Tag: faith

Will You Pray For Me?

Three Outcomes to Consider

When people ask for prayer, I’m eager to do so. Prayer is important; prayer makes a difference. God wants us to pray, and it’s part of our spiritual formation.

So when someone asks, “Will you pray for me?” I pray. Often I pray right away, either silently or out loud, depending on the situation. And I try to pray again later.

Sometimes this may be just once or twice. In other instances I feel a prompting of the Holy Spirit to intercede multiple times throughout the day or over the course of many days.

Then, after investing so much in praying for someone, I’m anxious to learn what happened. I hear one of three responses:

Yes! Often I hear glowing reports of God’s amazing answer, either exactly as we prayed or in ways beyond what we hoped. Then I breathe a prayer of thanksgiving to Jesus. God is good; I’m so glad I prayed.

No! Other times, the person is downcast. God seems to have been silent, not responding in any discernable way. I’m disappointed when this happens, but it doesn’t dissuade me from praying. I persevere.

Prayer isn’t about getting our way; prayer is about aligning our thoughts with God’s will.

Sometimes we fail to see his perspective. Navigating this is a tricky path, but it’s part of our spiritual journey; it hones our faith. I press on. I thank God that he is growing me.

What? A few times—too often, in fact—they give me a blank stare. This is something they asked me to pray about, but they forgot. It was a passing thought to them, one quickly disregarded.

I invested time, emotion, and faith into something for their sake, and God was part of that process, but they went AWOL: not joining in prayer, not listening to God’s direction, and not doing their part to move towards resolution.

I was more faithful in praying for them than they were. They didn’t follow through or keep me updated. This minimizes prayer and demeans God; it makes me sad.

At times we can be too casual when asking for prayer. While prayer should be common, it is not trivial. When we ask someone to pray for us, it is serious business; God is involved. After asking for prayer, our role is to pray, too.

Next we listen to God, and then we do our part to move towards resolution. This honors God and respects those who pray for us.

Don’t ask someone to pray for you unless you truly mean it and are willing to take part.

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 faith, faithful, prayer, Thanksgiving

Christian Living

Two Types of Church

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date March 29, 2015

Institutional Church or Organic Church

There are two types of church in the Bible, and there are two types of church today.

In the Old Testament, there is the temple. At the temple, the priests lead worship and guide the people, as instructed by God through Moses.

The Levites provide support to keep things functioning smoothly—at least that’s how God wants it to work.

Old Testament temple worship is institutional, with much structure and strict procedure.

Institutions mandate order, reward conformity, and maintain the status quo—whether it’s good or bad.

In the New Testament, the people who follow Jesus start meeting together.

They don’t have a building, so they just hang out in public places and meet in people’s homes. There are very few instructions for what they do, with little oversight in how they do it.

However, they do eat meals together, share their belongings, and encourage one another. They live in community; it is organic. New Testament church is organic.

Organic gatherings nurture spiritual growth, adapt to their environment, and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit—regardless of what’s planned or expected. Organic is, at times, also messy.

Today we see a plethora of options for church; most are institutions, few are organic. Most churches follow the pattern of the Old Testament: they have a building, paid staff, and leader-led worship; structure and procedure are their guides.

Few churches are organic, truly following the pattern of the New Testament. Though I do encounter these types of organic spiritual experiences, they aren’t frequent or regular—and they seldom happen on Sunday morning.

My wife feels it’s important to go to a church on Sunday morning; I feel it’s important to hone my faith in organic community.

If only we could do both at the same time.

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Tags church, community, faith

Christian Living

Be Careful What We Sing at Church

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 22, 2015

Be Careful What We Sing at Church

The tempo was upbeat and the song was inviting. Though new to me, I picked it up quickly. On the third time through the chorus, I started really contemplating the words—and I stopped singing.

Really, I did—right in midsentence. The words were wrong.

Though it’s technically illegal for me to quote song lyrics (and I don’t want to out an accomplished songwriter), the gist was that when things go bad, God will immediately rescue us.

I don’t see that happen very often in the Bible. Usually, God waits. I don’t often experience instant resolutions in my own life, either. Usually, he says to be patient.

Yes, God provides, and he does answer my prayers, but he does it in his own way and in his own time. Seldom are the heavy things resolved immediately.

The song paints the expectation of instant gratification. Though appealing to modern society, it’s a bad way to understand God. The song should have said that when things go bad, we need to be patient; in the end, God will come through.

