What would you give up?

[NSMinistries]

Recently a friend visited a church that is very very very big. We'll just leave it at that. They were turned away because of limitation on seating. Come to find out it was due to members not wanting to give up there usual seat for visiters because they might not hear the preacher.

Would you give up your seat for a stranger visiting your church?

[Lizard]

I voted yes, but that may be a little misleading.

I play in the orchestra at my church and "my seat" is on the stage behind the pulpit, so I would not give up that seat to a visitor for obvious reasons (unless the visitor was a guest musician approved to be there).

But before I began playing in the orchestra, I have been asked to and have given up "my" seat in church.

Some church "members" think that the church belongs to them. :no:

(Hint: it is Christ church)

:rant:

[John Reece]

Yes.

[Solly]

Being as I am in the pulpit, no. but in principle, if we ever got that full - oh please Lord, please- then yes.

[NSMinistries]

Today @ 02:38 PM post located here (http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=99536#post99536)
Solly:

Being as I am in the pulpit, no. but in principle, if we ever got that full - oh please Lord, please- then yes.

:thumb:

[themuzicman]

Anyone who wouldn't needs to have their heart checked.

What did Jesus say about taking the seat of low postition at the table?

Were I an usher, I'd find the snobbiest person in the church, and ask them if a visitor that may be unsaved could have their seat, so they could hear the word of God, and maybe come to know Christ.

I'm sure their answer would be quite interesting.

Michael

[Xmansmommy]

I'm appauled to learn that people, professing Christians, wouldn't give up their seat! :rant: I'm truly shaking my head in disbelief this morning. :frown:

[Xmansmommy]

Ummmm where's the poll? I want to vote yes. Of course I'd give up my seat. I would stand, sit on the floor, whatever necessary, so that someone else might be blessed by hearing the word of God. Anyway, I don't see anywhere to vote. :hrm:

[Jacob]

05-17-2003 @ 03:22 AM post located here (http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=99165#post99165)
NSMinistries:

Recently a friend visited a church that is very very very big. We'll just leave it at that. They were turned away because of limitation on seating. Come to find out it was due to members not wanting to give up there usual seat for visiters because they might not hear the preacher.

Would you give up your seat for a stranger visiting your church?

I'd gladly give up my seat. But the scenario leads to some questions:

In a "very very very big" church, how would anyone know if someone else was a visitor, an attender, or a member? I have trouble knowing who's who with my church of 350, and I've been a heavily involved member for 12 years.

Do these members have designated seats? Unless they get there very very very early, I don't see how anyone could regularly get the same, "usual seats".

It appears that this was more likely a situation where members were seated (along with many attenders & visitors), and they hit their capacity for seating. In a very very very large church, unless members were approached and asked to make room for visitors, they would hardly know that a "stranger" was a member, a regular attender, or a visitor.

This all suggests that the problem is with very very very big churches, and not with members who are unknowingly taking the seat of a visitor.

Jacob

[NSMinistries]

Today @ 08:27 AM post located here (http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=103113#post103113)
Jacob:



I'd gladly give up my seat. But the scenario leads to some questions:

In a "very very very big" church, how would anyone know if someone else was a visitor, an attender, or a member? I have trouble knowing who's who with my church of 350, and I've been a heavily involved member for 12 years.

Do these members have designated seats? Unless they get there very very very early, I don't see how anyone could regularly get the same, "usual seats".

It appears that this was more likely a situation where members were seated (along with many attenders & visitors), and they hit their capacity for seating. In a very very very large church, unless members were approached and asked to make room for visitors, they would hardly know that a "stranger" was a member, a regular attender, or a visitor.

This all suggests that the problem is with very very very big churches, and not with members who are unknowingly taking the seat of a visitor.

Jacob

The members of this church all wear name tags.

Whats funny is at the bottom of these name tags it says " Welcome can I help you with anything?"

I know at my church we have had to set up three overflow rooms. Even on special occasions when these get full we have monitors placed in all the hall ways so the members ussually sit on the floor in the hall ways. The one time we had a fire alarm go off the police and firefighters were supprised at how fast and effecient the evac was. We just finished the service on the lawn, glad it wasn't raining...

[spl_cadet]

We use pews (except when there's a ton of people and we have to use the overflow seats). :teeth:

[Ric]

Where is the poll? How can I vote?

[NSMinistries]

the poll is gone? :huh:

[DBoone]

It's always helpful to have issues brought back to the root. I've never even thought about this in practical terms, so thanks for the 'heads up'.

Yes, by all means.

[Bill the Cat]

Yep. Although I go to a very small church.

[Ric]

No answer on where the "poll" is?

[NSMinistries]

No poll yet!!!

[Pilgrim]

Yes I would and yes I have. It's the same concept everywhere though. If you're on a bus and someone else needs a seat, you give it up. It's the southern gentlman thing that my mama drilled into me I guess.

[$cirisme]

Apparently I have to give up voting. :hrm:

:huh:

(Give me a sec, and I'll login to PHPMyAdmin and have looksy)

[$cirisme]

The poll was striped.

NSM, could you PM me the questions, and the options so I can *try* to force it back in?

[$cirisme]

Yep, it appears related to the crash that got yx deleted.

It's supposed to be poll#169, and there are entries for 170 and 168, but no 169. :shrug:

If you send me the options, I will force a poll into the thread.

[Peek-a-boo-baby]

Not every big church has their members wear name tags. But this shouldn't even be an issue. I would give up my seat for anyone I didn't know. If it turns out they were members of the church at least I would be getting to know my (albeit huge) church family. I think there are a lot of people who feel isolated in a big church and would be glad to get mistaken as guests if it meant meeting other people in their congregation.

[Ric]

Cool! :yipee: