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Think You Can’t Achieve Happiness By Being Obedient To God? Think Again

American society values control over almost everything. We want to control things at work, things at home, our finances, our weight, our careers, and our relationships. In such a culture of control, where does God fit in? Can you really achieve success and happiness by turning your life over to God?

Turning over control can be a scary prospect because we always think we know the most about what’s best for us. We forget that God knows what’s best. How do we begin to change that mindset? In order to take the steps necessary to turn over control to God we must purpose to live a life of obedience to Him, acknowledging that He does know what’s best. The problem is that many Christians resist obedience to God. They don’t even like the word obedience and question what it means. They rationalize that Jesus died and rose again to set them free. They don’t want to be bound by the things God tells them to do. The assumption is that since salvation is a free gift, and they don’t have to do anything to get it, they shouldn’t have to live a life of obedience to God. So, they obey when it is convenient and rationalize when it isn’t. That’s a formula for unnecessary worry and an indication that God is not in control of your life.

What makes the difference is that when we listen to God’s commandment to follow His counsel, we gain a life filled with His love, peace, and joy. This relationship begins the journey to a transformed life with God because we finally begin to fulfill the reason we were created, which is to glorify God. We can only do that when we are obedient to Him. At the very same time we purpose our lives to be obedient to God, we begin to turn control over to God and something amazing happens…we achieve the greatest joy in life. As our Heavenly Father, He knows what is best for us even though we generally think we know better than anyone. By being obedient, our desires become more in line with His desires and joy is the result.

It’s easy to see why letting God control every aspect of your life can be difficult for many people. What if after all the years you’ve spent trying to climb the corporate ladder to achieve career success you find out that the path you desire isn’t the path God intended for you? Will you feel as if you’ve just wasted years of your life? Will you feel like you’re settling for something less than you think you can achieve? The simple answer is no.

You can take comfort in knowing that because God created you, he knows you even better than you know yourself. He knows how you think, how you feel, and what makes you tick. Also, His love is perfect. When you remove goals, activities, or possessions that have become more important than God in your life, you become truly free from earthly things that weigh you down in ways you didn’t realize. Making God the number one priority and passion in your life changes your entire perspective. You will discover that your goals will be lined up with His goals for you, and you will experience lasting joy and fulfillment. It doesn’t necessarily mean that you will change your career but your purpose in the career will be aligned with God’s purpose.

This path is certainly rewarding, but it is not without challenges. You may go through times when you find it difficult to do what God wants you to do. You may not always understand why He wants you to take certain directions, but He asks you to trust Him. He can always see the entire road map even when you might only be able to see a few yards down the road. It is when you continue to follow His lead, even through difficult and uncertain times, that you will be refined and strengthened by Him. You will emerge happier and wiser for having been obedient to God.

What’s stopping you from giving God control of your life today? What you gain will be far greater than anything you give away.

Stuart Migdon discovered that his career pursuits left him empty. Upon accepting Jesus, his life turned around and he wrote about his experiences in his new book JESUS TAKE THE WHEEL: 7 Keys to a Transformed Life with God. Go to http://www.LetJesusTakeTheWheel.com for more information on this topic.

Learn the History of Jesus Christ

All throughout the Old Testament are various prophecies detailing the coming of the Messiah. The biblical text are numerous and telling of the life of the Lord. Fast forward through time centuries later and you will come to the birth of Jesus Christ. Many have tried unsuccessfully to try and discredit not only Jesus as being the Son Of God but also his very existence. By using the scriptures themselves in addition to archeology and other historical records aside of the bible, it is easy to disprove the doubters. Such scriptures as 1 Timothy Chapter 3 Verse 16 clearly state this:

Without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

With the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ in around 33 A.D., Christianity was then born. The exact location of when followers of Jesus Christ started calling themselves Christians is recorded in the book of Acts Chapter 11 Verse 26:

And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

One future prophecy mentioned in the book of Matthew is that the Gospel of Jesus Christ would be preached in the whole world, to all nations and then the end would come. With all of the satellite technology that available, we are very close to all nations hearing the Gospel. This belief in Jesus Christ has withstood the test of time and its influence is everywhere.

