Sitting in Church

For nearly fifty years, I rarely had the opportunity to just “sit” in church. There were opportunities on vacation to sit in church and of course there was the chair on the platform where I sat during certain segments of the church service. The perspective has certainly changed since retirement. 

But sitting in church is a lot more than position or posture. I will delve into both aspects in this blog entry. Sitting in church might be construed as the casual church goer who sits through the service and leaves doing nothing to serve the Lord. He’s just a pew-sitter. Sitting in church might involve being fully engaged in the worship followed by a week of ministry, discipling and service in the Kingdom, yet being oblivious to others sitting in church with them. You might have other mental images of what sitting in church might apply to some.

Before I proceed further, let me talk about the sometimes dreaded “Meet and Greet.” Extroverts love traipsing around the church hugging and catching up with people, while introverts count every uncomfortable minute until this exercise is over. There has to be a happy medium that allows people to connect with each other in addition to sitting in church. As pastor, I heard it from both sides, and honestly I don’t have a good answer. However, this I do know from years of observing my own church and those I’ve visited as well as hearing comments from especially new attenders. Some greet the same people they know and have walked past others they don’t know; some never reach out to someone who they don’t know and would ask me after the service, “Who are they?” Some have suggested we all wear name tags because, “I just don’t know people’s names (ha ha),” and the people whose names they didn’t know have attended the church for years! I’ve watched visitors just stand there as people passed by, maybe giving them a nod or a weak “hello.” Yes, I’ve had people tell me that nobody talked to them. On the other hand, some newcomers have felt awkward being asked too many questions or trying to force the issue. Like I said, I don’t know the answer, but for sure, we can do better.

Now for another reflection from a retired pastor. I attend church, sit in the pew, and try my best to engage in every aspect of the service, including greeting those who are sitting in church with me. But last Sunday I was struck with an overwhelming reality. For over 2,000 Sundays I couldn’t sit with my wife and family in church. I watched during the sermon how she wrestled with young children training them how to sit in church as they grew. I saw her having to take them out of the service when they had had enough of sitting quietly, and there was nothing I could do to help. I am not suggesting that this indicated a failure on anyone’s part, quite the opposite. My wife successfully showed our kids what it means to sit in church. They never complained that it was too boring. They didn’t stop attending as teenagers. They are both active in their churches and teaching their children the same. If you want children in the church to be there for the second and third generation, stop excusing them by saying they need to be entertained elsewhere rather than learning to worship with their parents, even if it might be a single parent.

I can now sit with my wife and worship beside her. What an awesome blessing! Sometimes our son’s family sits near us. And there is nothing better than that! I’m being fed by the preaching of the Word that never fails to touch an area of my life. I enjoy sitting in church at this stage of my life. And I leave church determined to serve the Lord the best that I can.

So this Sunday, as you are sitting in church, don’t just sit there. Engage in the components of worship, embrace those around you, and expect to serve the Kingdom of God however and wherever He leads.