That's my issue with calling it church.

"where two or more are gathered... IN MY NAME" Your not out on the lake for God and you know it. Like I said Ive missed my share of sundays, im a sinner as much as anyone else, maybe more, and ive even prayed on more than one occasion in a boat or a deer blind(no not that I caught a big fish or shot a big deer) and I still think your kidding yourself trying to write that off as church. Gotta go out there and gather for God not for a fun relaxing day in the outdoors with your buddies/family/ or by yourself trip.

If your gathering out their for God fishing reels got no part in it and I hope you sang a few praises to him. That is all for me, I know some will still argue it, but your kidding yourself. When I come before God to be judged im not going to try to convince him my sunday morning fishing trip was "church"

Not to pile on, but I agree with redchevy 100%. One needs to gather with other Christians to praise God's name, take the Lord's Supper, etc.

I'll pile on to the other side of the coin. Don't tell me how I should worship. I'm sure you and Red Chevy have your idea of what church should be and I'll respect that and ask that ya'll do the same. If you don't like the OP's idea of church then don't worship this way.

To each his own, I feel closer to God when I am outdoors than inside any worship building!

Great picture wacorusty

Religion is a hot button issue, no matter in what forum it is discussed. It is just opinions and personal preferences. Everybody has their own relationship with God. It's your life to do what you will with it, no one else's business.

I actually believe in both. If I am out in the woods and nature I take time to pray and give thanks for my blessings. Not sure I would call that church but it is important to me and my faith to have that quiet time.

If not in the woods I go to church, worship, and serve in that setting with fellow believers.

Guess I just know too many fisherman personally that have written off sundays as another fishing day and call it church because they are "Christians" and the old do as I say not as I do looks bad on them.

I will say this, I feel very self conscience if I'm hunting or fishing when my Church is meeting. I try to make it as best as I can. I go to some very remote for hunting, but I always look for a Church in that area. Sometimes I can't locate one, so my party will gather in one of the tents and read the Bible and take the Lord's Supper. That's just me.

They didn't tell you how to worship... Jesus did in the Bible. I've missed just as many services to go hunting or fishing as the next guy. Heck I still do. Go to the lease for the weekend and miss church all the time. I have to admit when I saw the name of the thread and then clicked on it and saw the picture I remembered when I used to say the same thing. Looking back I only said it to try to convince myself. God knows your intentions. I don't know one single person that goes to the lake with his boat with intention of worshiping God. Sure you can feel closer and talk to him but that's not what you went for therefore it's not church. Maybe we should start a floating church to make honest people out of all the fisherman that call a fishing trip church.

Yup, that's pretty much my view.

I got married 2 years ago, my wife was catholic and I believe in one church home, so I converted. All converting really taught me was that Catholics and what I was Evangelical Reform were about as different as black bass and largemouth bass... if you get what I mean.

Catholics have a Saturday evening service... im a fan.

It's not church.

But, if he's thinking about God while he's fishing on Sunday morning that's more than can be said than about 99% of the folks on the lake. Think long enough and next Sunday you may want to go to church.

Id rather go fishing...

Nice pic!

I feel much closer to God when I'm on the water and in the woods than I ever have in an actual church. Haven't been in one in about 15 years.

Good pic of Lacy Point!

(I think that's Lacy Point, right?)

Some may feel closer to God in a brothel... what say you about that?

Read the post and tell me that it's not telling me how to worship and what church is. And to your point, having people assemble in a building, boat, whatever else, and officially calling it "church" does not make those people attending HONEST. There are many dishonest people that go to church.

I would say for you to even have that thought and ask that question makes me question why your preaching about what church should be in the first place.

It looks like we're just going to chase each other's tails with this subject.

I agree TSU99. We can agree to disagree on this one.

Nvm. Not worth it..

Just having a little fun, while I act like I'm working is all.

If that's the case than there is something clearly wrong with the church. In fact I would guess that God is largely absent from the church if this is the case.

My comment about making people honest was a joke. That's why there's a big smiley face after it.

All the people that choose not to be a part of the body of Christ (yes that's what the Bible says the Church is) are not hurting anyone but themselves. I'm not judging anyone that doesn't go to church. Like I said, I don't always go either. I can tell a difference in my life when I don't though. The fact that the OP even mentioned Church says that he has Church on his mind. Why didn't he just say he went fishing?

When I told a pastor I admire once that I felt closer to God outdoors than anywhere else, he said, "That's fine, but are you truly worshiping Him out there or just telling yourself that to make yourself feel better about not worshiping Him here with us?"

It was a good question......

Do I hear a lock clicking? This is getting good.