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Visiting Churches

Reflecting on Church #20: Worship God in Any Language

Embracing a Service in Mandarin

With our journey of visiting fifty-two churches over, I can reflect more on the complete experience. Today, I’ll add to my thoughts about Church #20.

Although I’m uncomfortable in situations where language differences make conversation hard, if not impossible, something about this church draws me. Despite not knowing Mandarin, I want to return.

52 Churches: A Yearlong Journey Encountering God, His Church, and Our Common Faith

My language limitation did not limit my worship of God. He was present and his presence enthralled me.

Experiencing the singing in Mandarin provided a time of deep worship. I wonder if this is unique to Mandarin or this congregation—or if perhaps hearing God worshiped in any language would affect me the same way.

If I do return, I’ll first ask friends to pray that I’ll be able to supernaturally understand the message.

It seems like a big, bold request to make, but God can do that, of this I’m confident. And if he doesn’t, it will still be a wonderful time because our focus will be on him regardless of the language we use.

With the Holy Spirit’s help, we can worship God despite the language or language barriers. Even if we don’t understand the words, we can still connect with the Almighty in Spirit and in truth (John 4:23).

[See my reflections about Church #19 and Church #21 or start with Church #1.]

My wife and I visited a different Christian Church every Sunday for a year. This is our story. Get your copy of 52 Churches today, available in ebook, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook.

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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Visiting Churches

Reflecting on Church #19: Having God’s Perspective

Small Churches versus Bigger Churches

With our journey of visiting fifty-two churches over, I can reflect more on the complete experience. Today, I’ll add to my thoughts about Church #19.

We’ve visited many small churches on our journey. Except for this one, all these tiny congregations desperately desired to grow numerically. But is this God’s perspective?

52 Churches: A Yearlong Journey Encountering God, His Church, and Our Common Faith

Increasing the number of people in a church is partly for survival, since a church needs to maintain a core base of people to function and pay their bills. However, striving to be larger also buys into society’s unshakable conviction that bigger is better.

Yet evaluating the significance of a church based on their size is man’s perspective. Whereas God’s perspective judges success by a different standard.

I suspect that from God’s point of view, it’s not numeric size that matters. Instead a kingdom focus—one that values unity and spiritual depth—is more important.

This pastor is one man who truly understands this. His focus is on growing the kingdom of God, not the size of his congregation. His view is so refreshing.

He wants to help all of Jesus’ church, not just one branch. We need more ministers like this and more churches with this perspective.

[See my reflections about Church #18 and Church #20 or start with Church #1.]

My wife and I visited a different Christian Church every Sunday for a year. This is our story. Get your copy of 52 Churches today, available in ebook, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook.

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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Visiting Churches

Reflecting on Church #18: More Liturgy, More Struggles

Liturgical Church Services

With our journey of visiting fifty-two churches over, I can reflect more on the complete experience. Today, I’ll add to my thoughts about Church #18.

We’ve now been to three churches with liturgical services (Church #5, 17, and 18), two of them Roman Catholic. I’ve struggled with the liturgy at all three.

52 Churches: A Yearlong Journey Encountering God, His Church, and Our Common Faith

I’m quite sure God is present, but we don’t connect. I could blame the church, the priest, or their tradition, but it’s no one’s fault but my own.

I appreciate that others are drawn to the tradition and find comfort in the ritual. I’m glad for them, but the rhythm of this practice evades me. I’m yet to find spiritual significance in liturgical services, but I’m willing to continue working at it.

Another struggle, a more critical concern is that the people arrive silently, worship subtly, and exit quickly. Without interaction, connection, or community, I leave feeling alone and isolated.

The ritual and rhythm of Catholic practices intrigue me, but the impersonal nature of their gathering discourages me.

God, may I learn how to connect with you in all settings and circumstances, including liturgical services. May my worship be sincere and true, regardless of the style of church service.

[See my reflections about Church #17 and Church #19 or start with Church #1.]

My wife and I visited a different Christian Church every Sunday for a year. This is our story. Get your copy of 52 Churches today, available in ebook, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook.

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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Visiting Churches

Reflecting on Church #17: Learning to Embrace Liturgy

A High Church Experience

With our journey of visiting fifty-two churches over, I can reflect more on the complete experience. Today, I’ll add to my thoughts about Church #17.

This high church experience gave me much to contemplate about worshiping God in a more formal, liturgical manner.

