This is a Wilderness Church!!
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? – Psalm 42:1-3
When I first mentioned this idea and vision to people, I
received many different reactions and responses. What is it? How does
it work? What is the theology behind it? How do people join? I want to
do something different like that…I want to experience the Lord in a
new way, can anyone come?
received many different reactions and responses. What is it? How does
it work? What is the theology behind it? How do people join? I want to
do something different like that…I want to experience the Lord in a
new way, can anyone come?
A week ago I saw this idea and vision come true; as we had our
first wilderness church. I’ll attempt to share the journey with you
through this blog of what the weekend looked like and what wilderness
church is!
first wilderness church. I’ll attempt to share the journey with you
through this blog of what the weekend looked like and what wilderness
church is!
“Come to me all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest”
– Matt 11:28
As we live out these precious lives that the Lord created us
to live, we walk through our daily lives weary and burdened. Not that
we’re weak and always pawn-like beings, but that in humility we
recognize that we often find ourselves relying on our own strength as
we constantly fight this cosmic battle. We need to be filled. We need
to come to the cross and be encouraged. We meet in community to bring
our struggles to the table and lift each other up. We need to meet
Jesus at the cross!
to live, we walk through our daily lives weary and burdened. Not that
we’re weak and always pawn-like beings, but that in humility we
recognize that we often find ourselves relying on our own strength as
we constantly fight this cosmic battle. We need to be filled. We need
to come to the cross and be encouraged. We meet in community to bring
our struggles to the table and lift each other up. We need to meet
Jesus at the cross!
In order for us to relate with God, we have to GO and meet with
Him! We have to make the effort and and have the desire to meet Him
where he’s at. It’s getting over ourselves and our “convenient
Christianity” and realizing that it has nothing to do with us, nothing
to do with the “feelings”. The relationship we strive for takes EFFORT
on our part and a desire to climb the mountains necessary to find Him.
We have to take the steps, not Jesus. For he’s already there and
calling us in, encouraging us on!
Him! We have to make the effort and and have the desire to meet Him
where he’s at. It’s getting over ourselves and our “convenient
Christianity” and realizing that it has nothing to do with us, nothing
to do with the “feelings”. The relationship we strive for takes EFFORT
on our part and a desire to climb the mountains necessary to find Him.
We have to take the steps, not Jesus. For he’s already there and
calling us in, encouraging us on!
“The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.” – 1 Cor. 12:12
When we come together in community, we recognize that each of
us has a part. Each member is just as important and as valuable is the
next. We ALL have a job to do. We are all living out our own individual
lives yet we need each other to fulfill our destiny’s in front of us.
We are only as strong and united as the collective body is. If one of
us is down, we are all down. If we are all working together, we will be
at our fullest potential.
us has a part. Each member is just as important and as valuable is the
next. We ALL have a job to do. We are all living out our own individual
lives yet we need each other to fulfill our destiny’s in front of us.
We are only as strong and united as the collective body is. If one of
us is down, we are all down. If we are all working together, we will be
at our fullest potential.
And as a group out in the wild, we are nothing unless we work together! That means we sometimes
cook the food, and other times we gather the firewood. Whatever the
case, we all have a purpose and a part in each others lives!
cook the food, and other times we gather the firewood. Whatever the
case, we all have a purpose and a part in each others lives!
When we are at the meeting place, we come to be filled. We
meet to be encouraged and to be sharpened. Our thirst for more drives
us to move towards the Lord and when we call on His name, he answers
us. The weary and the burdened come weighed down. None of us are
perfect, so each of us knows that we are in a fight together. This
fight for FREEDOM in our individual lives. So, as we speak LIFE over
one another and speak TRUTH over one another, we find our stride again.
We get back on the track we are called to walk, this time however
strengthened and more determined than ever.
meet to be encouraged and to be sharpened. Our thirst for more drives
us to move towards the Lord and when we call on His name, he answers
us. The weary and the burdened come weighed down. None of us are
perfect, so each of us knows that we are in a fight together. This
fight for FREEDOM in our individual lives. So, as we speak LIFE over
one another and speak TRUTH over one another, we find our stride again.
We get back on the track we are called to walk, this time however
strengthened and more determined than ever.
Andso, this is church! The sanctuary we walk into is vast and never
ending. It has nothing to do with walls or roofs, you can’t box in the
wilderness. We meet our creator, father, freind, and saviour with our
hearts. The Wilderness Church takes us on a physical journey into the
unknown and majesty of God’s creative heart. We start off walking into
the unknown after that “something different” and end up realizing that
this is exactly where we were created to meet God in the first place.
This IS the Garden! The cool, calm, and silent air that immerses us
carries His small whisper. We escape all distractions and hear him so
clearly. Our agenda, schedule, and worries don’t esist in this place.
We are FREE and we have nothing to fear. He provides and He is with us.
From the warm morning sun on our faces to the fading light of a day
sitting in His sanctuary we feel Him. We can see Him. We can hear Him.
That is the beauty of this church. It doesn’t matter if you are in a
free place as Manitoba or in the war-torn jungles of B/urma, it’s all
the same.
I challenge you to take a trip into the wild sometime. Find
that place of silence and solitude. A place where everything of this
world is at the wayside. Time, agendas, and daily duties are non
existent. This place is FREEDOM! This place is where we become the child
that we hate to admit. We meet with God in ALL His power and wonder. An
environement where we have come from; the natural, primitive roots that
we so desperately try to escape. We enter a place where we originate
yet have forgotten.
that place of silence and solitude. A place where everything of this
world is at the wayside. Time, agendas, and daily duties are non
existent. This place is FREEDOM! This place is where we become the child
that we hate to admit. We meet with God in ALL His power and wonder. An
environement where we have come from; the natural, primitive roots that
we so desperately try to escape. We enter a place where we originate
yet have forgotten.
So, the doors are always open. I encourage you to try church in
the boondocks, the sticks, the wild. Church in it’s truest, simplest,
and original form. God’s precious children together, no distractions,
and a true desire to WANT to be there! Our hearts drive our minds, and
that is what it takes to meet with God fully! Our hearts beating to the
same beat as His!
the boondocks, the sticks, the wild. Church in it’s truest, simplest,
and original form. God’s precious children together, no distractions,
and a true desire to WANT to be there! Our hearts drive our minds, and
that is what it takes to meet with God fully! Our hearts beating to the
same beat as His!
A huge thank you for those who embarked on our first weekend “out”. I had a great time, I was encourage and definitely sharpened. To me it wasn’t just a trip on the weekend. I have realized that when we surround ourselves with the body and allow the Lord to guide us, even if it seems like our own idea, we get challenged! And so, I have returned with a new understanding of His grace, mercy, and sacrifice! God Bless you all!
Cheers!
– Matt
