ESPECIALLY DURING WORSHIP!

Ah, it’s the first Sunday in Lent 2020. Most people on social media will be celebrating home church today. I’d love to say, “home church,” inferring that people are gathered together in homes, worshiping and praising God. As wonderful as that would be, that’s not what’s taking place. Most folks are at home on the couch by themselves, watching some of their 400+ television channels or surfing social media for the CrazyRussianHacker’s next post on YouTube.

During the last few months of sabbatical, I’ve visited many churches. I’ve taken this as an opportunity to especially visit plenty of older, traditional-style churches. The sanctuaries are beautiful beyond words, but I’ve noticed something ugly and unfortunate in all of them. 

As some might expect, many churches are facing a decline in attendance. I see these massive sanctuaries that can seat hundreds of folks, yet there’s only a few folks who are seated in the pews. However, the ugly part of my observation is not the number of people in attendance. Rather, my concern is the large number of people who are sitting by themselves during worship. Where’s the problem? All of these people know each other, yet they are NOT sitting with each other during worship.

Worship is a joint, common, community experience which is meant to be shared together. If we allow ourselves (and others) to be isolated in worship, we are doing an incredible disservice to each other. As a visitor who walks through your doors, it makes me think that you don’t like each other. It makes me think you have terrible body odor or that you’re in an argument with the people on the other side of the sanctuary. If I wanted to see and hear conflict, I could’ve stayed home and watched reality TV.

Here’s the point: If you have a church that you call home, don’t let anyone (members or visitors) sit by themselves. Take the initiative and sit with them. If you’re in the choir, step out of the choir loft during a prayer and go sit with someone who is alone. Be proactive. Especially if you see visitors (whether it’s just one, a couple, or a family), go sit with them. Visitors don’t know when to stand, sit down, or whatever in your church. Nor do they know “The rules” of worship at your church (I mean, really, how could they?). If they have the courage to walk into your church without knowing anyone, you can certainly have the courage to sit with them and make a new friend.

Church is supposed to be a place that demonstrates love for others. Outsiders know this, and, in part, that’s why they’ve walked through your doors. It’s time that we demonstrate the love for each other that we proclaim, ESPECIALLY during worship.

“O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name TOGETHER.” 
(Psalm 34:3, NRSV).

“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” 
(John 13:34-35, NLT).