Tag: worship

Is Liturgy an Enigma to You?

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date September 9, 2012

I grew up attending non-liturgical churches. So when I participate in a liturgical service it is an enigma to me.

While there is something that draws me to it, something mystical, almost magical, I am more so repelled by its distance, a cold aloofness that seems foreign for the God I love.

Even though things are spelled out with unmistakable precision, I feel only vague pretense. The liturgy serves to keep me from connecting with God; I am unable to engage with him and the community that is happening around me.

I could lament, “But, I don’t get anything out of it.” While that might be true, it misses the point. I wonder if simply being there is what’s important; perhaps trying to engage is the goal.

I think God is honored by my presence and with my efforts, so maybe that’s enough—for now.

Perhaps when I grow up I will eventually understand, but until then I will persist because it’s not about me and what I get out of it—it’s about God and what he gets from it.

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 liturgy, worship

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

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

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]

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Tags worship

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

Margery Kempe: A Dalliance with God

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 23, 2011

Another character in Chris Armstrong’s Patron Saints for Postmoderns is Margery Kempe. What intrigues me most about Margery is her deep connection with God. In describing her intimate prayer time, she often used the word “dalliance.”

Now dalliance does not seem like a very Godly or holy word; it means “frivolous spending of time, dawdling, playful flirtation.”

Frivolous and flirting are not words that often come to mind when pondering one’s relationship with the almighty, yet for Margery they reflected the reality of her spiritual experience.

Dalliance is far removed from the inaccurate image of many who see God as a mean, malevolent power who is just waiting to strike down his people when they stray.

Dalliance is warm and affectionate; not distant, cold, or stern as many might conceive God to be.

Prayer is so much more than reeling off “want-list” to a genie who grants wishes.

It’s about worshiping, listening, connecting, and enjoying intimacy with creator, savior, and sustainer; it can be—and perhaps should be—a dalliance with God.

As for me, I like the idea of having a dalliance with God—and I think he likes that too.

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Tags worship