Choir Pews

John 17:21 (HCSB) 21 May they all be one, as You, Father, are in Me and I am in You. May they also be one in Us, so the world may believe You sent Me.

     When I was twelve or so the church we attended bought some "new to us" pews.  Oh my were we excited!  No longer would we have to sit in cold, uncomfortable, noisy, metal folding chairs during worship.  No longer would we hear the screech of the chairs on the linoleum tile floor as we sat down after each Hymn.  No longer would we hear the crash of the chairs as they were knocked over when we raced out after Worship.  Hallelujah !!

     There was just one small problem. These were used "white" fiberglass pews purchased from a church of another denomination.  They needed to be cleaned, sanctified if you will - all the remains of the other denomination must be scrubbed off.  I remember wearing my Playtex gloves and scrubbing off the "others" with as much Mr. Clean as I could stand along with the other Scouts of Troop 161.  And those pews sparkled as new when we were done.

     For one whole Sunday the congregation was excited as one body to finally have real church pews to sit in.  Then it began.  As part of the deal we bought six short pews to place up front for the choir.  The first Sunday the pews were positioned to face the congregation.  The second Sunday they were adjusted to face the Pastor.  It became a race from week to week to see which faction of the choir would get to church first to position the pews until, finally, one faction sneaked in on a Saturday and BOLTED THE PEWS TO THE FLOOR.  

     The church split shortly after that.  Some said it was because of the pastor, others said the choir leader, many just left without saying a word.  But from the perspective of this twelve year old boy it was just a bunch of old folks that couldn't get along and had to have their way - just like all the rest of the world.  That's when I started leaving the church.  It wasn't special anymore, it wasn't different, it was just like every where else, a bunch of old folks that couldn't get along.  

     Years later I figured out it was Satan.  I swore never to forget those pews.