Category: Christian Living

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

Show Me Your Worship

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date June 26, 2011

Two weeks ago, I asked what is worship? I acknowledged that for many people, worshiping God is singing songs to him or about him. To some, worshiping God may be no more watching other people sing.

For me, worshiping is seldom about singing. Raised in a church that exclusively used a pipe organ to play songs that resembled a funeral dirge, I long ago was conditioned to mentally disengage when the music started.

Even though the instruments have been updated to drums and guitars and the plodding hymns have been replaced by upbeat tunes, I still zone out while others are worshiping God via music.

For me, I worship God by serving and helping others.

I’m reminded that Jesus’ brother James, in debating the issue of faith versus good deeds, said, “Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.”

I’d like to borrow that thought and restated it to: Show me your worship with music, and I will show you my worship without music.

Thankfully, there are many ways to worship God.

[James 2:18]

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 worship

Christian Living

Life’s Not Fair

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date June 19, 2011

What Are You Going to do About It?

How often have you heard someone exclaim, “It’s not fair!”?

This lament seems especially prevalent among children and teens. When this complaint is voiced to their parents, the typical response—be it sage or sadistic—is “Life’s not fair.”

It’s true; life’s not fair—and I, for one, am glad.

If life were fair, then we would all go to hell. As less than perfect beings, we all do wrong things upon occasion, some more frequently than others.

As a result, we deserve punishment from a holy and just God; we all deserve to go to hell. Justice demands punishment.

Fortunately, life is not fair. The God of the Bible offers mercy to those who follow him. Though fairness demands hell, an eternal death, those who follow Jesus receive something else: heaven, an eternal life.

Thank you God for not being fair, for offering us mercy and grace instead.

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Tags follower of Jesus, heaven, hell, Jesus

Christian Living

What is Worship?

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date June 12, 2011

When I drive by a church there’s usually a sign telling when they meet. The word “worship” often come right before it.

While I fully understand what they mean, I’m more than a bit troubled by the gross misuse of that word.

Stating that worship is at 10 a.m. on Sunday, sends the strong message. It implies the other 167 hours of the week are times for non-worship. This idea of segregating the spiritual from the secular is an anathema to what God desires and intended.

If we truly love him, then we’re to worship 24/7. There should never be a time when we don’t worship him.

That, then, begs the question, “What is worship?”

Despite the preceding implication that worship is synonymous with the Sunday service, for many people worship is no more than a time of singing songs about God (or perhaps watching other people sing songs about God).

Sometimes a minister says, “Let’s worship God by giving our tithes and offerings.” I see generosity as a form of worship. But I’m turned off by the fact that the only time I hear the word worship is when someone’s asking for money.

The Bible says we’re to worship God in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). I love it!

I think this means we’re to worship God in all things, in all ways, and at all times. There is no spiritual time and non-spiritual time; it’s all spiritual. If everything is spiritual, then everything should be worship.

Worshiping God in all we do may mean they’re some things we need to stop doing, places we need to stop going, and words we need to stop saying.

You may opt to attend a church service on Sunday morning at 10 o’clock, but true worship can’t be scheduled and never ends.

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Tags love, worship

Christian Living

Apophatic Prayer or Kataphatic Prayer?

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date May 29, 2011

A friend recently introduced me to two highfalutin, but insightful phrases: Apophatic Prayer and Kataphatic Prayer.

Kataphatic Prayer is praying using words, thoughts, and images.

Apophatic Prayer is prayer without words, thoughts, and images.

Another explanation—often credited to Eugene Peterson, but which I’ve not yet confirmed—is that Apophatic Prayer is praying with your eyes closed, while Kataphatic Prayer is praying with your eye open.

Here’s how I comprehend it. Do you have a close friend, with whom you are comfortable just being with each other? Where words are superfluous?

Where silence is not an uncomfortable torture? So it is with God when we approach him apophatically.

While some assert that Apophatic Prayer is higher than Kataphatic Prayer, I view them as complementary.

Just as a good relationship could never exist devoid of words (apophatic)—instead requiring verbal communication (kataphatic) in order to persist—so it is with us and God.