That’s good teaching.

My concern is for people who base their understanding of God from the songs we sing in church. If they believe he will always immediately rescue them, as the song says, will their faith suffer a crisis when their experience is different?

When God tarries, as he sometimes does, will they give up on God and walk away?

I hope not, but I fear so.

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Tags church, faith, good music, pray, theology, worship

Christian Living

Why is Christian Community Important?

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date November 9, 2014

Consider the Importance of Church Attendance

I often write about the importance of being in meaningful community with other followers of Jesus. I also lament that churches frequently fail to provide significant community.

While many churches offer superficial community, few are able to provide a deep, nurturing, caring place. I long for this level of spiritual kinship—and right now I don’t have it.

However, I must remind myself that community isn’t the goal; it’s the means. While it’s comfortable to bask in the embrace of people who care for each other, groups with an inward focus don’t last.

They need a greater purpose. Here are three:

1. Spiritual Growth

Our spiritual community should spur us on to a deeper understanding of God, intensifying our connection with him and our interdependence. I’m not talking about another class or more Bible study.

We don’t need more knowledge; we need more experience. The result of growing spiritually is to put our faith in action, not inaction.

2. Minister to Others

Within community, we become ministers to one another. Then we move beyond our community to minister to those outside it. We teach through doing, and we model by our actions.

We learn to listen to God’s Holy Spirit, doing what he says, when he says.

He might not always make sense; it may be scary and will sometimes require risk. But God isn’t asking us to play it safe; he wants us to make a difference.

3. Serve Others

A third reason for community is as a platform for service. Through service, we demonstrate the love of Jesus to the world around us. When we serve without agenda or expectation, we surprise people by loving them as God loves us.

Though we hope to point people to Jesus through our actions, the motivation isn’t to proselytize, it’s obedience.

But, you ask, isn’t this what the church is supposed to do?

Yes, it is, and we are the church. So let’s go do this; it starts with community.

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Tags biblical Christianity, community, faith

Reviews of Books & Movies

Book Review: Revolution

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date May 9, 2014

By George Barna (reviewed by Peter DeHaan)

In Revolution, Christian futurist, George Barna deftly and convincingly communicates that our world is on the leading edge of a revolution—and that virtually everyone is oblivious to it.

Barna states that “this revolution of faith is the most significant transition you or I will experience during our lifetime,” (p 11). While this might sound like hyperbole, Barna is completely serious.

To support this conclusion, he expounds on the characteristics of those who will participate in this revolution, takes a look at the current church, details seven trends, and suggests that the future will present us with new and exciting ways of being the church.

He points out that Jesus was the ultimate revolutionary and that we in the United States can (and should) follow his example; this book shares the initial steps in doing so.

Revolution is a must read for anyone truly serious about sincerely following Jesus and who wants to make the most of this unfolding opportunity for a kingdom revolution.

[Revolution, by George Barna. Published by Tyndale Momentum, 2012, ISBN: 978-1414338972, 160 pages.]

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Tags church, faith, Jesus

Reviews of Books & Movies

Movie Review: A Time for Burning

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date April 4, 2014

Reviewed by Peter DeHaan

Shot documentary style in the 1960s, A Time for Burning captures honest, balanced, poignant, and candid insights into race issues and segregation from a different era.

In the decades since, some things have changed dramatically, while others are disappointingly the same.

The film chronicles one minister’s attempts to nudge his all-white congregation forward by encouraging simple acts of intentionality in reaching out to members of an all-black church, of the same denomination, located only a few blocks away.

The youth of each church make an initial effort by visiting each other’s church. Although the adults engage in much discussion—some hostile, others fearful, yet open—it doesn’t result in action.

In an unexpected twist the minister who pushed the idea suddenly resigns, yet the cameras continue to roll. As such, there is no satisfying end to the saga, only insight to contemplate and unanswered questions that now seem more complex.

For those who lived through the 60s, the film is a powerful reminder; for those too young to know, it is a powerful glimpse into what once was and the bias and emotion that flailed against change.

[Read more reviews by Peter DeHaan of other faith-friendly videos and movies.]

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Tags faith, spiritual growth, youth

Christian Living

Are You Spiritually Militant?

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date March 16, 2014

We Are on the Winning Side and Can Tell the Devil Where to Go

This is my second and likely last post about music from my past. First, I blogged about “I Scream Sunday” and today my topic is Stryper’s “To Hell with the Devil.”

