Back Rowing

Why do so many worshipers choose the back row in church?

As a speaker I appreciate the faithful few who sit toward the front. They give me eye contact and encouraging smiles. Their position on the front row likely means either (a) they are pillars of the church who care deeply about the Lord, or (b) they are first-time visitors who arrived late and the front row was the only place they could find a seat because the regular attendees already had filled up the back rows.

When I visit a church, I like to choose an anonymous seat near the back where I can simply concentrate on worshiping God. The problem is, a dozen distractions unfold in the rows in front of me. Children squirm and leave for the restroom. A lady files her nails. A young man checks messages on his BlackBerry. A scowling teenager slumps next to her parents, looking like they're all shell-shocked from a nasty quarrel the night before.

Others seated in the back row intrigue me. What's bugging the guy who sits in sullen silence when everyone else stands to sing? Does anyone know the name of the young woman with loneliness written all over her face? Should I help the couple who appear to be first-time visitors as they fumble nervously through the pages of a pew Bible, or would my assistance embarrass them? I wish I could hold a little meeting with all my fellow back rowers. I want to hear their stories and offer them a word of welcome although I'm a visitor myself.

In an essay called "The Inner Ring," C.S. Lewis wrote about the subtle desire we feel to be part of the "in" crowd. By the inner ring, he meant an informal society marked by some form of snobbishness, where those in the loop disparage others outside the circle. The inner ring may contain people of high position and influence, or it may contain those who find a common cause by despising anyone in leadership.

The desire to be part of the inner circle, Lewis says, "is one of the great permanent mainsprings of human action," leading to "struggle, competition, confusion, graft, and disappointment . . . ." He adds, "Unless you take measures to prevent it, this desire is going to be one of the chief motives of your life."

An "us" versus "them" mentality is the enemy of genuine unity. It creates undercurrents of suspicion, condescension, and division. It worms its way into the corporate culture of schools, businesses—and yes, even churches.

Before his conversion, the apostle Paul was a Pharisee of the Pharisees, consumed by his desire to be part of the inner ring. But as a new creature in Christ, he discovered a circle of fellowship as wide as God's truth and love would allow. He humbly accepted other Christians, for however varied their personalities and gifts, they were all part of the body of Christ. He saw those outside of Christ as potential insiders who needed to hear the gospel so they could be part of God's family too.

Christian unity is a wonderful thing, but we must never be content with counterfeit oneness. It's not enough to feel comfortable with our familiar circle of acquaintances, happy we belong to the inner ring. Genuine unity leads us to expand our reach, learn new stories, and discover new friends.

Including some who currently sit unnoticed in the back row.