Many people often assume that other religions with a form of Christianity are indeed Christian. This is completely false. Other religions such as Seventh Day Adventist, Roman Catholics, Mormons and Jehovah Witness to name a few, are not the same as biblically based Christianity. Despite what the Pope of Rome has said about churches outside of the Roman Catholic system not being church’s in its proper sense. Having knowledge of what the bible actually says is the best way to determine which are Christian and which ones are not.

The only problem for those outside of what the bible says and teaches is that the bible itself is the measuring stick of the faith. So if those religions aren’t using the bible as a gauge of belief, then they must be using a man made system. You have to understand that for a Christian, the bible is the THE word of God. Several verses exemplify this but none quite as plain as 2 Timothy Chapter 3 Verse 16 and 17:

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

When you view the life of a Christian from the standpoint of biblical doctrine, there shouldn’t be any confusion as to the way believers are to live. Sadly after nearly two millennium of Christianity underway, much of the world is still completely ignorant as to what Christians adhere to. The only way to know for sure is studying the bible and prayer.

If you want to meet Christians who share the same interest as you please visit our Christian social networking community.

Analysis and History of Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ is the most influential figure in all of history. Whether or not Christ really was the son of God, his impact on society has been more monumental than any other character. Over the millennia, countless gatherers have followed him, and even today, Christianity is by far the largest religion in the world. If you stop to think about it, it is quite awing that one man has had such a profound influence upon the entire world.

The actual name of Jesus was Jesus of Nazareth, and after his death he was given the name Christ, which means Anointed One. He was born somewhere between 7 and 2 BC and died between 26-36AD. The specific dates are unknown, as the two gospels that describe Jesus’s birth and death are somewhat ambiguous. His birthday is celebrated on December 25, which is around the date that his birth is estimated at. Christians believe that three days after Jesus died, he was resurrected, and was present on Earth for forty days until his body ascended to Heaven. He is seen as the Messiah, and as one who died for all of mankind’s sins. In addition, he is the second segment of the Holy Trinity (God the Father, God the Son, Holy Ghost).

While Jesus Christ is primarily associated with Christianity, he is also referenced in other religions. In Islam, Jesus is seen as a prophet, but he is not believed to have any divinity to him. Therefore, they do not believe they he was ever resurrected, but instead, after his death, his body immediately ascended to heaven. Muslims do believe Jesus performed miracles, just without divine influence.

The life and story of Christ is told in the New Testament, which includes the important collection of gospels. The gospels are four canonical books that provide a complete overview of Jesus and all of his teachings. The four books are of Mark, Luke, John, and Matthew. Each one has a different view of Jesus’s life and provides detailed information, and while they do follow some similar themes, they often are quite different. When all of the gospels are combined, an extraordinary depiction of Jesus can be concluded.

Jesus’s birth is perhaps one of the most identifiable things about him. According to the Bible, Mary begat Jesus despite the fact that she was a virgin. This phenomenon is explained by the Holy Ghost, who is supposedly responsible for impregnating Mary. People believed in Jesus since he was born in such an unorthodox way, and it is probable that Jesus would not have had as monumental an effect if not for this part of his life.

When it came time for Jesus to die, he was about thirty years old. He had gathered a large following and was seen as the King of the Jews by many. Jesus foresaw his own death, and even the method in which it was to happen. At his final Passover seder, known as the Last Supper, Jesus himself told his disciples that one of them would betray him, and that betrayal would result in his ultimate demise.

Shortly after that, Judas betrayed him and had him arrested by the Roman Empire. Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, did not believe that Jesus deserved to be executed, as he did not commit any crime against the Romans, and he was not plotting to overthrow them. When he gave the people the choice of freeing Jesus or another criminal, named Barabbas, the people chose to free Barabbas, and thus Jesus was crucified.

If you want to meet Christians who share the same interest as you please visit our Christian social networking community.

