New Identity Magazine

God in focus. World in scope.

  • About
  • Grow
    • Spotlight: In Perspective
    • Growth & Maturity
    • Foundation
    • Practical Application
    • Jargon
  • Connect
    • Community
    • Discovering God
    • God Talk
    • Life Together
  • Live
    • Give Back
    • People
    • Culture & Creativity
    • Careers & Callings
  • Back Issues
  • Write
    • Submit an Article
    • Writer’s Guidelines
    • House Style Guide
    • Content Submissions Agreement
    • Jargon Substitutions
  • Shop
  • Donate
  • Contact

CAN HOBBIES BE A SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE?

By Lindsey A. Frederick 3 Comments

Photo Credit: NRachel Kramer @ Flickr (Creative Commons)

Photo Credit: Rachel Kramer @ Flickr (Creative Commons)

I used to work for a guy known for saying, “I’ll rest when I’m dead!” He ran a ministry and believed there were too many people who needed to hear about Jesus to take much time for himself. I thought this was admirable. But I noticed he also got sick a lot.

For awhile, I also felt the weight of his responsibility. In the summers, the organization hosted a four-week camp at which I was on call around the clock. At about week three, I was so sleep deprived, I ended up huddled in a corner of my office, sobbing. What good was pouring into the spiritual lives of others when I had nothing left to give? Even God rested at the end of a work week (Genesis 2:3).

When my supervisor ordered me to take the afternoon off, I did what any good Christian girl does: I went to bible study.

Screen Shot 2015-12-14 at 8.42.51 AM

“Bible Study” is what I named the blue, plastic wading pool in my backyard. I pulled on my bathing suit, slathered on sunscreen, and took to some of my favorite hobbies: reading, journaling, listening to music. Chilling in Bible Study helped me get back in touch with myself, and back in touch with God. And this got me thinking: what if some of our most spiritual activities are actually disguised as our favorite pastimes?

AND ON THE EIGHTH DAY, GOD CREATED HOBBIES

I’ve heard some Christians say hobbies are selfish and frivolous and don’t glorify God. I disagree. Did you know the first recorded hobby is in the Bible?

OK. I’m not a biblical scholar, so perhaps this is a stretch. But while the Bible doesn’t say, “And on the eighth day, God created hobbies,” it does say God placed the first man, Adam, in the Garden of Eden and gave him something to do. He told Adam to take care of the Garden. This is where things get interesting.

After God gave Adam a job he declared, “It is not good for man to be alone,” and said he would make a companion for Adam. Best-selling author Donald Miller makes an interesting observation about this event in his book Searching for God Knows What? “God did not create Eve directly after he stated Adam was lonely.” He first gave Adam another task.

Enter Adam’s hobby: “He brought the animals to man to see what he would call them” (Genesis 3:19).

Have you ever considered how many years this would keep a guy occupied? A quick Internet search turns up results for 2 to 50 million species of animals. Miller says naming the animals could have taken a hundred years. And this whole time, Adam couldn’t find a living creature like himself (Genesis 2:21). It is only at the end of this major task that God gives Eve to Adam. And when Adam sees her, he remarks about her likeness to him, “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh” (Genesis 2:23, NIV). Adam names her “woman.” Miller says, “God had [Adam] hang out with chimps for a hundred years. It’s quite beautiful, really. God directed Adam’s steps so that when he created Eve, Adam would have the utmost appreciation, respect, and gratitude.”

Screen Shot 2015-12-14 at 8.42.58 AM

These tenets are foundational to our relationship with God—they’re foundational to any healthy, meaningful relationship. Our activities do not limit God from revealing something about himself—and about the Christian life—to us.

“GOD MADE ME FOR A PURPOSE. BUT HE ALSO MADE ME FAST.”

To be honest, I’m kind of floored some Christians need a biblical justification for having a hobby. If you type “Christians + hobbies” into a Google search, you’ll discover a page full of anxieties: “Are hobbies sinful?” “Is it wrong for Christians to have hobbies?” “Are hobbies idolatrous?” “Is it selfish to spend time on a hobby instead of praying?”

