OUTDOOR TRUTHS: Crayon Theology

By Gary Miller

In a few days I’ll leave once again for Missouri. Dear friends and big deer make the trip something I look forward to each year. In the early years, I grabbed my climbing sticks and a cheap lock-on tree stand and hunted either from my lock-on or from a stand that was already there. While both were effective, neither provided enough comfort for an all-day hunt. The older I got the worse it got. So, after several years of antsy pain I bought the most comfortable stand I could afford. And it is wonderful. Now I don’t dread day after day sitting for long periods of time. Last year, however, instead of moving my stand I decide to hide in the middle of a bush within 30 yards of a trail. I sat on the ground and positioned my backpack in front of me to hide as much movement as I could. Sure enough, after only a short time, a buck and doe came through. I shot the buck but hit him high and never found him. Thankfully he lived long enough to become a trophy for the neighbor. What I discovered was, while my nice oversize, comfortable, and elaborate tree stand was nice, I really only needed a bush and a backpack. Let me take this to a place you’re not expecting.

I think of how comfortable our churches have gotten and how oversized and elaborate we have made this thing we call worship. The song leader is now a worship leader. It’s his or her job, along with a worship band to create an environment so that we can worship. He admonishes us to stand, sing, wave, and wait until the Spirit fills the place, so we can worship. The truth is that most people (especially men) don’t even know what worship is. If we were to ask them (us) I’m afraid we couldn’t define it very succinctly. And if that’s the case, how do we even know if we have accomplished this feat? I’m not downplaying men. Just the opposite. I’m saying that we men need/want things plain and simple. I have often said, if men had been in charge, Crayola would have never had a box of crayons that had more than eight colors. We just don’t understand fuchsia, periwinkle, or burnt sienna. We just like red, blue, and green. Elaborate worship is great. I love music. And I personally love it loud. I love great musical performances. And I love new spiritual songs. But I just need to be reminded sometimes that worship is not a deliverance but a decision. I can decide to worship from a stage or on the ground. I can do it with accompaniment or in solitude. And the only urging I need is one that comes from a simple desire to achieve what worship is and does.  Worship is simply this. Recognizing who God is, in comparison to who we are. When we have done that, we have worshiped. No matter where we are or who we’re with.

Gary Miller has written Outdoor Truths articles for 24 years. He has also written five books which include compilations of his articles and a father/son devotional. He also speaks at wild-game dinners and men’s events for churches and associations. Stay updated on Outdoor Truths each week by subscribing at Outdoortruths.org.