Social Events For Christian Singles

When you are single and Christian, you want to meet someone who shares your religious beliefs. It is important to meet someone that has similar values and moral code. Meeting someone at a Christian singles event can be an ideal opportunity. It means that you meet someone you know feels their belief system is just as important to them as it is to you. Many Christian singles feel that there are actually three people in their romantic relationship: them, the other person and God. When you have a relationship with another Christian, you are with someone who understands this and respects this.

Many churches today offer events suited for the Christian single. When your church does not offer events for the Christian single, ask your priest or minister for suggestions, as they may know of a related congregation that offers Christian singles events that you can attend. Some churches have much larger congregations and some churches have a larger number of single members. It is these churches that will offer events for single Christians.

Just about any type of social activity can be fun for a single event for Christians. One of the most popular events to hold is a casual dinner and dance event. This event can include a potluck type of supper where everyone brings a dish that they have prepared. Bringing music CDs to play for everyone to dance is also a lot of fun. Many Christian singles prefer Christian rock, and bringing music that they like ensures that they will have music that they enjoy most at their singles event.

Singles events for Christians can also be themed towards Christian holidays. A Christmas event can be decorating a Christmas tree together, drinking hot cocoa, and eating Christmas cookies. Or putting together food baskets for the hungry, as many Christians like to do good works. For Easter, Christian singles could make Easter eggs with underprivileged children or even children in their own church. Or an Easter supper could be planned for Christian singles without family close by. Some singles do live on their own and traveling home becomes costly.

Letting the group plan its own events is very important. Sometimes the church will designate a group leader that can take charge of the event. It is critical that the group leader be open to suggestions from all group members, as there are times other group members will have great ideas for events. The group should not be a place for only one agenda or only one type of event. A wide variety of events is best, to please and satisfy all members. Surveying all members at least once a year can also help to gauge if the group is meeting everyone’s needs.

A singles event is not just a place to meet a potential mate, it is also a place to make new friends and create a sense of community. This shown to happen when Christian singles come together as a church group to connect with each other. Friendships develop and yes, romances do bloom. There is the chance to dance and cry at each others weddings. Most importantly, it is a time to meet other singles that share your values and beliefs.

If you want to meet Christians who share the same interest as you please visit our Christian social networking community.

Benefits of Christian Social Networking

Traditional social networking websites like MySpace and Facebook are fine decisions for those who want to get in to the social networking scene. They have tens of millions of members and are constantly growing at a rapid pace. The websites also have tons of features and a variety of options. For some people, the immense size of a social network is actually a deterrent to joining, as huge social networks can be quite intimidating.

Also, there is no focus on the big social networks, as they target everyone who has a computer and Internet connection. Maybe you are interested in a smaller, more targeted social network, one that is not threatening in the least bit and is tailored to your specific needs. Entrepreneurs have recognized that religion is a huge part of people’s lives, and thus have created social networks centered on a specific religion, usually Christianity, as it is the largest religion in the world.

Why should you choose a Christian social network over a regular social network? As was stated, these special networks are smaller and easier to navigate than the huge social networks that most people are familiar with. Also, you can be sure that you will not get in to any unpleasant debates about religion, as everybody is Christian. Some social networks even break things down further and center on a certain sect of Christianity, such as Protestantism or Catholicism.

Even though Christian social networks do not have as many members as the MySpaces or Facebooks, they retain most of the attractive features that made the original social networks popular. You can still create profiles, add pictures, host a blog, post in forums, and join groups, as well as document all your interests, beliefs, friends, and important events. Some sites even replicate the look and feel of MySpace to facilitate the transition over to their network. Therefore, if you have any qualms about joining a Christian social network because you think it will feel irregular, you can dispel those worries without any problems.

Parents should be especially interested in Christian social networks, as they are much safer and youth oriented than mainstream social media websites. In large social networks, it is impossible to escape adult oriented content, even if you are not seeking such content out. Also, Internet crime is rising, and criminals are using the protection of social networking websites to carry out their activities without fear of being caught.

A child is much more likely to get caught up in something like that on MySpace than on a Christian network. In addition, Christian parents most often would like to spread their values to their children, and what better way to do that than to convince children to become members of a religiously themed social network. That way, instead of time being wasted on the Internet. It is actually somewhat productive, as the child is increasing their faith, learning more about religion, and meeting like minded individuals.

