One of the challenges that surfers face when approaching God is believing that surfing and God have nothing in common—that they cannot be related.
They are seen as opposites.
Some say it’s not possible to be a Christian and love surfing at the same time.
I’ve heard it said that they cannot be related because life in the water is more connected to nature than to God.
In reality, surfing has much to do with God, more than with anything else. And there are two important reasons I want to share with you today to demonstrate how connected we, as surfers, are to God.
The first reason why surfing and God go hand in hand is: that the surfer depends on God’s creation to ride their board.
God is the designer of the waves.
Psalm 95:4-5
Our God has the depths of the earth in His hands; the mountain peaks are His. The sea is His, for He made it, and His hands formed the dry land.
Psalm 89:8-9
Lord God Almighty, who is like You? You are mighty, Lord, and Your faithfulness surrounds You. You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, You still them.
- The surfer needs the creative power of God.
God demonstrated His infinite power by creating the entire universe.
The oceans, in particular, show the majesty of His creative power.
The waves are a constant testament to His greatness and control over nature.
Who doesn’t recognize God’s greatness when hearing the roar of the sea on a winter afternoon?
The sea and the waves are an intelligent design that could not have created themselves—there is a powerful designer behind them, and His name is God.
Therefore, consciously or unconsciously, the surfer is in a full relationship with God’s creation. - The second reason that connects surfers to God has to do with the first reason.
It is about the task God gave humanity to govern over His creation.
Human beings, in particular, are the only created beings who have the privilege of governing over all of God’s material creation.
Do you know why we are different from all other created beings? Because God created us in His image and likeness.
Genesis 1:26-28
“Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
Psalm 8:3-8
When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place, what is mankind that You are mindful of them, human beings that You care for them? You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. You made them rulers over the works of Your hands; You put everything under their feet.
Being created in the image and likeness of God means having the ability to govern over creation.
This image includes abilities such as:
- Reasoning and creativity
- The ability to manage and govern
- The ability to learn and adapt
- The gift of appreciating the beauty of creation
All of these abilities are what give us the possibility of riding a wave every time we come for a session.
Without these abilities and the creative power of God over the waves, surfing would not exist. Therefore, surfing and God go hand in hand, they are connected.
Conclusion:
Surfing is not only compatible with the Christian faith, but it can also be a deep expression of our relationship with God. Through the waves, we experience both His power and our calling to govern His creation.
Practical Application
- Recognize and thank God for the privilege of enjoying His creation.
Give thanks to God every time you ride a wave.
Without Him, it wouldn’t be possible for us to enjoy this sport. - Exercise responsible dominion over nature, being good stewards.
Care for the sea and the beach.
Teach others to do the same. - Use surfing as a moment to connect with the Creator.
Pray before each session.
Meditate on God and His power while waiting for the set.
Remember that our abilities are a gift from God.