Are You Living a "Sunday Only" Faith? Here’s How to Change That
Finding a Deeper Walk with Christ
Have you ever felt like your spiritual life was running on empty, even when you were doing all the "right" things? Sometimes, we crave a faith that goes beyond simple formulas—a faith that feels deeply rooted, unshakeable, and truly alive in our daily struggles.
That search for a deeper, historical foundation is what transformed the life of our guest, Dylan Pahman, PhD.
Meet Our Guest:
Dylan Pahman, PhD is the president and founder of the St. Nicholas Cabasilas Institute for Orthodoxy & Liberty and a research fellow at the Acton Institute. He is the author of The Kingdom of God and the Common Good and Foundations of a Free & Virtuous Society. With John C. Pinheiro, he is also the co-editor of The Christian Roots of American Liberty.
Growing up in an evangelical home, Dylan was taught to love Jesus—a foundation he remains deeply grateful for. But as he grew older, he wanted to know more about the believers who came before us. He didn't want a faith isolated to just himself and his Bible; he wanted to connect with his "spiritual ancestors"—the martyrs and early Church Fathers like St. Ignatius of Antioch, who literally laid down their lives for Christ.
Reading their words made Dylan realize that Christianity was a massive, beautiful family tree spanning 2,000 years. He realized that to truly grow, he needed to embrace the timeless spiritual habits that sustained believers through centuries of hardship. It wasn't about leaving Jesus behind; it was about running straight into His arms through the rich history of the Church.
When we anchor ourselves in Christ and learn from those who walked with Him before us, our personal faith shifts from a fragile idea into a solid rock.
Breathing in Grace – The Power of Sacred Habits
Life gets loud. Between work, family, and the constant buzz of our phones, anxiety can easily sneak into our hearts. Dylan Pahman experienced this firsthand during his college years when he struggled with panic attacks and overwhelming worry.
In the middle of that darkness, he discovered a practice that brought him straight to the feet of Jesus: The Jesus Prayer.
"Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner."
By matching this simple, powerful prayer with his steady breathing, Dylan found a way to quiet his mind and focus completely on the Savior. Using a small tied prayer rope (comboini) to keep track, he learned that saying a short prayer repeatedly wasn't about mindless routine; it was about breaking through life's noisy distractions until his heart was finally quiet enough to hear God.
(Breathe In) --> "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God..."
(Breathe Out) --> "...have mercy on me a sinner."
Dylan also embraced other ancient spiritual tools, like fasting, almsgiving (giving to those in need), and honest confession. For Dylan, sitting with a trusted pastor for confession wasn't scary; it was a gift of heavy loads being lifted, expert spiritual coaching, and hearing the tender assurance of Christ’s forgiveness out loud.
Jesus wants every single breath of our lives. When we build sacred habits into our daily routines, we open our hearts to His healing peace, turning our daily anxiety into silent praise.
Faith Outside the Church Walls – Living Sunday on Monday
How often do we act like Jesus only lives inside our church buildings on Sunday morning? We worship passionately for an hour, but then spend the rest of the week treating work, business, and money like they have nothing to do with God.
Dylan Pahman has spent the last 15 years at the Acton Institute dismantling that split mindset. As a research fellow and editor, his core passion is helping everyday people see how Sunday relates to the other six days of their week.
Traditional View of LifeThe Kingdom View of LifeFaith is separated into "Sacred" (Church) and "Secular" (Work).
Jesus is Lord over every detail of our lives—including business.
Work is just a paycheck to pay the bills.
Work is a holy calling to serve our neighbors.
Business is purely about profit.
Business is a tool to lift people out of poverty.
Dylan points out that God created us in His image—and because God is a Creator, human beings love to create, build, and solve problems! Through his business and institute work, Dylan teaches that starting a company, managing a team, or designing a product isn't "less holy" than being a missionary.
When we run our businesses with integrity, treat employees with dignity, and create real value for our communities, we are serving as the hands and feet of Jesus in the marketplace. Your work matters to God because the people you serve matter to God.
Servant Leadership and Lifting Up the Hurting
What does true, Christ-like leadership actually look like when life gets hard?
In his book, The Kingdom of God and the Common Good, Dylan highlights the story of St. Basil the Great, a 4th-century leader who didn't just preach from a pulpit. During a time of immense hardship, St. Basil used his own resources and education to build an entire modern complex outside his city to care for the sick, the poor, and the dying. He personally bandaged the wounds of lepers whom society had thrown away. That act of pure love created the world’s very first hospital!
Dylan’s own leadership style as president of the St. Nicholas Cabasilas Institute follows this exact model: servant leadership rooted in real, human connection.
Through his research, Dylan shows that over the past two centuries, freedom of enterprise, trade, and private property rights have helped lift billions of people out of extreme poverty. But money and government programs alone can never heal a broken heart.
Governments can pass helpful laws, but they cannot give a hurting person a hug, listen to their story, or pray for their soul. True leadership requires a personal touch. As Christians, we are called to lead with both systemic wisdom and deep, personal mercy—because every single person in poverty is someone Jesus loved enough to die for.
The Ultimate Hope – Anchored in a Promises Kept
If you look at the news today, it’s easy to feel hopeless. We see brokenness, cruelty, and economic struggles all around us. But as Christians, we don't put our ultimate trust in political leaders, stock markets, or earthly systems.
Dylan Pahman reminds us of a breathtaking image from ancient Christian writings. Imagine all of humanity as individual points placed around a big circle, with God sitting at the very center:
Point A (You) ───┐
│
▼
[ GOD ] ◄── Point B (Neighbor)
▲
│
Point C (Leader) ┘
The closer each point moves toward the center (God), the closer they naturally get to each other! When we anchor our lives in Christ, we can't help but draw closer in love, generosity, and grace to our neighbors.
We aren't promised an easy life free from hardship. In fact, history shows us that millions of believers have faced severe trials and persecution. But we hold on to the Blessed Hope: Jesus Christ is coming back to make all things new. He will refine this world, wipe away every tear, and set every wrong right.
Until that glorious day comes, let’s live with courage. Let’s pray passionately, work hard in our businesses, care for the poor, and shine the light of Christ into every dark corner of this world. Our hope isn't a wish—it’s an anchor tied directly to the throne of God..
Author: Jovilyn Abella
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“Faith is rooted in true relationship and communion with Him... all of our life needs salvation. Every single bit of life matters.”
