Armchair Theology

Because we spend so much time in front of a computer at work we were approved to get some chairs that are off-the-rack-custom, meaning the vendor has ready-made pieces for chairs and they pull out the sections needed to fit your body. It’s kind of like buying tops and bottoms separately to fit the upper and bottom sections of the body instead of wearing one-size fits all. Because the chairs were fitted for individual needs we made an agreement not to change settings on anyone else’s chairs, which is a struggle for those who like to manipulate each chair in which they sit. I believe my chair has improved my work effectiveness. I don’t have to cringe getting out of the chair or fidget playing with adjustments. It just fits, which is appreciated when your legs are a little shorter than the average person. Our computer chair at home is probably ten years old and has been through some rough times. It had no life and felt as flat as a tortilla. I went shopping for a new chair tonight and the one that felt above average in the store, is taking some getting used to at home. It’s great for sitting back and thinking, but I like to sit a little straighter most of the time. I'll never second-guess Goldilocks again!

Shane Hipps, a Mennonite pastor and one-time advertising executive, uses his unique gifts and training to share his views of spirituality through his distinctive perspective. I heard him on a podcast describing that even the furniture in the worship space sends a spiritual message. The church he was visiting had recently upgraded some technical applications, such as lighting and projection screens, but they had not changed their seating. The church probably could have afforded theater-style seating, but they chose to keep their simple, thinly padded folding chairs. The message Shane understood was that the leadership didn’t want the congregation to get comfortable. They were only supposed to stay for a little while within the walls of the church, but then be encouraged to get up and go out into the world.

What does our seating say about our church? And if something as simple as a piece of furniture can speak volumes about one's faith, what do our actions imply?

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, You are the comfort of the desperate and the nettling of the stagnant. As we grow placated in our homes, in our jobs and in our church, let us become bothered and irritated to such a degree that we shed our favorite delusions that we are doing enough. Until we care to grow outside of the church as much as we treasure the inside, we are developing unbalanced. Let our actions and words relate our faith as clearly as our beautiful stained-glass, our peaceful open staging, and our repeating baptismal font trimmings. If stones can shout “You are Lord,” and chairs can instruct “Evangelize!” then surely we can muster whispers of support, prayers of healing, and praises of your goodness. Let us not grow so fond of our chairs, nor our lives that we fail to stand up and offer them to you. Amen