In contrast, most all of my church experiences have not been high church experiences, but low church, with little liturgy.

52 Churches: A Yearlong Journey Encountering God, His Church, and Our Common Faith

Although he was addressing prayer, I recall Jesus’ warning against “vain repetition” (Matthew 6:7 KJV).

Part of me rebels against this churches rote practices. The liturgy, the solemn ritual, and the prescribed responses all fit my understanding of “vain repetition.”

I want nothing to do with a routine, mechanical connection to God. I desire a Spirit-led directness: organic, passionate, and real.

Yet at the same time, there’s a certain rhythm to grasp—and to embrace.

Though allure of liturgy eludes me right now, I want to pursue it, not as a regular spiritual practice but as a refreshing break from my normal non-liturgical connection with God.

Liturgy can expand my relationship to God, my connection, if only I can learn how to comprehend it. This is something I need to push through and explore further so that one day I can embrace it more fully.

[See my reflections about Church #16 and Church #18 or start with Church #1.]

My wife and I visited a different Christian Church every Sunday for a year. This is our story. Get your copy of 52 Churches today, available in ebook, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook.

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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Visiting Churches

Reflecting on Church #16: If Only They Were a Friendly Church

Interaction With Others at Church

With our journey of visiting fifty-two churches over, I can reflect more on the complete experience. Today, I’ll add to my thoughts about Church #16.

There were so many things this church did right, so many things I liked about it. Yet one problem overshadowed all of that. They were not a friendly church.

52 Churches: A Yearlong Journey Encountering God, His Church, and Our Common Faith

Aside from interacting with another couple (who were also visitors), one greeter, and the two pastors, no one else of the hundreds of people present talked to us.

There was no interaction before the service, nothing during the service, and none after the service ended.

I couldn’t even make eye contact with anyone to show I was open for conversation.

Afterward I scanned the auditorium for someone who looked approachable, but I couldn’t find anybody. They just looked past me or perhaps through me as if I wasn’t there.

Most people just left, as if they’d watched a movie and it was time to go home. For those who did tarry, they focused on their friends, ignoring all others.

For all its positive elements, this church was unfriendly. I left feeling isolated and alone. They were not a friendly church. There is no call to return.

[See my reflections about Church #15 and Church #17 or start with Church #1.]

My wife and I visited a different Christian Church every Sunday for a year. This is our story. Get your copy of 52 Churches today, available in ebook, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook.

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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Visiting Churches

Reflecting on Church #15: Moving Towards Unity and Acceptance

Let’s Strive to Get Along

With our journey of visiting fifty-two churches over, I can reflect more on the complete experience. Today, I’ll add to my thoughts about Church #15.

This United Methodist Church is an outlier congregation, quite unlike the others from their denomination that we have visited. Though we enjoyed them all, this one stands out.

My happy memory of attending this church lingers. They promote unity and acceptance.

I want to return. In only a few of the 52 churches did I feel the active presence of the Holy Spirit. But in this one, I did. And he draws me back.

52 Churches: A Yearlong Journey Encountering God, His Church, and Our Common Faith

A Guide for Unity and Acceptance

I was surprised to learn there’s a charismatic element within the United Methodist Church.

Their denomination is intentional about everyone, both churches and their leaders, accepting one another despite differing views on the role and function of the Holy Spirit.

They seek mutual acceptance and shun division.

I wish all churches would adopt this attitude. The Methodist Church has even written a helpful document to offer a healthy and holistic approach to the function of the Holy Spirit and the Charismatic stream of Christianity.

It is Guidelines: The United Methodist Church and the Charismatic Movement.

It’s a great example to follow. Let’s do so.

[See my reflections about Church #14 and Church #16 or start with Church #1.]

My wife and I visited a different Christian Church every Sunday for a year. This is our story. Get your copy of 52 Churches today, available in ebook, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook.

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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Visiting Churches

Reflecting on Church #14: A Theology That Divides Jesus’s Church

Speaking in Tongues–or Not

With our journey of visiting fifty-two churches over, I can reflect more on the complete experience. Today, I’ll add to my thoughts about Church #14.

My experience at this church is an enigma.

On one side, their friendliness embraced me. Their service was energetic and appealing. I wanted more.

52 Churches: A Yearlong Journey Encountering God, His Church, and Our Common Faith

On the other side, their theological stance that speaking in tongues is a required sign to validate a true salvation experience, communicates that I didn’t belong. It serves to push me away. They have a theology that divides.

