We Don't Need a Building to Worship God: Outdoor Worship Month

If I had a dime for all the times I've heard people say, "I don't need to go to church, I worship God in nature" I'd have enough to buy a whole lot of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups; maybe not a gross of them or anything, but still a lot.

What baffles me is that people treat these two things as if they're mutually exclusive. You can either worship God in a church building or under the skies but not both. The Psalmist doesn't seem to think it's a one or the other thing.

Scripture certainly affirms that God can be seen in His creation. Psalm 19:1 says, "The Heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands." Romans 1:20 says, "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities -- His eternal power and divine nature --have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse."

Go to the Grand Canyon, go to the ocean, look up at the sky or look closely at the ladybug in the grass and you can see God's workmanship and give Him praise.

Yet the Psalmist also says in Psalm 66:1, "I will go to your temple" and Hebrews 10:24 & 25 say, "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another -- and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Sometimes the exclusively worshiping in nature people don't realize how much we need other people in order to have the best possible relationship with God.

If only there was some way to bring these two things together; worship God in nature and in church with other believers. If only there was some way to bring together this spiritual peanut butter with this spiritual chocolate. This month, we will. We'll worship with other people in the great out of doors. Welcome to our month of Reese's Peanut Cup Worship.

-- Dean