Yikes, people! Calm down. Hobbies don’t have to separate us from God. In fact, they may help us stay more spiritually connected.

I know a guy who is a concert violinist. He says he feels God’s presence when he’s alone in his practice room. Another friend loves to dance. She says she feels most alive in the middle of a cha-cha. One guy communes with God when he’s fishing. And another friend says she feels closest to God when she is playing with her kids.

This helps me understand another piece of the story of Adam. Of all the things God could have given Adam to do, why name a bunch of animals? I have to think Adam was a nature lover. Otherwise, it would be cruel to plop a guy who hates bugs, and trees, and wild animals in the middle of a territory and say, “Care for it.” And, honestly, if you’re looking for a guy to do a good job, that’s just bad hiring. If God created Adam to love nature, then discovering and naming the animals must have been great fun for Adam. I imagine him chuckling as he watched penguins waddle across glaciers, slip-sliding on their bellies into the Antarctic. I imagine him silenced by the graceful dance of a bloom of jellyfish. And can you imagine when he first saw Eve?

I have to think Adam’s delight made God very happy, too. A line from the movie Chariots of Fire about Olympic runner Eric Liddell articulates this exchange: “I believe God made me for a purpose. But he also made me fast. And when I run, I feel his pleasure.” Not many would call running or playing football particularly spiritual, but I believe God is pleased when we enjoy being who he made us and acknowledge him for it.

DON’T WAIT UNTIL YOU’RE DEAD

If our Type-A, American culture and its multi-billion-dollar coffee industry tells us anything, it’s that rest does not come naturally. It takes discipline to push pause when so many things around us scream for our attention. But God demonstrated the importance of rest (Genesis 2:3), and commands us to care for our bodies (1 Corinthians 6:19–20), which includes our minds and our spiritual well-being. Far from frivolous, hobbies are just one of many ways we can do this, all the while connecting with God and, in the process, developing a deeper relationship with him. Don’t wait until you’re dead to get a hobby.

7 Benefits of Hobbies

Share with friendsShare on facebook
Facebook
Share on pinterest
Pinterest
Share on twitter
Twitter
Share on reddit
Reddit
Share on google
Google
Share on email
Email

Filed Under: Culture & Creativity, Featured, Live Tagged With: Issue 29

Related Posts

  • MISSION AVIATION FELLOWSHIPMISSION AVIATION FELLOWSHIP
  • BLESSED TO BE A BLESSINGBLESSED TO BE A BLESSING
  • MY ENEMY, THE DEVILMY ENEMY, THE DEVIL
  • FAVORFAVOR
  • IN PURSUIT OF INTIMACY: SPIRITUAL PRACTICES THAT CAN GROW US CLOSER TO GODIN PURSUIT OF INTIMACY: SPIRITUAL PRACTICES THAT CAN GROW US CLOSER TO GOD
  • SPIRIT EMPOWERED COMMUNICATION WITH GODSPIRIT EMPOWERED COMMUNICATION WITH GOD

Comments

  1. Kate Traylor says

    December 15, 2015 at 3:49 am

    Nice work Lindsey!

    Every moment is filled with God’s presence if we tune into His Love and deep abiding care.

    Reply
    • Lindsey says

      December 21, 2015 at 12:21 pm

      Thanks, Kate!

      Reply
  2. Clarann Bjers says

    February 16, 2016 at 12:40 am

    Beautiful and biblical insight!!!!!! I’m a glass artist. I have a studio I work in. During that time I worship, pray , listen to books, messages, or whatever the Lord provides that day… He meets me in this place as he meets me where ever I take time to spend with him! I see a rest, releas and renewal in myself when this happens… As matter of fact my BFF sees the blessing God has bestowed on me in the studio as I draw near to Him the fruit grows! Often I can have one on one with people teaching, mentoring or encouraging. Yes this is Gods studio, creative talent and so much more. Sadly I have experienced the negative criticism from some I respected as spiritual leaders (not all but few) saying its “frivolous endeavors…with no eternal purpose” or that it takes away from ministry or the latest edition that I need to use for the church more. I feel sorry for their small view of the Creator who made us in his image as creative beings. And nothing is farther from the truth than those negative comments. Thank You!! This was recommended to me by a mutual friend and it blessed me!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Current Issue

