JJL Posted March 23, 2009 Report Share Posted March 23, 2009 This is the view from just South of our sleepy little town. Last Saturday at men's prayer meeting our Pastor raised an interesting point. Everyone who live's here hunts-fishes-hikes-kayaks-snowmobiles-ski's-ice climbs..........etc. It's a great part of the world if you enjoy the outdoors. His point was simply this: " Do you worship the Creation..........or the Creator ??? Pretty intriguing when you think about it. We spend alot of time outdoors enjoying God's Creation. But, it's just that........a Creation. Nothing more than trees, rocks, deer and elk. It's the CREATOR that's important. If you think that sitting in the woods is communing with God, guess again. You're communing with nature. You want to commune with God you might need to get to "His House". He's with you always............maybe it's time to pay him a visit "at home". God Bless You JJL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toddyboman Posted March 24, 2009 Report Share Posted March 24, 2009 great point......thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted March 24, 2009 Report Share Posted March 24, 2009 He's with you always............maybe it's time to pay him a visit "at home". God Bless You JJL Yep, He sure is Jim, and you can always talk to Him where ever you are without any pastor or preacher present. Think to be honest what matters most is where your heart and mind are and in accepting Christ as your saviour, not where you are in regards to a physical building, after all church if I am not mistaken has been also defined as any gathering of two or more to worship, not necessarily a physical building. Think too that some folks have the false assumption that by going to a building that they somehow secure their place or are saved because of where they are physically. Safe and also sad to say there can be folks who are inside a church building everytime the doors are open for service and those same persons still may not have faith. Sad reality that those actors fool only themselves. I am of the belief that I can thank God and talk to Him or study His word at any time and anywhere(kind of like an open door policy); if I choose to do that in nature in the quiet alone or in my living room with family or with some folks at a nursing home who are unable to make it to a place of worship called a "church" or in a building full of folks listening to someone preach to me, that is a relationship between myself and God. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoosierbuck Posted March 25, 2009 Report Share Posted March 25, 2009 Another follow-up to the whole notion of getting close to God by enjoying his creation is that it does not bring focus onto Christ. A very important part of the picture, since, "None come to the Father but by Me." HB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoosierbuck Posted March 25, 2009 Report Share Posted March 25, 2009 Another follow-up to the whole notion of getting close to God by enjoying his creation is that it does not bring focus onto Christ. A very important part of the picture, since, "None come to the Father but by Me." HB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJL Posted March 25, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 25, 2009 The Building is just a Building. It's the congregation that makes up the body of the church. Interaction within this body is what makes us fully develop as Christians. The active group of Christians that are here at RT Forums could be considered a Church. Our interaction and sharing of experiences allow us to grow and develop in Christ. When we interact with others we open our lives and souls to the things that change us and allow us to mature in Christ. Becoming an active an open member of a "Church" is a great way of accomplishing this. For a person to say that they study the Bible at home therefore they are developing as a Christian, is comparable to someone who says that they are watching all of the Star Wars films in order to become an Astronaut...........It just doesn't work that way. We need others to help us grow. Attending Church is the best means to do this. It doesn't matter what denomination, find one you like, one that makes you smile, and GO. You'll be amazed at the sudden surge of growth you'll experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckee Posted March 25, 2009 Report Share Posted March 25, 2009 I love communing with the Lord outdoors. It can be compared to your prayer closet, where you secretly (between you and God) talk with the Lord. remember when John the Baptist went into the wilderness to talk with the Lord, and other great men of the bible. Jesus himself went into a garden to be alone and talk with his Father in heaven. I agree Jim that just sitting in the woods and enjoying Gods beautiful creation is not communing with the Lord, but when you bow your head, and pray to him while in those same surroundings, you are most definitely communing with the Lord, and not his creation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
