If you go to our church, at our campus, and attend the 9:00 service – you may disregard this post. In fact, please do!
Parents, do you want your kids to feel more apart of your church service? Do you want it to feel more real for them? Do you want them to be more interested?
Move up to the front. Your kids will be able to see better. They will feel more present. You will feel more a part of the worship.
We choose the second row. Obviously you don’t want to sit in the front row. It will make you feel uncomfortably bare. Because obviously, the worship leaders or pastors may pull out their laser guns and shoot you. You need at least one pew to act as a sort of barrier or shield. But only one is required for this kind of protection. And the closer you are to the front, the greater the chance your kids won’t be directly behind some 6’4’’ hulk (like me) that will make it so they can’t read the words on the big screen.
A word on behavior: One thing that keeps people from sitting up near the front is the fear that their kids will act in a negatively impactful manner. And this will be more visible to more people if you’re up front. True.
But these are behaviors you could attend to no matter how far back you are. Attend to them. Bring the child out of the service. Administer whatever discipline you use for your kids. Then bring them back in.
Having your children enjoy and think about worship is more important than not looking bad.
You might be thinking: But Jamsco, your kids never give you problems, right? You’ve never had to deal with behavioral issues in the middle of a church service! Au Contraire. And consider this. If your children are closer to the front, they may be more interested in the service and be less distracted and less prone to act in distracting ways*.
Other Perceived Downsides:
(1) Sitting up front, you risk people thinking you think you’re a better than average family.
(2) You also risk thinking you’re a better than average family.
But read some of the passages in Proverbs about pride and humility. And think about how really good looking families on the outside are sometimes the most dysfunctional behind closed doors. Considering these things will help Downside 2 go away.
And then Downside 1 isn’t really a problem, right? If it is, find other ways to appear humble.
Worship happens in all rows of the sanctuary. But kids who can see are more likely to hear from, learn from, and participate in the worship.
*And can we recommend practicing sitting still at home? We call this “Bible Time.” My wife does this daily with our kids.
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Here is my post linking to all the posts in this “Why I do this” series of posts.
6 comments
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December 21, 2009 at 9:57 am
abigailsleftovers
I’ve seen your clan get displaced before. It was slightly humorous.. Like lost puppy dogs. 🙂 But the Lord provided gracious seating elsewhere as I recall. 🙂
December 21, 2009 at 11:36 am
jamsco
Yes. We are very motivated to get to church on time.
December 21, 2009 at 12:22 pm
Andy
Let’s hear it for the front row! I would agree wholeheartedly with this post. This is exactly why we moved from the back a few years ago.
December 21, 2009 at 12:48 pm
philthecarl
This is good advice for me considering my son just turned 2 last week. I look forward to him sitting with us in the sanctuary.
This post gives me an excellent perspective different than my own. I always prefer to be at the back, even on the floor against the back wall or standing on the outskirts, especially during the singing time (I feel more free to move and dance and whatnot).
I think also because I’m so tall, and I don’t have a problem paying attention or seeing from greater distances I don’t mind sitting in the back. I don’t like being the 6’4″ guy in the way either 🙂 When I raise my hands I’m 8’6″!
The sweetest spot for sound is about half way up the middle isle, and few chairs in. Sometime during rehearsal you should go there and hear the difference, it’s quite amazing.
It was the same way for me when I was at Bethel. My regular chapel chair was in the balcony 2nd to last row. The last row was two close to the back wall.
I’m sure there’s deep psychological reasons for all this, but I’m going to focus on your great, practical advice.
Thanks Jamsco!
January 16, 2010 at 4:04 pm
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