Mike Edmisten Follower of Jesus. Husband of Nicki. Father of Ryan & Brock. Communicator of the Word.

Picnic Spirituality

Our annual church picnic was yesterday. By all accounts, everyone had a grand time. There is something special that happens when God's family gets together. It doesn't have to be for a worship service. In the New Testament, we see that the early church simply enjoyed being together. Sadly we've lost much of that community in today's church atmosphere. When we get together, it's usually because it's Sunday and it's time for our worship service. But when God's family gets together just for the sake of being together, something special happens.

Actually, I want to go even a step further than that. When God's family is together, something spiritual happens. It is a spiritual thing to get together and play softball or football or volleyball. It is a spiritual thing to sit around talking and swapping stories with each other. It is a spiritual thing when we decide that, although we have other stuff to do and other places to go, it is important for us to be together with our church family. The reason it is a spiritual thing is because it is following the biblical pattern of fellowship in the life of the church.

The problem is that we've bought into our culture's idea of spirituality. Picnics don't feel spiritual. But true spirituality isn't based on feelings. Emotions are certainly a part of our spiritual lives, but they are not the basis or foundation of our spiritual lives. There are things that are truly spiritual that don't evoke a deep emotional response. God created us with emotions and with intellect. We're called to love and serve God in a multi-faceted, multi-dimensional way. It is spiritual when we give God ourselves in total, not withholding anything.

That's what Jesus had in mind when he called us to, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." (Mark 12:30) That's a call to love God with everything we have. Emotions, intellect, actions, and beyond.

Just because something doesn't feel spiritual doesn't mean it isn't. And that includes picnics.