It is wonderful when we can transcend the tangible, but to remain there exclusively will ultimately serve to diminish our relationship with the almighty.

The right response to the question posed in this post’s title is Apophatic and Kataphatic. Good prayer—and a right relationship with God—requires both words and silence.

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Tags prayer

Christian Living

The Mystery of Fasting

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date May 8, 2011

Fasting, after falling out of favor, is being reclaimed as a viable spiritual discipline. While I admit to regularly fasting, I also admit to being regularly perplexed by its practice.

Fasting is simply going without something (usually food) for a time to draw closer to God.

When I fast, this does happen, but I’m not sure why. In a theoretical sense, when I fast, my craving for food (a physical need) heightens my craving for God (a spiritual need).

While I comprehend this, it explains little.

My fasts are from food, usually for 24 hours; I endeavor to do this weekly. Occasionally God has told me to cut my fast short and a few times he has prompted me to extend it (and once or twice, I bailed midway through).

When I fast, the times I would normally spend preparing and eating a meal are reallocated to spiritual activities, such as praying, meditating, journaling, or simply listening.

At times this is an effort, but usually it is a significant spiritual experience. As such, I generally approach my weekly fast with joyful expectation.

Here are some of the things I’ve learned about fasting over the years:

Fasting is not about earning spiritual Brownie points; it is not about manipulating God or getting his attention.
Fasting is best done with little fanfare and not to gain the “respect” of others. I only let people know I am fasting if it will be an encouragement to them (which is why I’m blogging about it) or to explain why I’m not eating when they are.
For me, fasting also has side benefits (I am more productive when I fast and I lose weight), but whenever the side benefits become the focal point, the fast loses its spiritual power.
The hardest part of my fast is ending it well; that is, not overeating at its conclusion.

Despite my frequency of fasting and the significant spiritual aspect, it is still largely a mystery to me.

Nevertheless, I will persist in it because it more fully connects me to God than when I don’t fast.

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Christian Living

Let’s Get Together: Celebrating Community

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date May 1, 2011

Spend Intentional Time with Other Faith Seekers and Fellow Spiritual Pilgrims

Instead of celebrating community, in the individualistic society in which we live, most who pursue spiritual things do so in an individualistic manner—by themselves.

This is not good, and it is not wise.

Living the spiritual life is best accomplished in conjunction with others. The benefit of a collective perspective helps to protect us from making errors in judgment and reaching unwise conclusions.

Although a group consensus is not a guarantee of a sound comprehension of God, its combined input is a tremendous tool in discovering truth.

As you set to convene a cadre of spiritual seekers, avoid a leader-centric group, and instead seek an egalitarian gathering.

Unfortunately, we seldom accomplish this in a traditional church setting, which is one reason why some have given up on that practice.

Your spiritual gathering doesn’t need to meet in a church building or assemble on a Sunday morning. It can happen any day or time and can occur at someone’s home, at a coffee shop, or even a bar.

The pursuit of a spiritual life is a journey, one that is best suited and more fully enjoyed in the company of others. Attempting to travel this road on your own can result in getting lost or heading in the wrong direction.

Instead, the solution is community. Jesus lived in community. The Holy Trinity lives in community. God wants to be in community with us, and he created us to desire community with each other.

That’s why it’s important to never stop celebrating community.

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Tags biblical Christianity, church, community

Christian Living

Does Ritual Have Any Value?

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date April 17, 2011

A byproduct of my spiritual formation is a disdain for ritual. To me, a ritual is a meaningless religious activity that is mechanically performed; it is an empty ceremony and a mindless habit, devoid of substance.

This perspective is due in part to what I read in the Bible, where God repeatedly criticizes his followers for their meaningless rituals.

I don’t think he was attacking their rituals, however, but their attitude behind them; after all, much of the Old Testament Law prescribed ritual.

The other reason for my dislike of ritual is that I was always repelled whenever I was expected to participate in one.

It may be that I see rituals as a relic of the past, something that Jesus freed me from—or it may be nothing more than a rebellious spirit.

