Dads, Take Your Kids Camping!

I had the privilege of preaching at two youth camps this summer (winter here in South Africa), and it caused me to really take a moment to consider what makes camping such an effective tool when it comes to our discipleship as believers in Christ. Is the effectiveness found in being outside? Is it found in being away from the normal routines of life? Or is it found in the continuous exposure to God’s Word? Well, it’s a combination of all these, but we can summarize them into two main points: (1) the great outdoors, and (2) the inspired Word.

The Great Outdoors: God’s General Revelation

Psalm 19 provides a template for us in considering how God’s revelation is communicated to us. Psalm 19:1 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God,and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” Creation reveals God. It proclaims His power and His goodness to us. We see God’s beauty as we climb the mountain, swim in the stream, or hike along the trail.

But we would be missing the full effect of God’s creation if we limit its influence to mere theoretical truth. The outdoors do not simply allow us to learn of God intellectually, they also allow us to learn of Him experientially. This is one of the beauties of camping! Nature provides an environment where God’s truth is not only learned but experienced.

So why is camp an effective discipleship tool? It is effective because, free from the distractions of life and technology, we are continually seeing and experiencing God’s glory and goodness in His creation. But what is needed to actually make this effective?

The Inspired Word: God’s Special Revelation

Nature provides a great environment for learning more of God, but this is only effective as the Word of God is proclaimed. Psalm 19 goes on to say in verse 7, “The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.” Camping and being outdoors does not grow anyone spiritually apart from being immersed in the Scriptures (God’s special revelation). But camping, combined with continuous exposure to God’s Word (whether it be preaching, personal Bible study, listening to an audio Bible or book), can be an incredibly effective tool for one’s spiritual growth.

During my college years, I worked at a summer camp. I would often find opportunities during the week or on the weekend to spend time praying and studying God’s Word out in God’s nature. Those moments are some of the most cherished in my spiritual walk. Now, as a father, I try to prioritize taking my son camping every year for his birthday. One of my goals in doing this is to expose him to God’s beautiful creation. But my second goal is to create a focused time where we can prioritize reading, studying, and meditating on God’s Word together.

One may say, “But isn’t discipleship done in the context of the local church?” Yes, it is. But that doesn’t mean that it is only done at the church building or with a pastor at a coffee shop. We are called to cultivate our spiritual growth both individually and corporately. And going camping is one tool that may be helpful for you, and your family, as you continue to grow in Christ.

Dads, Take Your Family Camping

In this article I’m not advocating for one specific type of camp (i.e. church camp, family holiday, weekend retreat). I am merely trying to encourage all Dads to take advantage of the great opportunity we have to take our families camping as a tool to facilitate our spiritual growth. It can be an incredibly effective tool to be out in nature reading one’s Bible and contemplating the great truths of God found in His Word.

Maybe what you need to do right now is plan a father-and-son weekend away. Some of you may feel led to prioritize taking your family to a week of family camp next year to one of the Christian camps that your church is familiar with. And some of you may just need to go out in nature for a day and pray with God. This is all good! Combining the beauty of God’s general revelation with the heart-changing truth of God’s special revelation is oftentimes very powerful for encouraging us in our spiritual growth.

So Dads, why not take your family camping and allow God to use the beauty of His creation with the power of His Word to encourage your hearts for His glory?