Ascending to Church? Not For Me.

Today’s reading (Psalm 120, 121 & 122) begins what are called the “Psalms of Ascent.” The psalms were songs, and these psalms were sung as people came to Jerusalem and ascended to the top of Mount Zion to gather, worship, and have a feast before God. You especially get that feel in Psalm 122, and how it starts, “I rejoiced with those who said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the LORD.'”

What’s interesting is that people would travel a great distance (on foot or donkey) to gather together and worship God, and they did it with great joy. But I meet more and more people today who believe in God, consider themselves Christ-followers, but never gather and worship.

Now trust me, I understand. I understand seeing problems in the church and being hesitant to be a part of it. I understand being busy. I understand being turned off by the fake plastic smiles some Christians consider dress code for Sunday mornings.

But I also understand that God has designed us to be a part of something bigger than us when it comes to worshiping Him. Yes, we can worship Him alone, but there’s also a reason that God’s people have met up for thousands of years to learn about and celebrate and serve worship Him together. And I also understand that if you’re missing that, you’re missing out on something you need.

So whatever’s holding you back – busyness, bitterness, selfishness – overcome it, find the best church you can, and go. It won’t be perfect, and it will become less perfect when you show up (!), but ultimately it will be good for you, and my guess is that God will smile.