Every Other Row

Several years ago a precious, Godly, young couple in our church moved to a new town about an hour or two away. One of the first things they did was to set out to find a new church to fellowship with, serve with and grow with.

This great couple barely made it through the back doors of the small church before the service started. They had their two young daughters in tow along with coats and purses and Bibles and backpacks that were overflowing with coloring books, crayons and other sundry items to keep the girls occupied during the service. Fortunately for them they found a place near the back so they could slip in just as the first verse was in full swing.

Just as they had gotten themselves situated….someone from behind was tapping them on the shoulder whispering loudly to them, “Every Other Row!!!” Not sure what they were saying, the lady repeated even louder, “EVERY OTHER ROW!!” Then it hit them! Looking around them, sure enough, people were sitting on every other row….everyone but them, that is!!

So, wanting to comply with their “rules” they began to pack up all their “stuff” and move to an “other” row. Much to their dismay….and the disruption to the entire service….the only place left was all of the way to the front of the church. There they go, girls and bags and books and coats in tow, to the very first pew. Come to find out….the people in that church sit in “every other row” because the ushers walk down the rows to serve the Lord’s supper.

Fortunately, this couple were believers….but what if someone had come to seek God and sat in the "wrong" row? Would this church's traditions and rules have kept them from wanting to know Him?

What do you think would have been a better way for the church member to have handled it?

Do you, my fellow pastor’s wife have any “rules” or traditions that might be rigid? Needless? I heard someone say that their senior pastor’s wife wants all of “her” staff wives to wear dresses or skirts and pantie hose on Sundays. Jesus spoke quite a bit about being like the Pharisees. Let’s take a look at what we “require” of others and think about setting people free instead of binding them up.