Are you ready?

Most have you have likely heard the popular praise song "Come Now Is the Time To Worship". It is a lovely song and it can be a powerful and effective way to lead people in worship. But there is a problem with this song. There is one line that is deeply flawed in it's attitudes towards worship.

"Come just as you are to worship"

It sounds right to our ears. God will take us no matter how broken and love us despite our sins. That is all true of course. It is told very clearly in the tradition hymn, "Just as I Am". This songs talks about absolutely helpless state at which we fall before the cross. But this is not was "Come Now" is talking about.

It is not talking about salvation, it is not about accepted Christ as our Savior. "Come Now" is about worship. It is about it being time to praise God. Should this really be done "just as we are"? No we should prepare for worship. We should prepare for worship and enter into it as the Holy thing that it is. Israelite priests had to undergo extensive rituals in order to cleanse themselves and prepare their hearts to bring the gifts to the alter.

When bring our gift of praise to the alter should we do so "just as we are"?