Current Issue

Read Now

No Fields Found.

newidentitymag

New Identity | Exploring Faith
We hope you enjoy the new issue! Check out the lin We hope you enjoy the new issue! Check out the link in our bio! Happy Fall/Winter! 🍁
We're looking for volunteer writers to contribute We're looking for volunteer writers to contribute to the next issue! If you're interested in writing on this topic, please leave us a comment! ✨
We're looking for volunteer writers to contribute We're looking for volunteer writers to contribute to the next issue! If you're interested in writing on this topic, please leave us a comment! ✨
How should we be using our money? - We're looking How should we be using our money? - We're looking for volunteer writers to contribute to the next issue! If you're interested in writing on this topic, please leave us a comment!
We're looking for volunteer writers to contribute We're looking for volunteer writers to contribute to the next issue! If you're interested in writing on this topic, please leave us a comment!
We're looking for volunteer writers to contribute We're looking for volunteer writers to contribute to the next issue! If you're interested in writing on the topic of praying continually and what that can look like in our fast-paced society, please leave us a comment! 😊
We're looking for volunteer writers to contribute We're looking for volunteer writers to contribute to the next issue! If you're interested in writing on this topic, please leave us a comment! ✨
Happy Spring! Enjoy the new issue! #linkinbio Happy Spring! Enjoy the new issue! #linkinbio
Our striving to be like Jesus or do his work on ou Our striving to be like Jesus or do his work on our own is in vain. We can never hope to achieve the same level that Jesus was on while we are still here on Earth. We’re like little kids, struggling just to walk. But that’s why Jesus gave us an example of redeemed followers in the form of the Apostles, who were his close group of students here on Earth. He chose a group of broken, sinful men, and ultimately shaped them into the group responsible for continuing his ministry here on Earth. ⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
✍🏽: Tim VanDeWalker in "Running By Example" | Continue reading at newidentitymagazine.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
"Do your little bit of good where you are; it's th "Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world." –Desmond Tutu
The Bible tells us to live in the world, but not t The Bible tells us to live in the world, but not to become like it. The New Living Translation puts it this way, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think” (Rom. 12:2a). Some have interpreted this as an instruction to reject anything that isn’t explicitly Christian. But I don’t think that’s what this verse is getting at. I think it means much more.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
✍🏽: Lindsey Beharry in "Choosing Wisely" | Continue reading at newidentitymagazine.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
If you desire to serve, seek to form groups withou If you desire to serve, seek to form groups without age distinction. Maybe you want to form a group in your church. Avoid just inviting members from your age group. Seek out people older and younger than you to invite to meet together. Find that person who sits alone and talk to her or him. Instead of a focus on building groups that have the same characteristics to “relate” with one another, you center your discussion in the work of Christ. He will bring the group together. ⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
✍🏽: Russell Almand in "Community and Age Diversity" | Continue reading at newidentitymagazine.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
"If we put our faith in temporal things, they will "If we put our faith in temporal things, they will inevitably let us down. They were never meant to be enough for us. Not alone. When Barnum finally does hit bottom, he recognizes that his heart has been led astray, fooled into thinking that fame or fortune could satisfy him."⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
✍🏽: @slimkeman in "The Greatest Showman" | Continue reading at newidentitymagazine.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
"Porn. We are only now beginning to realize the ex "Porn. We are only now beginning to realize the extent of its effects on the brain, relationships, and society at a time when sexually explicit content is just a click away. Christians have recognized pornography’s negative impact for decades, yet it is still often considered a “male” problem within the Church. This can leave women who struggle with porn addiction feeling isolated and alone. The organization SheRecovery (formerly Dirty Girls Ministries) aims to change that and has become a resource for women with porn addiction. You can read more about their ministry at the link in our bio. ⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
