Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Irreverin

Home
Progressive Christian
Worshipful Living: How a Church in the Netherlands Prayed Away Deportation

Worshipful Living: How a Church in the Netherlands Prayed Away Deportation

Last updated on: February 1, 2019 at 1:22 pm by Erin Wathen

Worshipful Living: How a Church in the Netherlands Prayed Away Deportation 2019-02-01T13:22:18-07:00 Erin Wathen

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The concept of “worshipful living” is an underrated Christian practice. Most of us worship once a week (if we’re having a good week,) and while we try to model our faith every day, our usual routine doesn’t always bring us into something we would call ‘worship.’

But the way of worshipful life was a fundamental concept of the early church. It was a call to carry the life of prayer out into the community and world. Beyond a “practice what you preach” mentality, worshipful living is more about the embodied experience of faith. It means you approach everything–every word, action and interaction–as though it is an act of worship. Broadly and culturally speaking, I think we tend to file this under “a nice idea but not practical unless you happen to be a monastic desert-dweller from another century.” To our contemporary ears, it sounds idealistic at best; and at worst, sanctimonious. A pointless show of piety.

A church in the Netherlands showed us that this misconception is far from the truth. In fact, it is not only possible to worship with your whole life: it is possible to do so in a way that has nothing to do with rote appearances, and everything to do with loving your neighbor with your whole self.

A weird law in that country prohibits law enforcement from disrupting an act of worship. So when the Tamrazyans family came to the church–in danger of deportation and seeking sanctuary –the church did the only thing they knew to do: they started a worship service. And it lasted 96 days.

They weren’t going for a world record. They were just protecting their neighbors. In an epic feat that involved a rotation of over 1,000 pastors and priests–and what I can only imagine was a revolving door of worshippers– the church kept this service going for more than three months.

Can we just acknowledge that this is a baller move? This is like… nuns stealing the spark plugs out of the Nazis’ car in The Sound of Music cool. This is what church should be, all the time.

During these long days of prayer, over 250,000 people signed a petition to change the law that puts so many families at risk of being deported. Much like America, parts of Europe have experienced a recent resurgence of xenophobia, leading to a growing number of deportations. This act of faith and compassion on the part of one church shows that Christian public witness is still a thing. And it also reminds us of the call to ‘worship in all things,’ in ways that bring tangible change to the world around us.

The church finally ended its ever-lasting service this week when a stay of deportation was offered. And the offer extended not just to the one family–but applies to as many as 700 families that in similar circumstances.

Tell me prayer doesn’t change anything.

Since hearing this story I’ve wondered at many things. First of all, at the pastors that not only gave some of their time to lead this service, but also at the massive communication and organizing effort that must have gone into making sure someone was always leading. I think about how when one got tired, there was always another there–and another, and another–to be the body and voice of presence.

I’ve also wondered at the combined effort of the community to save its neighbors; I think about the members of this church, how they must have built time for presence in that sanctuary into the rhythm of their days. I think about what it must have taken not just to shelter that family, but also to feed and care for them. And I wonder how many people from the surrounding area who would never in life consider themselves ‘church-goers,’ might have wandered into that holy space for a just a moment to be part of something beautiful; to share a simple human moment that might mean new life for another family.

In so many ways, literal and otherwise, this is the body of Christ. This is faith embodied, and love made known in the flesh.

It just goes to show, for all the ways we might put “prayer” into a realm of the utterly spiritual and esoteric… well sometimes prayer really can change the world in the most literal ways imaginable. Especially if we are willing to put our whole bodies, our whole selves behind it.

progressive christianity

spirituality

worship

worship life

Previous Post

January 31, 2019

Small Things

Next Post

February 5, 2019 The Keys to Life: And the Gift of an Empty Keychain

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category a good week for progress Advent and Christmas Being a Person desert life faith and community Good News for Progressives Lent and Easter Marriage and Family S*^! Jesus Says sabbatical road tripping Spirituality in Culture Talking to Strangers the "Best Stuff I Ever Ate" diet travel Uncategorized writing Writing Prompt Wednesday

Select a Month January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 February 2011 July 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What did the Israelites take from the Egyptians as they left?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Tablets Chariots Incense Gold and silver