Their doctrine makes a distinction that places much of Christianity on the outside. Instead of dividing Jesus’ church with declarations he didn’t proclaim, let’s accept our differing opinions and embrace one another.

Today our church excels in making distinctions over matters that are trivial compared to the centrality of following Jesus and being his disciples. This divides the church of Jesus.

These disagreements are the reason why we have 42,000 Protestant denominations in existence today.

Instead of having a theology that divides, Jesus prayed that we would be one, that we would live in unity to best point people to his Father (John 17:21-22).

The early church functioned with one heart and mind, just as Jesus prayed. Their actions were consistent with his request that they would be one then, just as we would be one today. Jesus prayed it, and the early church did it.

Why can’t we do that too?

Unity describes what everyone of us should pursue and how every church should behave. Jesus yearns for us to be united. But over the centuries Jesus’s followers in his church have done a poor job living in unity, as one.

Instead we embrace a theology that divides the church of Jesus. Shame on us.

[See my reflections about Church #13 and Church #15 or start with Church #1.]

My wife and I visited a different Christian Church every Sunday for a year. This is our story. Get your copy of 52 Churches today, available in ebook, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook.

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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Visiting Churches

Reflecting on Church #13: Lunch After Church

Enjoying a Shared Meal

With our journey of visiting fifty-two churches over, I can reflect more on the complete experience. Today, I’ll add to my thoughts about Church #13.

If not for a prior commitment, this pastor and his wife would have invited us over for lunch. I would have enjoyed getting to know them over a shared meal.

Yet, I’m relieved it didn’t work out. I would have felt guilty receiving their generosity when we have no plans to return.

52 Churches: A Yearlong Journey Encountering God, His Church, and Our Common Faith

Such is the dilemma with only one Sunday allocated per church.

This husband and wife team inspire me in many ways. They pour themselves into the church they serve. They complement each other thoroughly. The way they mesh for a common purpose amazes me.

Their church is small and their congregation older. From a human perspective, the future is bleak. Surely the work must be discouraging.

I pray they will persevere, that God will bless their efforts and provide the strength they need to press on.

[See my reflections about Church #12 and Church #14 or start with Church #1.]

My wife and I visited a different Christian Church every Sunday for a year. This is our story. Get your copy of 52 Churches today, available in ebook, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook.

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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Visiting Churches

Reflecting on Church #12: Focus on God, Not the Minister

Make Sure That What Draws People to Your Church Is What Matters Most

With our journey of visiting fifty-two churches over, I can reflect more on the complete experience. Today, I’ll add to my thoughts about Church #12.

This United Methodist Church drew me. I wanted to make a return trip, attending for a full month. That would allow us to experience their variations of service styles.

52 Churches: A Yearlong Journey Encountering God, His Church, and Our Common Faith

However, when I learned the pastor left, I lost all interest in going back. That’s when I realized I wasn’t drawn to the church but to its leader. Her style in conducting worship had a peaceful demeanor: full of wonder and respect.

Although it’s common in our hero-worship culture, choosing a church based on the minister’s style and personality is a bad idea.

When the minister leaves, so will most of the people who attend because of him or her. The focus of our church attendance shouldn’t be on the minister, but on God.

[See my reflections about Church #11 and Church #13 or start with Church #1.]

My wife and I visited a different Christian Church every Sunday for a year. This is our story. Get your copy of 52 Churches today, available in ebook, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook.

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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Visiting Churches

Reflecting on Church #11: Charismatic Lite

With our journey of visiting fifty-two churches over, I can reflect more on the complete experience. Today, I’ll add to my thoughts about Church #11.

At this charismatic church, most of the attendees were middle-aged adults. The few youth present weren’t engaged in the worship or the message, as they measured time until they could leave.

52 Churches: A Yearlong Journey Encountering God, His Church, and Our Common Faith

This disappointed me. They lacked the supernatural fire of their parents, who seem to have failed at passing their faith unto the next generation.

When I think of charismatic, several words come to mind: passionate, alive, and free. I didn’t see much of that, which left me confused. Sadly, this scenario would repeat at some of the other charismatic churches, too.

I call this experience “charismatic lite.”

[See my reflections about Church #10 and Church #12 or start with Church #1.]

My wife and I visited a different Christian Church every Sunday for a year. This is our story. Get your copy of 52 Churches today, available in ebook, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook.

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.