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Did You Know...
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Did You Know…
That you used to have to buy a seat in church? Many of the older churches have boxed pews. Boxed pews are pews surrounded by 3 walls and an entry door. These walls, just low enough so the church member can see the minister, were designed for warmth. Members would heat a foot warmer, put it in the pew, and it would heat up the pew for the duration of the service. You can see examples of boxed pews in the Photo Gallery under Massachusetts – Boston – Old North Church and Rhode Island – Providence – First Baptist Church.
These churches funded their ministries by selling or renting boxed pews. Because people owned them, they usually elaborately decorated them with furniture, wall paper, and even wall hangings. In the pictures of The Old North Church, you can see an example of those elaborate decorations.
So what were poor people supposed to do about church? Some churches would let them sit shivering in their balconies. Had these churches ever read the Bible?
Prov 22:2
The rich and the poor have a common bond, The LORD is the maker of them all. NASU
Prov 28:11
The rich man is wise in his own eyes, But the poor who has understanding sees through him. NASU
Gal 3:28-29
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. NASU
Col 3:5-11
Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the one who created him — a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all. NASU
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