I was about four years old, when my Dad asked me this question. We had just been at church and I was ready to get out of my dress clothes as soon as possible. I did not like going to church when I was four. I did not like Bible class, and I did not like worship. The night before you had to take a bath and I hated to take a bath. Then you had to get up out of a comfy bed and get dressed for church. Then you had to go to a place you knew you were only going to get in trouble at, and then most likely get a spanking when you got home. All of these things cut into my play time and fun so, in a very real sense, church got in the way of my otherwise happy and carefree childhood.

But I had a plan on that day and I was eager to try it out. As I rode in the back seat on the drive home from church I had untied, unbuttoned and unzipped everything on those hated dress clothes that could be tied, buttoned or zipped. So there I was, getting out of the car and walking up the front walk with my untied shoes clunking whilst I clung to my unbuttoned shirt with one hand to keep it from flying open, and to my unzipped pants with the other hand to keep them from falling down. That's when I heard my Dad ask the question you have already read above, and I knew that I had not escaped another Sunday without another spanking.

I did not like church when I was four. I did not agree with King David when he said this, some three thousand years before I came onto the scene:

I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD."

Psalms 122:1, ESV

Today, however, I understand. It is not about "going to church", it is about going to worship someone whom you love and adore. It is about singing songs of praise to the Father and the Son. It is about taking part in common prayer, and listening to the Word of God. More than anything else, it is about remembering the sacrifice that was made so that we could have our sins washed away. It is about remembering who we are and what we are doing here upon this earth in the first place. It is about encouraging one another, and all the more as we see the day approaching.

In short, it is an honor and a privilege to come together as a body of like minded Christians and to be appreciative for the undeserved chance to serve the King! It is sad when we do not like church at four years old, but is is tragic when we act that way as adults. I now look forward to the worship and to Bible study and to fellowship with my brothers and sisters, but it took time, I am so glad that God, in his mercy gave me that time.  

Are you planning on being at the worship this next Sunday? How about at the mid-week Bible studies? If not, Dad's question might be a good one to try and answer:

What are you doing?

Choose this day whom you will serve... But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

Joshua 24:15, ESV