✍🏽: Lisa Gagnon in "Dirty Girls Ministries" | Continue reading at newidentitymagazine.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
"The presence of my sin reminds me of my great nee "The presence of my sin reminds me of my great need for grace, and good works are the outpouring of a grateful heart; being a good child is not a means of earning the favor of God."⁠
⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
✍🏽: Sally Blotzer in "Forgiving Failure" | Continue reading at newidentitymagazine.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
"As Christians, we identify ourselves not only by "As Christians, we identify ourselves not only by how we handle our daily lives, much like those around us, but also by an added component: our faith. How we pray and worship and spend time with our fellow followers provides additional meaning to our lives."⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
✍🏽: Matthew Hamilton in "Does Your Form Determine Your Function?" | Continue reading at newidentitymagazine.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
📷: Photo by Lum3n from Pexels⁠
Often I picture Jesus telling us to love others an Often I picture Jesus telling us to love others and not to judge. I forget that when he said, “Come follow me,” he wasn’t just inviting us to a strict set of rules but to a real and exciting life whether you turn out to be a pastor, a doctor, designer or simply “Dad.” Sometimes I forget one of his main messages was that he came to give us a better life than we could ever dream of—life to the fullest. Jesus wasn’t locking us down to a vocation or job title. It’s as if he was saying, “Real, vibrant life is available to you now. Following me, loving me and living like me is your real calling…the rest is just there to aid you in following, loving and living.”⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
✍🏽: Wendy Van Eyck in "Living For A Purpose" | Continue reading at newidentitymagazine.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
Like Morpheus, I want to “show you how deep the Like Morpheus, I want to “show you how deep the rabbit hole goes.” There is yet another parallel between the Christian story and The Matrix, simultaneously the most foundational and the most captivating. It’s that something which is missing, something which is not quite right with the world. You can’t quite put your finger on it, but you know that it’s there. At the outset of the first film, Neo is searching for it. Trinity asserts that “it’s the question that drives us.” Morpheus claims that “you can see it when you look out your window or when you turn on your television. You can feel it when you go to work, when you go to church, when you pay your taxes.” The question is: What if I’ve only ever scratched the surface of all that life has to offer? What if there is a deeper, truer current of reality, ever-present behind all of my life’s experiences, to which I might awaken at any moment?⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
✍🏽: @slimkeman in "Tumbling Down The Rabbit Hole" | Continue reading at newidentitymagazine.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
"I’ve always been intrigued by Augustine because "I’ve always been intrigued by Augustine because we all struggle with temptations to sin. And we all struggle to live in a way that honors God. Like Augustine we all feel the tug of our past sins that say, 'Don’t you want to enjoy us?' And Augustine’s story relates to Galatians 5:16-26 where Paul tells us about how the Christian life is like a walk. In a way, walking is a metaphor for the Christian life." ⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
✍🏽: @the_christopherscott in "In Step With the Spirit" | Continue reading at newidentitymagazine.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
"The Holy Spirit empowers us for Christ-like livin "The Holy Spirit empowers us for Christ-like living, and for serving others." Where in your life or in what ways has the Spirit enabled you this week? We'd love to hear, tell us in the comments below!⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
✍🏽: @the_christopherscott  in "In Step With the Spirit" | Continue reading at newidentitymagazine.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Subscribe

More Articles

Life Rolls On

Imagine you’re an up-and-coming surfer, gaining more and more national attention with each surf contest you enter. You have sponsorships coming in regularly, … [Read More...]

DISCOVERING GOD: AYA NOEL

We sat down with Aya Noel, a young Japanese Christian with a desire to see the people of her country find God {and she wants to find a husband too}. New Identity … [Read More...]

PLANT WITH PURPOSE

Since 1984, Plant With Purpose has planted over 7.5 million trees. In seeking holistic solutions to poverty, Plant With Purpose helps the rural poor by restoring a … [Read More...]

Copyright © 2023 New Identity Magazine. All Rights Reserved · Log in