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If you haven’t read the introduction to this series please read it here first.

Being outdoors is to the naturalist what being in a cathedral is to the traditionalist. Here more than anywhere else, surrounded by God’s wonderful, amazing creation, in a cathedral built by God’s own hands, a naturalist visualises spiritual truths, sees God more clearly, and learns to rest.

Oh Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder consider all the works Thy hands have made; I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder, Thy power throughout the universe displayed. Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to thee: how great thou art!

Even non-naturalists can relate. I remember being moved to worship the first time I stood on a beach. My God, how great thou art!

I also love gardens. The pure beauty of the flowers and butterflies in their various splendid colours, the intelligence and work ethic of the little ants in their organised little colonies and kingdoms… This God is too much!

God often speaks to naturalists through nature and creation. There are many things in the scriptures that may not make sense to us until we go outside. We can picture Jesus pointing to the birds of the air above as He taught about God’s providence. We can see Him gesturing at flowers as He says, “Consider the lilies…not even Solomon in all his splendour was clothed as one of these.” In fact, the paradise God first describes was not a brick mansion or a golden palace but a breathtakingly beautiful garden. Gary Thomas correctly notes, “When we lock ourselves inside, we leave part of God’s creation and therefore part of our understanding, outside.”

Thy bountiful care, what tongue can recite? It breathes in the air, it shines in the light; it moves in the hills, it descends to the plain, and sweetly distils in the dew and the rain!

Some tips to help you grow spiritually as a naturalist:

1. Worship God outdoors: This is the most obvious. It may not be practical for a whole congregation to worship in the outdoors, but you and a few other Christians like you can slip out to a quiet outdoor spot for personal worship and devotion. You can also do this alone. Jesus “as was his custom” often chose the outdoors for personal prayer and group prayer, preferring mountains and gardens (Matt 14:23, Luke 6:12, Matt 17:1, Luke 9:28, Luke 22:39, Matt 26:36).

2. Learn to rest in God through nature: Jesus didn’t just seek the outdoors for prayer; He also rested, refreshed and replenished Himself, and taught His disciples to do so (Mark 6:21). Stand on a beach and try to guess how many grains of sand are under your feet. Gaze at the stars and try to count them. How great is our God? What challenge do you face that is too big for Him? Rest, child…

3. Plant something: Putting a seed in the ground, nurturing it, and watching it blossom and grow can enrich your devotion and worship. It gives you a chance to experience the joy, wisdom and power of God in creation.

4. Observe and perceive: Consider the ants. Look at the birds. Observe the seasons. Autumn has a beauty that is all its own, just as winter has its pleasures and spring, its hopes. And what can compare with the joys of summer? The Lord God made them all. He gave us eyes to see them, and lips that we might tell, how great is God Almighty who has made all things well!

5. Listen and receive: God speaks through His creation, and though He is not materially in nature, the discerning eye can see His overwhelming creativity, His orderliness and His concern for detail. As you enjoy a rich time of worship by a water brook, in an orchard, in a garden or in a field, He will show and tell you things, flood your mind with thoughts and analogies, and you will receive fresh direction in ways the indoors may not allow.

Some temptations to watch out for as a naturalist:

1. Idolizing nature: You only have to consider how many people worship the sun, rivers, stars and even animals, to understand how much of a temptation worshipping the created instead of the Creator is. The awesomeness of God’s creation should point us to Him. The naturalist must first be a true believer — fully converted to Christ — in order to avoid a sentimental or idolatrous view of nature. Without the Holy Spirit a naturalist can be intoxicated by nature and fall into the heresy of pantheism.

2. Individuality: Christianity is not compatible with the lone wolf lifestyle. It is designed to be lived out in togetherness and fellowship. All of the time Jesus spent outdoors in the desert, mountains and gardens was in preparation for ministering to people. Be careful that you don’t fall into the trap of using nature to escape the duties of Christian living. Comfort the hurting, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, speak up for the oppressed, preach the Good News!

3. Spiritual delusion: You must test all spirits at all times. Many people have gone out to secluded spots in nature to worship, only to receive strange insights and “revelations”. The Bible is our only sure guide, so make sure you are very conversant with it. Satan is always happy to provide counterfeits for those who are seeking an “experience” and not Christ Jesus our Lord. Remember the Bible warns that he often masquerades as an angel of light.

When through the woods and forest glades I wander, I hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees; when I look down from lofty mountain grandeur, and hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze; then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to thee, how great thou art! How great thou art!

Naturalists must never forget that it is the Creator we worship in the majestic and serene outdoors.

 Next Sunday we’ll be reviewing Caregivers: Loving God by Loving Others.

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This article was first published on 2nd October 2016

jehonwa

Joy Ehonwa is an editor and a writer who is passionate about relationships and personal development. She runs Pinpoint Creatives, a proofreading, editing, transcription and ghostwriting service. Email: pinpointcreatives [at] yahoo.com

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