The Wall-Less Church

by John Michalak

For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity, that they may be without excuse.

Romans 1:20

To encourage faithful church attendance, some pastors will preach the story of the man who doesn’t attend church Sunday morning, but chooses to play golf instead. His argument is that he can worship God among the golf greens and trees better than in any church building.

The pastor will then go on to say that this is just an excuse, and it is. God has ordained that we come together each week (and more) to worship Him, learn from Him, and to enjoy the fellowship of others.

But while you shouldn’t use the golfer’s excuse to skip church, neither should you make the opposite mistake—spending all your time in man-made buildings and never among the greens and trees of God’s creation.

Whether it’s gardening, walking in the park, hiking in the mountains, swimming in the ocean, biking, camping, there’s nothing like witnessing the glory of God firsthand through the things He has created. God’s divine attributes are clearly seen through nature. But, most of the time, you have to separate from the world of manufactured man to truly appreciate this—and to worship God through it.

So, don’t miss church those Sabbath mornings. But also, don’t neglect the wall-less church to be enjoyed away from the things of man.