, behave honorably, and promote godliness.

Pray that God will bless them, guide their decisions, and protect them and their families. Pray that God’s will may be accomplished, but don’t presume to know what it is.

Praying for our president may be easier when we agree with him, but it may be more important when we don’t.

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Tags godliness, pray

Christian Living

Why You May Be In The Top One Percent

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date November 13, 2011

I’m weary hearing about the top 1 percent, the wealthiest people in the USA. While too much has already been said about this from a political, social, and philosophical standpoint, I see it as a spiritual issue.

For most of us in the US, the bottom 99 percent, we need to guard against a spirit of envy. In fact, we should be happy (the Bible would use the word “rejoice”) for just how much the top 1 percent has gained.

Let’s not forget that we, too, have gained. But it is spirit of envy that objects to someone else who gains more than us.

For the top 1 percent in the USA, let me provide a spiritual reminder: you are blessed to be a blessing. That is, help others with your money. You don’t have to give it all away (but you could).

I’m not advocating socialism or higher taxes, but I am suggesting a spirit of generosity that continually seeks to do the most good with the money that God has allowed you to earn.

However, there is a bigger picture that we need to look at, a worldwide one. According to the website globalrichlist.com, if you make over $49,000 a year, than you are in the top 1 percent worldwide.

You are blessed and need to be a blessing to others. Don’t be envious of the few who make more; be generous to the 99 percent who make less.

Did you know that about half the world lives on less than $4 a day—and that about a billion people live on less than $1 a day?

Consider that next time you buy a gourmet coffee or rent a movie—your trivial expenditure equals the daily income of someone else.

Helping those in need is a spiritual issue, so is realizing that you are not part of the problem, but the solution.

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Tags Bible, generosity

Christian Living

Do You Enjoy Reading Psalms?

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date November 6, 2011

Many people love reading the psalms in the Bible.

They connect with the beauty and the flow of the words; they resonate with the pains, passions, and praises of the writers; it is their “go-to” place to find, express, and reveal their emotion of the moment as it emotes from daily living.

I am not one of those people.

Let me be frank. The psalms bore me to tears. I want to reach back through the passage of time and slap King David (a writer of many of the psalms) with the rejoinder, “Quit your whining.”

However, when reading the psalms in The Message—a Bible paraphrase that attempts to capture the raw, earthy nature of the original text in a comprehensible way for today’s world—I, too, become captivated by the power and honesty of it.

If, unlike me, you enjoy reading the psalms, then by all means continue to do so. Don’t let my curmudgeonly outlook spoil your joy and appreciation for this ancient text.

However, if, like me, you too struggle connecting with the psalms, then check them out in The Message—you might just find a new appreciation for them.

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Tags psalm, read the Bible

Christian Living

May We Be Refreshed By Each Other

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date October 30, 2011

This week, as I wrote out a prayer in my journal, I invited God into a time of fellowship with me, for us to commune with each other. Then I intended to ask him, “May I be refreshed by our time together.”

Instead, I felt a spiritual compulsion and at the last moment I wrote, “May we be refreshed by each other.”

I was shocked. That seemed sacrilegious. I felt I was being forward, presumptuous, and even arrogant. How could a finite being tell his creator that he intends to offer refreshment to a sovereign deity?

So I asked him.

His answer was quick. “I am refreshed by the things you think.”

I was reminded to “take captive every thought” and think about whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable (2 Corinthians 10:5 and Philippians 4:8). If God is to be refreshed by what I think, then what I desire to do is no small task.

By extension, I don’t think our opportunities to delight the divine are limited by what we think, but also by what we say and by what we do. These, however, are not to be tasks of obligation or duty, but rather acts of love.

May our thoughts, our words, and our actions be pleasing to God and refresh his spirit.

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

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Tags pray, spiritual journey

Christian Living

Do You Struggle With Church Attendance?

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date October 23, 2011

Much of my life I have struggled with going to church. It’s not that I’ve been in a crisis of faith, but more a crisis of religion—or, as some would call it, religiosity.

Church attendance has not been faith confirming for me as much as faith confounding.

My spiritual journey and growth happen largely in the 167 hours each week that I am not attending church, while the one hour that I am there is more of an anomaly to pursuing a holistic life with God at the center.

If I approach church attendance as a consumer—which is what largely happens in the United States today—I would look for the one with the best music and messages.

However, given that even better music and messages can be found online and consumed at any time, there is little reason to hop in my car in search of them on Sunday morning.

Next, there is the idea of community. The Bible tells us to meet together. I have met many people at church and have numerous acquaintances who I enjoy seeing each week.

But for the vast majority of them, our relationship is limited to one hour on Sunday, so my friendships there are mostly shallow.

As I have shared my consternation with a few trusted friends, they have offered some ideas of why I should attend church each week.

Their sage suggestions boil down to focusing on others: to help, encourage, serve, and be an example. I am happy to do so—which is why I continue to attend.

I am pleased to give to others, but I am also aware that I, too, need encouragement and support—it’s just that I will need to find it somewhere other than at a Sunday church service.

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Tags church, religious

Christian Living

Be True to Our Calling

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date October 16, 2011

I just returned from a writers conference. It was a rewarding and informative time in learning about the art—and business—of writing well.

In the closing presentation, our speaker astutely noted that some of us write fiction and some non-fiction; some write for the Christian market and some for the general market—and that’s okay.

As writers, we need to be content with the area and genre that God has provided for us, not wishing to be writing something different and not pining for the success of others or the opportunities afforded them.

The same is true with our spiritual journeys. We are each on our own path and it is unwise to wish for be like someone else instead of who God has called us to be.

We may not pray as much as someone else or comprehend biblical truth like our best friend.

Others may be better at telling others about Jesus or more confident in reaching out to those who are hurting, but if that is not who God created us to be, it is foolish to falsely pursue those things—and disrespectful to God and the person he made us to be.

Whether it is writing or our faith journey, it is not wrong to want to improve and to grow; in fact, it is admirable and advisable.

However, to compare ourselves with others, diminishing who we are or what we do in the process, is little more than dismissing God’s provision and missing his plan for us.

We need to be content with where we are and stay true to our calling.

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

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Tags biblical Christianity, pray, spiritual growth, spiritual journey, writing