Church Outside Four Walls

“But ask the animals and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all of these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of mankind.” (Job 12:7-10 NIV)

My feet make forward progress on the dirt road, slipping and finding their way on the surface, muddy from recent rains. The cold air stings my cheeks just a bit, but the spring sun radiates heat I can feel in my bones as she slips in and out from behind clouds. Everywhere I notice signs of the annual resurrection of the world, buds forming on leaves and frogs singing a new song. This is my daily walk. This is a holy practice.

Like most of you, this spring found our family sheltering in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our regular schedule filled with homeschool co-op, sports, and activities became suddenly and abruptly empty. While I wouldn’t have chosen the reason for the slowdown, in many ways, it brought relief to my weary spirit.

The most noticeable change in our schedule was the cessation of church activities that anchored our week—no more Sunday gatherings, no youth group, no meetings. Deprived of the option to attend these services brought a deep exhale from my soul. I knew I needed space from our current church context, but I had been fearful of taking a step into the unknown.

For years, church has been a difficult place for me. Our congregation has recently undergone an overwhelming amount of change, and I am grieving many of those changes. In addition to the external changes, I have experienced profound theological changes and deconstruction of my beliefs, leaving me feeling like an outsider in my community.

When the pandemic brought an end to our in-person church meetings, I had a choice to make. I could continue to engage online in the systems that were leaving me depleted and cynical, or I could embrace this season as an opportunity to forge a new way to experience God. Our current reality allowed me to take a baby step in a new direction. This is how daily walks became the cornerstone of my spiritual practice.

When I am outside, I marvel at God’s incredible creation. I quiet the noise inside me, and my heart joins the praise chorus of the birds. I stop at my favorite tree, placing my hands on its rough bark while offering prayers of thanksgiving and intercession to the God who made us both. As a woman who spent many hours communing with God outdoors as a child, this change feels natural. All of nature testifies to the presence of a creative, divine force ordering our world and our days.

This new discipline of meeting God outside the four walls of a church has brought life and joy back to my soul. My walks are as much for my spiritual health as they are for my physical health. Sometimes we need an upheaval of norms to shows us the new place where God is waiting to meet us. In all my grief, God was not absent. God was simply waiting for me, somewhere I didn’t expect.

Whether your break from the church is only until social distancing guidelines are lifted or much longer, we must remember that not attending church does not mean we stop being the church. The church has always been the people, not the building. In navigating what it looks like to live as a Christ-follower without the pre-planned systems, activities, and service opportunities in place, we must take the initiative to fulfill our obligations as Christians by loving God and neighbor. Here are a few of the ways we can be the church in our daily lives.

Share the Good News

The familiar saying, “Actions speak louder than words” can make all the difference when sharing the gospel. Those of us who don’t use oration for evangelism can share the love of God with our actions. Seek ways to serve your community, whether that is assisting with childcare, bringing a much-needed meal, or simply being a listening ear.

Celebrate Communion

When we observe the Eucharist, we give thanks and remember Christ’s sacrifice. Communion can be incredibly meaningful when celebrated around your table with your family, a loaf of bread, and a bottle of wine or juice.

Find Your Community

While I do believe you can be a Christian without attending weekend services, the Bible is clear about the need for Christian community. Don’t stop gathering with other Christians. Surround yourself with people who encourage and challenge you in the faith.

My prayer is that we will be people ready to follow where the Spirit is leading us. We will take the next step to embrace a more expansive view of what the church could be.  Let us make decisions founded on love, not fear. My hope is that we will remember Christ lives in us, and that we will carry his church into sanctuaries, grocery stores, doctors’ offices, and walking paths with the same holy commissioning.

As I write this, church gatherings are still canceled in our area. I don’t know whether this period of my breaking from traditional church services will be temporary or permanent. I do know that I no longer feel bound to the system, but only to God.  I know that no matter what happens with my church attendance, I will continue to meet God each day at my table, in the eyes of my friends, in my local library, and down a dusty road where he waits for me.

Lindsay Hufford is a small-scale farmer, home educator, chicken chaser, kitchen dancer, and mediocre knitter. Her favorite things include spending time with her family, exploring the natural world, reading, eating spicy food, and singing loudly in the car (to the embarrassment of her children). Lindsay believes sharing our stories will change the world. She writes about farming, homeschooling, faith, mental health, sobriety, and living an unconventional life. You can follow her adventures at peckandpetalfarm.com.

Photograph © Alana Harris, used with permission