I am even resistant to the traditional mealtime prayer because it is so hard to keep it from becoming a requisite and meaningless habit that must legalistically precede the proper ingestion of food.

However, I also know that, unlike me, many people find a spiritual ritual to be an inspiring and meaningful act. Perhaps this is why some churches have a liturgical service and others do not. Different strokes for different folks.

Despite my dislike of ritual, a friend recently pointed out that I have, in fact, adopted my own rituals, which I call spiritual disciplines.

For example, I usually end and begin each day with prayer; I regularly have a time of daily Bible reading and contemplation, and I generally fast one day each week.

These are my rituals, they aren’t done mindlessly, and they do hold meaning for me.

They have become a significant part of my spiritual formation and growth.

So, when done right, rituals are valuable after all.

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Tags fasting, follower of Jesus, pray, ritual, spiritual discipline

Christian Living

The First Step is Recognizing Our Need for God

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date April 3, 2011

The Twelve Step program, developed by Alcoholics Anonymous to help people struggling with alcohol addiction, has been extended to address a wide range of destructive, compulsive behaviors.

Key applications include drugs, food, sex, gambling, and smoking.

The Steps aptly apply to spiritual issues, too. Whatever the situation, be it a compulsion, a habit, a temptation, a struggle, a worry, or a distraction, the underlying premise of the 12 Steps provides the right focus.

Essentially, it’s realizing we can’t deal with it on our own, and we need God’s help to see long-term victory. We have a need for God to deal with our issues. Whatever they may be.

Whatever we want to change about ourselves, there’s a limit to how much we can accomplish by our own will and strength.

While God has the power to immediately remove issues and struggles from our lives—and I’ve seen it happen—often it is a slower process. It takes time, one day at a time.

It is frustrating for God to not immediately remove something from our lives when we ask, but I wonder if the main point might just be the journey.

Perhaps he wants us to learn something and mature as we move down our path to freedom. If he granted instant success, we would miss whatever lesson he has awaiting us.

Regardless if the resolution is immediate or a process, the beginning step is to realize it’s beyond us, and we need God’s help.

All of us have a need for God.

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Tags God

Christian Living

What’s Your Motivation for Holy Living?

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date March 20, 2011

Lately God has been prodding me through his Word and his Spirit to pursue a more holy lifestyle. To me, holy living means right living, what God calls righteousness.

Sometimes I make progress towards fulfilling this call, but most times not so much. I’m okay with that; I’m on a journey and the important thing is to be making progress. What I am not okay with is my attitude.

To my chagrin, during my moments of better behavior I have increased expectations of God. I act as if he owes me something, that I deserve his provision and blessing, and that I’ve earned his attention.

However, when I fail in my pursuit of holy living—as is often the case—I have no such expectations. Whatever God does for me—which is a lot—I receive with great joy and much appreciation.

Pursuing a holy life should be because God asks us to and as a response to his love for us. Acting holy simply to get something from him is just wrong.

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Tags Bible, holy, love, righteous

Christian Living

Are You a Theologian?

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date March 13, 2011

A friend recently insulted me; he called me a theologian. What gall. I know he meant it as a compliment, but I was taken aback.

To me, a theologian is someone who intellectualizes God, sucking all the life and vitality from who he is and turning him into something dry, boring, abstract, and inaccessible.

I’ve heard these people speak, and I’ve read their writings—and I want nothing to do with them or the religious thought they represent.

When I hear “theologian,” the phrase “whitewashed tombs” comes to mind. Regarding this, Jesus said,

“What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law…for you are like whitewashed tombs—beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people’s bones and all sorts of impurity,” (Matthew 23:27, NLT).

I am understandably turned off by that perception of the word theologian.

However, consider that theology simply means “the study of God.” Therefore, a theologian must be “one who studies God.” In that respect, perhaps I am part theologian—at least in a practical, non-theoretical sense.

But even more important than being one who studies God, however, is to be one who loves God, one who knows God, and one who follows God.

That’s how I’d prefer to be known.

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Tags follower of Jesus, purity, theology