This heavy metal tune stirs up a passion inside of me, a desire to oppose and push back the onslaught of evil. I’m not talking about evil within this world; my focus is on evil in the spiritual realm. In short, I want to be spiritually militant.

Some people diminish or dismiss the concept of an evil spiritual force, that is, the devil, a.k.a., Satan, the enemy, the deceiver, the father of lies. In a modern world, he doesn’t make sense.

After all, we can’t tangibly observe or measure him, so he must not exist. Modern-thinking people laugh him off as myth. I do not.

Other people cower in fear over his power to inflict suffering. They see him as an equal and opposing force to the goodness of God.

Instead of living in freedom, they shrink back in terror, worrying about what evil he might throw their way next. I do not.

Spiritually Militant

Yes, our spiritual enemy is real, and he is powerful. But God is more powerful. I’m on the winning side. Through his power and by his authority, I can tell spiritual evil where to go.

I can say with confidence, “To hell with the devil”—and I do, in both a figurative and literal sense. This makes me spiritually militant.

As I read the Bible, especially the book of Acts, I get a sense that God wants spiritually militant followers. He desires we walk in his power and do battle in the spiritual realm.

But too many people are content to play it safe, protected in the comfortable cocoon of complacency.

Fight the Christian status quo. Become spiritually militant. Check out the lyrics or listen/watch the song, “To Hell with the Devil”; join me in belting out the chorus.

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Tags faith, spiritual journey, spirituality

Bible Insights

Actions Speak Louder Than Words

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date March 13, 2014

Demonstrate Our Faith by What We Do

I enjoy the writing and teaching of James. His words offer concise, practical teaching about being a follower of Jesus.

James talks about the great faith of Abraham, exemplified by his willingness to kill his son Isaac in obedience to God. (Spoiler alert: It was only a test. God didn’t actually make Abraham follow through with it. See Genesis 22:1-18.)

Anyone can say they have faith, but their actions prove it. Without a tangible demonstration, the existence of faith remains in doubt. Faith is not cerebral or an introspective endeavor. In truth, our actions speak louder than words.

Faith produces activity, action that shows obedience to God and love towards others. James concludes by writing that faith-prompted action is true righteousness, that is “right living.”

We live right when we express our faith by our actions. As such, our actions speak louder than words.

[Read through the Bible with us this year. Today’s reading is James 1-3 and today’s post is on James 2:21-24.]

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Tags doubt, faith, righteous

Christian Living

Say a Bold Prayer

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date December 8, 2013

What Do You Expect When You Pray?

When you make a bold prayer, what do you expect? Do you anticipate God will answer your request, or do you brace yourself for disappointment?

More to the point, are you more surprised when your prayers are answered or surprised when they’re not?

Some people pray with little expectation and are surprised when God answers their prayers. If you’re in that camp, don’t be dismayed.

In the book of Acts, the church prayed earnestly for Peter’s release from prison—it was a bold prayer, yet they were surprised when he showed up at their door.

I’m sure their faith grew as a result and then they prayed with greater confidence.

By God’s goodness, I’m usually in the other category: expecting God to answer my prayers and shocked if he doesn’t.

That’s not to suggest I enjoy a stellar record of answered prayer, but I see enough amazing results when I pray that I expect positive answers.

But for those times when things don’t turn out as I prayed:

Sometimes I see that God had a better outcome in mind
Sometimes I accept that God’s timing is different than mine
Sometimes I realize I prayed with the wrong perspective (mine, not God’s)
And sometimes I’m just perplexed.

That’s what faith is: taking a risk, expecting the unlikely, hoping for a miracle. When God says “Yes!” we thank him—and our faith grows. And when God says “No!” we wonder why—and our faith grows.

The only time we lose is when we offer him weak, wimpy words of no real consequence or don’t even bother to pray at all. Then our faith can’t grow.

May our prayers connect us with God and increase our faith.

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Tags faith, pray, prayer

Christian Living

Thoughts on Issues of Race

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date August 27, 2013

Are We the Same or Different?

I’m so excited to guest post on a friend’s blog—and I hope you’ll find it worth your time to read it! (To make it easier, I’ll try to keep things short.)

It won’t take long for you to notice that my writing style is different from Grace’s. She writes as the free spirit she is, full of passion and spilling her heart without hesitation—or reservation. My writing is…

…read the rest of my post.

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Tags faith, spiritual growth, unity