Businesspeople can also find benefits in Christian social networks. Relationships are an integral part of conducting business, and having the same religion is a quick way to establish a basic relationship with nearly anybody. Subconsciously, people like to associate with others who are similar to them, and by openly sharing your religion (knowing no negative debate will come up about it), you establish common ground.

If you want to meet Christians who share the same interest as you please visit our Christian social networking community.

Add Daily Bible Study to Your Life

Many people have studied the Bible. It is considered one of the most ancient and respected books on earth. The Bible is used by Christians of many denominations. There are several different versions of the Bible, with one of the most popular being the King James Version of the Bible.

You can study the entire Bible in a year by dedicating some free evening or morning time to this project. Most people read the Bible as it is presented chronologically. For those new to Bible study, getting a Bible study workbook can be quite useful as this will suggest passages of the Bible you may wish to reflect on and ways to organize your study. Some who have attended church for a long time or those who have studied the Bible in the past may be more confident with self-study methods. By simply reading a page or two of the Bible each night, you will work your way through the Bible most often in a calendar year.

Some that decide to study the Bible may be surprised to learn that an excellent tool to add to your study methods is by actually writing in your own Bible. Adding your own personal notes about sermons, passages that have inspired you or even meditations on Bible quotes can only deepen your learning experience. The Bible is a book that you can study again and again. Many that take up Bible study choose to study it year after year, learning something new about passages they have re-read for years as their knowledge and understanding increases.

Taking a Bible study class can also be quite useful. Your church or town may offer a Bible study class. Sometimes if your church does not offer one, it can be an excellent idea to volunteer to start one. Usually you are not the only one in your church congregation studying the Bible. Other church members would likely welcome the company of a group to study the Bible. Your priest or minister could lead the group, or you could be a self-led group run by church volunteers. Bible study classes are a great way to encourage learners at different rates as everyone has something valuable to offer.

Each church member comes to the Bible with different personal experiences and a unique perspective. Some may have studied the Bible for years and others may be very new to this experience. The richness of this type of group can be a valuable experience for everyone. Even those who have studied for years can learn something from the fresh viewpoint of someone who is new to Bible study.

No matter your personal beliefs or perspective, Bible study will offer you a world of its very own. This ancient book has been studied by scholars, priests and people from all walks of life. There are passages in the Bible that can be adapted to modern day concerns of every kind: from environmental concerns, adultery, cheating on your taxes, pre-teen dating, premarital intercourse and drug addiction. The Bible offers great wisdom and a unique perspective on the world unlike any other: it is the word of God.

If you want to meet Christians who share the same interest as you please visit our Christian social networking community.

Who is God and What Are His Characteristics

The topic of God is one of the most controversial and, for many people, important of our time. Whether or not one believes in God, nobody can deny the immense power that the subject has over the world. The idea of God has lead people to drastically change their lives, help other humans, and try to change the world for the better. It has also lead to the deaths and suffering of millions upon millions of people.

What exactly is God? The word God is usually associated with the chief monotheistic religions, including Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Polytheistic religions usually do not refer to any single entity as just God, as they have many Gods, and either give them unique names or give them a descriptive title, such as Sun God or Earth God. These demigods often have more human characteristics than the all powerful, more mystic, monotheistic God. Four descriptive words cover the essence of God: omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence, and omnibenevolence.

Omnipotence means having unlimited power, which would be required of a being that can create something as unfathomably huge as the universe. In regards to this property, there is a certain paradox that is quite well known and has triggered a lot of debate. The omnipotence paradox is summed up by the phrase, Could God create a stone so heavy that he himself could not lift it? If God creates a stone of such mass that he cannot move it, then he is not all powerful, but if he cannot create a stone that heavy, then he is not omnipotent. Therefore, there are questions as to what omnipotence really means, and what an omnipotent being can do. For the sake of religion, it is simply defined as God being able to do whatever he wants when he wants.

