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Seeing Worship Differently
"SEEING WORSHIP DIFFERENTLY!”
An older preacher once said, “You should always sit close to the front in worship because the sermon gets worn out by the time it reaches the back.” I don’t think you can find a chapter or a verse on this quote, but I can’t argue with it. After almost 50 years of attending worship services, I have found sitting closer to the front provides me with many benefits. I am less distracted, more focused, and better able to engage in worship. It seems pretty obvious to me that the fewer objects or people between me, the listener, and the preacher, the better the message is received.
The visual distraction on a Sunday morning can be overwhelming. The smiling cute babies being passed up and down the pew, the latecomers, the half-asleep members, the smart phone fiddlers, the overly loud whisperers, and those unwrapping candy are a distraction. The amount of time we have to give to the Lord is limited by all the other things happening in the service.
So, what is a faithful church member to do? Let me suggest three things you might consider.
First, sit close to the front. With rare exceptions, there are fewer distractions when you can see fewer things going on around you, and no, you are not acting like a Pharisee by moving to the front.
Secondly, you might find it visually stimulating to focus on physical elements of the auditorium. You might find it helpful to break your gaze from the song leader or the preacher to focus on the Communion table or the trays prepared for the Lord’s Supper. You might focus on the stained glass windows or the flowers at the front. Sitting in the back simply opens you up to hundreds of visual distractions that a group of people naturally presents.
Lastly, you might want to change up your vantage point in the auditorium. We have four sections facing the pulpit. You might want to consider moving from one section to another when you move closer to the front.
I will simply say that by varying your point of view you give yourself a better opportunity to see things in a different way.
So, this Sunday or next find a different seat. You might be surprised how this simple move can change your view of worship. Who knows? You may even find that you like the new seat.
Written by Larry Schneider