okiedog Posted March 25, 2009 Report Share Posted March 25, 2009 That view makes me want to pack up and move! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted March 25, 2009 Report Share Posted March 25, 2009 Oh I get the point Jim, however I have to disagree that a person who chooses to spend time in the outdoors and use that time as your preacher suggests is somehow worshipping the creations and not the creator. I think it is possible a person can get away from all the craziness and really focus well when they are in the solitude of God's creation and better reflect on what they are truly thankful for or have a close personal relationship with God, probably much more so than sitting in an uncomfortable pew surrounded by people who you may not really know as well as you think you do while listening to someone else give you a message. I also would have to ask you, if you take more away from sitting in a church listening to a man preach or if you get more out of discussions. My personal experience, I have always gotten more out of discussions or interaction than I have just listening, that is just me. Bible study or Sunday school classes or even a discussion sink in better for me than a service in most cases. That is not to say that I have not been moved by services because I most certainly have, however I think there are some folks out there who simply do not benefit as much from a typical Sunday service as what they would worshipping in a fashion that suits them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heavy Metal Posted March 25, 2009 Report Share Posted March 25, 2009 We spend alot of time outdoors enjoying God's Creation. But, it's just that........a Creation. Nothing more than trees, rocks, deer and elk.Don't you find this statement....contradictory. Well, maybe not contradictory, I'm not sure what the word I'm looking for is but I don't think you can look at that picture, say "God's" creation and then say "it's just that.....a Creation. Nothing more than trees, rocks, deer and elk." No, it's God's creation and it is magnificent! And all of it speaks of his glory, IMHO. A couple thoughts in my mind (SCARY I KNOW:D): Jesus said to the pharisies who were upset by the disciples outward praises "Luk 19:40 And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out." Paul also wrote, speaking of Christ: Col 1:13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed [us] into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, [fn] the forgiveness of sins. 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. AND THEN FARTHER DOWN IN THAT SAME CHAPTER Col 1:22 yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach-- Col 1:23 if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister. These verses are interesting reminders of how important all of creation is and what creation represents. It represents the creator. I guess my feeling in a nutshell is that I would think it impossible for a believer (at least myself) to be out in nature and NOT commune with God. And my feeling is, even if a person isn't actively speaking with God while outdoors, nature is still crying out to his Glory regardless. I whole heartedly agree with the notion that man is sinful and has and will continue to worship anything other than the creator. Absolutely. Egyptians did it, Greeks did it and on and on even to todays world and fabricated religions. And tree stand time or tee-time for that matter is no substitute for church and the body of Christ. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitetail Freak Hunter Posted March 25, 2009 Report Share Posted March 25, 2009 Love the topic - You know my son has not been attending church, and we had a talk. He said, dad my friends are telling me I don't need church to talk to God. I told him, your right, you don't. But I asked him, to stop eating physical food for a whole week. He looked at me strange and said, he couldn't do it. I asked him why? He said, Dad I would get so week from lack of food. Well son, the same rule applies to us, when we forsake gathering together to get fed spiritual food, and 7 days without the Lord makes one weak. I told him that I noticed his language, that it was so easy for him to throw F bombs etc. You know there is plenty of time to get into the out doors and enjoy what God made for us to enjoy, but I like to devote my time when worshiping God, to do so in His house and gather with all my other brother and sisters that are there as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heavy Metal Posted March 26, 2009 Report Share Posted March 26, 2009 love the topic - you know my son has not been attending church, and we had a talk. He said, dad my friends are telling me i don't need church to talk to god. I told him, your right, you don't. But i asked him, to stop eating physical food for a whole week. He looked at me strange and said, he couldn't do it. I asked him why? He said, dad i would get so week from lack of food. Well son, the same rule applies to us, when we forsake gathering together to get fed spiritual food, and 7 days without the lord makes one weak. I told him that i noticed his language, that it was so easy for him to throw f bombs etc. You know there is plenty of time to get into the out doors and enjoy what god made for us to enjoy, but i like to devote my time when worshiping god, to do so in his house and gather with all my other brother and sisters that are there as well. agreed on all points!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoosierbuck Posted March 27, 2009 Report Share Posted March 27, 2009 At my church, services are for praise and worship. Bible studies are for discussion, learning and growth. Both are very valuable and necessary. HB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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