Omniscience is defined as knowing everything. For God to completely know everything, he would have to know for infinite time the fates of all humans, and this belief is called predestination. It is contrasting to free will, as if one was truly free, they could decide their own fate, and God would not be able to know it. Those that are not comfortable with the idea of predestination choose to believe that God is inherently omniscient. Meaning that he can choose whatever he wants to know, but does not actually know everything at once.

Omnipresence is being everywhere at once, which is an important concept for believers of God. After all, it is quite comforting to believe that there is a powerful being surrounding you at all times. Technically, if something is omnipotent and omniscient, they would inherently be omnipresent. The monotheistic God is one of the only deities believed to be omnipresent, as most of the polytheistic gods have a set place where they stay.

Finally, the less heard of the “Three Os”, omnibenevolence, means being all good, and always choosing good over evil. While some people describe the monotheistic God as possessing omnibenevolence, most people would not agree with the description upon further deduction, as the stories of God describe him as doing what we would consider evil acts, such as killing humans.

Of course, one could say that because God is omniscient, he knows who to kill that would make the world a better place. Every characteristic of God is linked and constantly debated, and nobody will ever know the true properties of God, or even if he is real or not.

If you want to meet Christians who share the same interest as you please visit our Christian social networking community.

Ten Signs That You Might be a Fundamentalist

Presently, fundamentalism is a hot topic. Many folks have been astonished at the level of evil perpetrated by Islamic fundamentalists, the most notable example being the events of 9/11. Those events are indelibly etched on the American psyche. Recently, news stories of the fall of Ted Haggard, a prominent evangelical, have attracted attention. After years of railing against homosexuality and assorted other sins, Haggard, president of the National Association of Evangelicals, was “caught” committing the very “sins” he so railed against. More recently, Americans have been shocked at revelations of events happening at the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints compound in Texas.

All of these groups and individuals involved would likely be viewed as fundamentalist. Is there some common denominator they all share? I have recently noted that some fundamentalists, who once proudly claimed the title, are presently reticent to make use of the label. Some American Christian fundamentalists have been opting for the title “Bible-believing,” although their belief system hasn’t changed. Once again the question is raised, is there any common denominator(s) among the variety of fundamentalists?

Two come to mind. First, there is the idea of absolute certitude. This is certitude that is unequivocal. On the points of doctrine on which fundamentalists groups claim certitude, they are highly unlikely to think they may be in possible error or that these points should ever be examined. The second characteristic is the importance of the fundamentalist culture from which their fundamentalism emerges. This culture supports adherents and discourages asking questions or incubating doubt. These two characteristics they have in common.

From these two commonalities, some signs that one might be a fundamentalist come to mind. I thought it might be instructive to construct a list of “Ten Signs that You Might be a Fundamentalist.” Bearing my all too apparent fallibility in mind, here is an attempt at such a list (note that I speak here of Christian fundamentalism, although the signs apply, with a little tweaking, to all varieties):

1. You tend to see the world in terms of dualities. Everything is black and white with little in the way of shades of gray. If someone is not right about the essence of your faith, he is wrong. Period!

2. Going along with that idea, the other’s “wrongness” doesn’t only extend to matters of faith. You begin to think that the other person is at her core a “wrong person.” She is flawed in some way.

3. This leads to the notion that there is a basic “them and us.” There exists two basic groups of people, the subgroup with which you identify and the rest of the world.

4. The “rest of the world” is under the control of the Dominion of Darkness. The world is not only different and wrong in what it believes; it is basically evil. You are part of the righteous ones. Those unlike you are most certainly not.

5. The basic character of “the world” is everywhere. It is in the public schools. It is in the libraries. It is on the television (Well, there might be something to that one!). It is in the government. It takes in the folks on your street.

6. Your task is to get out of the world. Find alternative books, music, schools, friends, associates, etc.

7. If you can’t escape it completely (Who can?), it is your task to launch a mission to make the world match the fundamentalist subculture. You must work to make the schools more Christian, for example. You must work to make government godlier. It is your task to change society in the direction of your religious beliefs.

8. Generally, you associate with conservative causes. You may not agree with the policies of all conservative politicians, but there are always issues that take on major importance. In the US, these usually amount to abortion and gay marriage/rights. The view is myopic and only the “hot button” issues matter.

