Talking with a friend the other day, we ended our conversation on the topic of religion. She told me that she had missed church on Sunday but had gone to the state park to walk along the shore. She said it was like going to church. I want to make something clear here: many people have a similar assumption about the Church and nature, equating them for adoration purposes. Nature and the Church are two distinct entities.

The concept of community is the very structure of Christianity. What do I mean by that? Jesus left two commandments: Love God and Love your neighbor as yourself. Church is a community. Worshipping with that community is a vital part of the Christian life. It is here that we meet and greet others on the same path, as well as gather to praise God and hear the gospel message. Messages that help us live our daily lives. Christians are called to a community spirit that brings the good news of salvation to the world. There are many different Christian churches, but only one Jesus. He is the foundation. There is only one charge, and it is “to love one another as I have loved you.” The greatest love he showed us was sacrifice for others. The concept of sacrifice is the very bedrock of all major religions. It is that abstract desire to give, regardless of the cost, for the greater good. It is an offering that is presented from the soul, and it is given freely .It is what makes religion, Religion. That area of the human being’s consciousness that recognizes God.

Following the Reformation 500 years ago, the Christian Church experienced a splintering of unity, theology, and worship, resulting in the formation of over 45,000 Christian denominations worldwide today. There is only one God, and for Christians, a triune God. (The Trinity is an often-misunderstood concept). But for Christians, God is love and love is God. The unfortunate thing is that many Christian churches do not see each other. Often, they only see the exclusiveness of their own group. This frequently leads to competition between sects or fosters a hostile attitude that prevents sharing. Jesus is the center of all of them, yet they mark off membership as if it were a territory. God created us all, and He brought each of us into consciousness to be part of the salvation of the world.

Back to my friend who went walking on the shoreline on a Sunday morning. She told me the two were the same, nature was equal to the Church. Not really, Church, as I have said, is about community; on the other hand, nature, although it offers transcendent understandings, provides a private experience. The concept of community is not present. Granted, nature can be beautiful and draw us closer to the God of creation, but it is not on the same level as Church on Sunday. The church on Sunday represents the very group of other humans with whom we live day by day. They come with all their positive selves and negative problems; they are like us, struggling to stay afloat in a problematic society. They come to listen and to ask for help. The congregation is more than a Sunday punch card duty. The church should fill us up and give us the grace to help us live every day. Church is a communal activity that helps us draw closer to heaven.

It is not a walk along the shoreline at the state park. The walk in nature can be curative and grant us a small taste of God’s glory. But it is the hurting and saved community of the Church that brings us a place to ask intercessions, to hear God’s word, and to turn us back onto the path of truth and peace.

Many today choose nature over the Church. Why? Many prefer the quiet and non-commitment of a walk beside the lake, rather than the challenges of Church. Besides sitting for an hour, taking time away from a project they have underway, or having to get up too early to attend church, they may also be asked to inspect their lives for selfishness or offer some difficult guidance on living a holy life. Oh, there are a million excuses why they would choose nature over Church participation. It is so much easier and nicer to go to the park and see nature in its glory: no guilt, no fuss, no people, just me.

Life is complex, and nature walks are so much more pleasurable than searching our souls. Wisdom, compassion, concern, and care are virtues essential for living a fulfilling life. We are made for community, for others. The church is a good place to start a true journey on a blessed path that leads us to our eternal home. Nature is beautiful and teaches us wonder, but the Church can feed us every week with God’s love and grace.

Amen