For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
Psalms 84:10 ESV
This week, I have been both appalled and amazed by the response to the shooting of Charlie Kirk. The act was so senseless and evil that it must have shocked anyone with normal sensibilities. Although I was familiar with Charlie and Turning Point USA, I was unaware of the extent of his influence. I knew he was a Christian who regularly shared his faith. I didn’t know the depth of that faith or how he lived it out.
As the airwaves filled with tributes, one in particular caught my attention. A friend of his said that he was determined to ensure that he could get home every Sunday to attend church with his family. For someone who travelled so much and to so many different places, that was quite a commitment. I later heard his pastor give the same account. He was determined to worship with his family and become part of the local church community. Wow! I hope that idea becomes popular again in our increasingly secular and individualistic culture.
To those who don’t think they need to attend church to live out a life of faith in Christ, I would say, “you’re wrong.” You have needs you don’t know you have, and you won’t know you have them until you’re in the assembly of the saints. You need to be exposed to the gifts of God in your own home church. God has prepared a word for you in the place where you are supposed to be. If you’re not there you will never hear it, and I can’t hear it for you. Show up, listen up, shape up.
Your need to be in church is not just about you. Don’t be selfish. People are watching. They need to see you prioritize the things of God. They know that if you’re really part of ‘the Body of Christ’, you’ll be compelled to connect with the other parts of the body. We are designed by our Maker to seek connection and identification. This drive fills taverns and football stadiums. God put this drive in us to encourage us to connect with other believers. He wants us to depend on each other. Show up and get involved. It will improve your credibility.
I am grateful for Charlie Kirk’s example. I pray that we will pay attention to what made his life so compelling to so many people. See you in church!
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