What Is Camp? Part 3 “Camp: The Ultimate Work of Shepherding”

Shepherding and the Camp Experience

If camp in biblical history ties us to the wilderness, a second biblical theme directs us to make the wilderness journey. That theme is the metaphor of shepherding.

Shepherds at Work

Historically shepherds have served the world by feeding, protecting, and otherwise tending sheep. You probably knew that. Sheep are grazers. They pretty much eat what you put in front of them but they’re a little fussier than goats. Goats eat anything. But goats don’t bear the same “fruit” sheep do. Sheep make wool. But to make wool they need a more particular and richer diet.

Most shepherds throughout history have known the need to vary and improve the flock’s diet. To that end they’ve adopted an annual ritual which serves that purpose. In season, shepherds will lead their sheep away from their regular dwelling place to higher wilderness locations. The reason they do this is because strategic feeding opportunities uniquely presented themselves there and then. They drive their flock away from home, past distractions, protecting them from wild animals, carefully, patiently, and doggedly getting them to a place where they know they nourishment is waiting.

The shepherds who head their flocks to the hills aren’t motivated to go by boredom or sentimentality or even tradition. They’re certainly not elites on vacation. They do what they do because wisdom and experience has taught them that their efforts will reward their sheep with fresh, rich, healthful sustenance. They lead the flock for their good and so that their sheep will be more fruitful.

Biblical Shepherds

Moses and Jesus followed this model. Moses led God’s people through the wilderness as a shepherd (Deuteronomy 31:2; Numbers 27:16-17, Acts 7:40). Jesus, the Good Shepherd, did the same (Jn 10:11, cf. Mt 2:6, 9:36, 10:7, 16). With both, they led their flocks away from home to desolate places where they would be fed and taught and led toward covenant with God. And from there their flocks emerged strengthened and equipped for service and fruitfulness in the kingdom of God (Josh 1:1-9, Mt 10:5ff).

The Church-Shepherd’s Journey

When church leaders take young people to camp, they’re following both a time-tested and God-demonstrated disciple-making method. Summer camp is a leading of their flock to where they need to go for their good (Gen 48:15, 1 Peter 5:1-5). Those seasonal trips away from home and into the wilderness are wise, loving, intentional, and providential occasions for great growth. Yes, students could spiritually survive at home on their regular diet of summer life. And no, there is no absolute NT command that everyone must participate in an annual outdoor excursion (there is an OT one…more later). But, not making the effort, when the opportunity affords itself is surely a missed stewardship. It’s sleeping during the harvest, burying a talent that could have made interest, hiding a light that was meant to be shown.

The hard work of planning, the financial costs, the travel challenges, and even the unpredictable events and mishaps all serve a purpose—they strengthen the flock of the young people entrusted to your stewardship. And that brings us to one more biblical element of camp…The Bible. Look for Part 4 next.