The Reason Why I Sing

People normally get asked if they believe in God, but do people get asked why a person goes to church? Like why they actually go to church service? Like what makes you get out of bed on a Sunday morning to go to church? I have stated many times that I have been going to church since I was born, but I never really understood WHY I go to church service. I know that if someone asked me that question when I was younger, I would say "Because it's the right thing to do". The honest answer would be, "Because it's my routine, every Sunday I wake up to go to church and if I stay home, I don't feel right." If someone were to ask me that question today, my answer wouldn't be very pleasant.

See. At my church, I go to church service for specific reasons. One reason I go to church is because I absolutely LOVE the music. But, each Sunday of the month, I have a specific reason as to why I go to church... and it's usually not the sermon (I will touch on that below).

1st Sunday of the month: Holy Communion (Gotta start the month off on the right foot).

2nd Sunday of the month: Youth Sunday (I will always support the kiddos).

3rd Sunday of the month: I love the choir that sings on 3rd Sunday's so I must attend.

4th Sunday of the month: I typically don't go to church... (whoops)

5th Sunday of the month (when there is one): My dad sings on the choir so I go to support my old man.

But also, I go to church depending on who is preaching (sometimes). So basically, I make up my mind to go to church for the music but then I have to find out who is preaching as well. Truthfully, whenever two specific Pastors (who are from different churches) are scheduled to preach at my church, I make sure to get to church that given Sunday.

It makes me so angry and frustrated that I realized I found myself going to church only for the musical experience or if I had something to do at the church after service. I wouldn't go to listen to the sermon. I of course would go to get closer to God, but it simply didn't feel like it. So as I started getting older, I thought to myself, "Why do I even bother driving 40 minutes to sit in service for 2 hours and not take anything in except the music?" My parents had this routine every Sunday. They would put on the gospel radio station and we would listen to it on the ride to church. Now many years later, I plug in my phone to the AUX cord and play gospel music on the ride to church and I have no issue with that routine. But truthfully, by the time I park my car at the church, I feel whole, good... spiritual. Music moves me. It helps me engage the words emotionally.

Disclaimer: Now I'm not saying, I am all for Kanye West's church service, I haven't even thought about listening to his "gospel" album.

Ephesians 5:19 reads, "speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord."

Colossians 3:16 reads, " Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts."