where to sit in church
January 23, 2007
Last Monday, I went up to the Bronx to hear the Presiding Bishop deliver a sermon on Martin Luther King (since I work for a parish in the Bronx, I didn’t feel like too much of a carpetbagger). I walked into the service about 15 minutes early but, as you might expect, the place was already filled up. The usher handed me a program and said, “there might still be a few seats in the back corner, behind the choir. Unless you’re clergy, of course - we have reserved seating in the front for clergy.”
Now I should have said that I was a priest; the New Testament makes it quite clear that there is only one priesthood: the priesthood of Christ. Furthermore, we are all initiated into it by the merit of our baptism, making the entire church a priestly nation.
If I were really on top of things, I could have shouting something like, “Beware of the scribes who like to walk around in long robes and love the best seats in the synagogues! They shall receive the greater damnation!” Maybe I could have waved my arms around a bit to increase the effect…
Unfortunately, I’m not that quick on my feet or nearly that snarky. Instead I just shot my girlfriend a look and went to find a seat in the corner. Later on, I remembered that Jesus suggested that we “go and sit in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes, he may tell you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you.” Maybe this is why so many churchgoers like to sit in the back…
Anyway, this weekend I had the singular pleasure of helping a bunch of high schoolers plan a worship service for the Cathedral of Western Michigan. These guys did not have reserved seating for clergy. In fact, there was barely any sitting involved at all. The congregation wandered around, did the “Thriller” dance, gathered around the altar in a clump, and threw juice boxes at each other. It might not have been the most nuanced and evocative liturgy I’ve ever seen, but there certainly weren’t any power dynamics on display. It was really, really cool to see how engaged the kids were in making a service for themselves.
And I guess this is why I’ve found my way into the emerging church. I’m just not interested in seeing worship created for me by an ecclesiastical elite; I want to make worship for myself. I’m not interested in feeling like a spectator, I want to be engaged. I’d rather have my worship feel a little rough around the edges than feel like I’m a second-class citizen.
2 Responses to “where to sit in church”
Amen!
By Mike Croghan on Jan 24, 2007
You know Isaac, I think that’s why I have found myself at “oddball” churches such as the ones I have mentioned to you in the past. Together we have created worship or if the church is largest enough that it’s created for us then it’s usually by people who are humble enough to say, “I messed up.” or “I’m your servant.” or as Todd once put it at Regen back in Cali… “I’m a dork.” I appreciate the williness to say, “I may be on this pedestal but I got issues too.” (transparency)
By Renata on Jan 24, 2007