9. You will usually “follow the leader.” There are several well-known fundamentalist Christian leaders in the US. The fundamentalist faithful take their cue from them. They set the agenda. It is difficult for you to do much other than walk in lock step to the beat of their drummer.

10. Finally, if anyone should ask, these are not your ideas. You must follow them because they mark out God’s agenda. To be a fundamentalist is simply another term for being a follower of God. Those in churches that disagree with the basic tenets of fundamentalism are lost. They don’t know God. In short, they aren’t really Christians at all.

Do all ten of the characteristics apply to all fundamentalists? In reality, folks are probably fundamentalist by degrees. However, the two elements of certitude and a supporting, indoctrinating subculture are universal characteristics. I want to end with an assignment. Go back over the list and write the inverse of each point. What would such person or society acting on reverse characteristics look like?

James C. Alexander, Ph.D. is an education professor at a church related college and a bi-vocational minister who publishes regularly in the areas of education and religion. His latest book is Stories of a Recovering Fundamentalism: Understanding and Responding to Christian Absolutism. His blog site is located at Repentant Fundie.

Church Chairs a Long Due Makeover

A few centuries ago, in the 1600’s you may not have been likely to find chairs in all churches. If you did find seating, chances are good it would not have been in good shape because money was not readily available and churches often had their congregation stand rather than sit. Today, however, church chairs are a necessity. Very few people are likely to attend a church that doesn’t give them somewhere to sit!

Frequently in the 1600s and 1700s, and even the 1800s, those churches that did have church chairs or pews for the congregation chose to rent that seating out, so in order to have a place to sit on Sunday, you paid for your family to have a pew or chairs reserved for them. Unlike today, that means that your family could be the last ones in the door, but you would still have a place to sit while others who arrived before you may have had to stand. Obviously, if your family was financially well-off, you were more likely to have pew space, and less-wealthy families who could not afford it would have to stand.

Later, near the end of the 1800s, churches began to rethink their church chairs and seating arrangements. It became more important to offer pews or chairs to the congregation, and it was becoming more important to allow everyone a place to sit regardless of their ability to pay for the privilege. Typically back then, and still today, church chairs and other church furniture is expected to match; that is, they should be made out of the same kind of wood. Today, that is not as difficult to accomplish as it was a few hundred years ago. Back then, building church chairs was time consuming and required the skill of many workers. It was also more difficult to get “matching trees” to have matching furniture. Usually, a church would buy all the same type of lumber all at the same time to ensure that the wood would all be the same. So, once that was done, the church had wood but no stacking church chairs, regular church chairs, or pews. All they had was raw wood.

Once the lumber arrived, it was time to get the wood in the best possible shape for furniture making. It had to be put somewhere out of the elements and the best place was a place that could be heated so some of the natural wetness in the wood could evaporate and the woodworkers could work with wood that had been dried a little. Then, the wood had to be cut to the right size and any natural blemishes had to be removed. Then, the woodworkers could begin their skilled carving of the church chairs or pews.

They would carve out the individual pieces of the church furniture first; for example, they would make the legs and arms, then the seat, then the back. Once those were carved, all the pieces could be put together to form complete church chairs. They could be held in place with special types of glue and/or jigs. It was important that the church furniture be finely crafted so that it would last a long time and also remain intact with its beautiful and pretty looks. So, you can see what a time-consuming and difficult task it used to be to make church furniture! To keep those church chairs looking their best, they needed to be waxed and/or oiled on a regular basis, as well, so upkeep was important also.

Today, most church furniture is manufactured by machine in factories, so it is less time-consuming and takes a smaller percentage of the church budget than it did a few hundred years ago. Some fine wooden church furniture is still oiled, but for the most part modern church chairs and pews have a lacquer coating or some other kind of wood finish that simply allows the furniture to be dusted to look its best.

As evidence of the difficulty in getting a lot of church chairs or pews in a church, you can look to St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. The Basilica itself is huge, but the seating is very limited. That probably has to do with the complicated and time-consuming method of church chair building that was necessary several centuries ago.

