Comfortable?

They look comfortable, don’t they?  Padded seats, padded backs, plenty of spreading space, nice hymnal holders – all a person could hope for in a church pew.  There are only a couple of problems, but not with the pews.

One problem is that church members sit in them on Sunday morning and think that’s all they need to do until the next Sunday morning, thinking they have fulfilled an obligation.  There are other services.

Sunday evening services have fewer attendees.  Mid-week services even fewer.

Our Wednesday services are a bit different.  True, only one side of the sanctuary is used from September to May, but there are more people in the building – children in their classes number about 90, with a good-sized number of teachers, assistants, activity leader and kitchen help providing treats for all.  There are a large number in the youth group, too, with four leaders. in there.  Of course, there’s the nursery – that fluctuates!

Sitting in those comfortable pews is not following Christ’s teachings.  Oh, yes there is that one verse:

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.  (Hebrews 10:25 KJV)

But sitting quietly listening to the sermon is such a small part.  Even in this verse we’re called to action to exhort one another.  Christ’s commandments are calls for action, not for hearing.  James got it:

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. (James 1:22 KJV)

On Thursday nights we fellowship with members of our church.  It’s fun, but it’s not a part of a ministry; it’s not part of what reaches out to non-Christians to tell them of His love and show them He has plans for their lives.  When church membership reaches a point where it is all fellowship with like-minded believers, we are not fulfilling God’s plans.  We’re not following the great commission:

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:19-20 KJV)

We are here as teachers.  We are to become more like Christ, to be His examples.  He was in the synagogue, just as we are in the sanctuary, but He was involved in the service.

And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, (Luke 4:16-17 KJV)

After reading, He explained the scripture:

And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. (Luke 4:21 KJV)

Can we open our Bibles to Matthew 28:19-20, teach people and explain to them that we are fulfilling scripture?