Nowadays, it is not nearly so difficult to furnish a church. Church furniture is mass produced, and even if it is not, shipping of lumber and improvements in furniture making equipment have made the task of providing church furnishing so much easier. In fact, if you ever find yourself with the task of furnishing a church, you can probably get everything you need from the Internet. What could be simpler than that?

Seomul Evans is a seo copywriter for a leading Church Chairs manufacturer specializing in affordable Church Chairs.

Church Pews a Historical Perspective

Picture this scenario. It is about 8:00 am on a Sunday morning and you have stumbled out of bed knowing that it is your responsibility to wake up your other family members, feed them breakfast, and get them dressed in their “Sunday best.” Even though you are tired an might just like to pull the covers over your head, you live up to your family’s expectations and prepare them and yourself for the Sunday services at your local church. You cook bacon and eggs, find some stockings that don’t have a run, get out your pumps and flowered dress, and the do all those same things for your daughter. You find your son’s tie that he can’t find for himself, and tie your husband’s tie straight because he can’t do that either. You are not even out the door yet, and already you are tired and your feet hurt. You pile everyone into the car and are careful to bring Cheerios for your toddler to snack on and a coloring book for the older kids so they won’t misbehave during the sermon. You can’t wait to get in there and slide into your favorite pew. What would happen if you got there only to discover that your church was no longer having the congregation members sit? You discover to your shock that the church chairs and pews have been removed and you are expected to stand for the entire service. Chances are, you would be distraught, and thankfully that is not likely to happen.

Anyone who has ever walked into a modern church knows that there are either going to be church chairs or church pews to sit on. Not having any kind of seating would be unheard of in our society today. Several centuries ago, however, most churchgoers were expected to stand rather than sit, so churches did not have pews. Most churches were built around a dome or central area where priests or preachers would preach, while the congregation stood around. It worked well for standing parishioners, but around the seventeenth century, the congregation began to be expected to participate more, and the need for seating increased. Still, however, there was not much seating, and the pews or church chairs that did exist were typically reserved for the wealthier people who could afford to pay the church rent money to hold their pew open for them until they arrived. In the 1700s it was common for pews to have a family’s name on them and everyone knew that those pews were reserved for that family. Even if a family did not arrive for worship, the pew was still theirs and remained empty while others stood.

Then, around the mid-1800s, church seating began to evolve further. It became uncommon to pay for a reserved spot on a church pew, and church pews were filled much as they are today, on a first-come/first-serve basis. Still, though, it was uncommon to find adequate pew space in churches.

As pews began to become more mainstream, there were different areas of pews for different people. Generally, the more affluent people sat closer to the altar or pulpit, while the poorer people sat farther away. There would also be special seating for black people, children, and sometimes widows. They may or may not have been labeled with the proper designation, such as Negro Pews or Widow Pews. When slavery was still the custom in the United States, slave owners could pay for pew space in order to have their servants close to them to tend to their needs, or sometimes there would be a separate galley for slaves.

Most pew reform in the United States began around the 1930s. Black people and white people, at least in the northern states, sat next to each other if they so desired. There was no special seating for widows or other special groups of people. Children began to sit with their families, for the most part. Also, pulpits changed during this time. Pulpits began to be more important, and pews were arranged so that everyone could see the preacher behind the pulpit and the altar.

Over the course of time, some churches have come up with various ways of setting up the pews or church chairs. At one time, it was even common for members of the church to face each other. In the Catholic tradition, before the Vatican II Council changed many elements of the Catholic Mass, the priest did not face the parishioners and had their church chairs facing the same direction as the parishioner’s pews faced—most likely toward the altar and/or crucifix.

Today, the world is different and all cultures and colors, both the sexes, the young and old alike, and the wealthy and less affluent are seen as equals in most churches, and the seating arrangements have accommodated that belief. Anyone can sit anywhere they want, and only on the most crowded of days will there not be enough pew space to give everyone a place to sit.

Seomul Evans is a seo copywriter for a leading Church Chairs manufacturer specializing in affordable Church Chairs.

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