Psalm 84:10 “For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.”
The usher is the one that makes church-goers glad when he says unto them, “let us go into the house of the Lord” (Psalm 122:1). He is the first impression that a person has of a church, and therefore sets the tone for every church service by his own service. Without ushers, a church is a disorganized and uninviting place. The work of a greeter/usher is not merely a modern position in the church, but even many of the Levites were appointed as “porters,” “chosen to be porters in the gates” (1 Chronicles 9:22-24), with a specified hierarchical structure (1 Chronicles 9:17-18, 21, 26). These porters did more than just stand by the gates, but had a ministry toward, and an understanding of, each person that came into the house of the Lord (2 Chronicles 23:19, 4). The usher has the weighty responsibility of bringing people into the presence of the living God. An usher is in many ways the determinative role that makes a church righteous or partial in the sight of God (see James 2:1-5).
The Appearance Of An Usher
The Queen of Sheba was left breathless by the wisdom displayed in Solomon’s kingdom, particularly in regard to his ministers (1 Kings 10:5). She was amazed at their order (“sitting of his servants”), helpfulness (“the attendance of his ministers”), and their clothing (“their apparel”). She said, “Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom” (1 Kings 10:8). Jesus himself said that those which are in king’s courts are “gorgeously appareled” (Luke 7:25), so how much more formally should courtiers of God’s place be dressed when they dwell in the courts of the King of kings (Psalm 65:4)?
To the eyes of many in the church, the clothing of the usher is the very clothing of the body of Christ. If the priests were supposed to be wearing a certain kind of clothing as they officiated at the tabernacle/temple complex (“for glory and for beauty”: Exodus 28:2, 40), much more should ushers who serve at the New Testament dwellingplace of God be dressed handsomely. A poor man may enter the assembly with “vile raiment” (James 2:2), but no usher should be there to greet them in such clothing. An usher’s clothing ought to be…
- Clean, as the church is to be a “holy place,” “holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:26). If their clothes are white, for example they should be “clean and white” (Revelation 19:8).
- Sober, as the church is to be a “dreadful place” (Genesis 28:17). They should be in serious clothing dyed with normal and plain colors.
- Formal, as the church is to be a “decent” place (1 Corinthians 14:40). A button-up long-sleeved shirt, plain trousers, and a tie, are a minimum formal requirement.
The Duties Of An Usher
- Ushers should be PUNCTUAL. In order to open the doors of the house of the Lord for others, like Samuel (1 Samuel 3:15), one must be early. You cannot prepare the way for others when you are not first in it. Ushers should be ready for those who seek the Lord early, and show up at church before the rest. A good usher will arrive and be ready at least 30 minutes early before any service or function, if not earlier.
- Ushers should be KNOWLEDGEABLE. Because the blueprints for the tabernacle and temple were so detailed in the scripture, it stands to reason that those who minister in the New Testament church should…
- Know the layout of the church. They must have a working knowledge of the entrance(s) and exit(s), the auditorium and the fellowship area, the floor plan and the seating arrangement.
- But to properly serve in the body of Christ when it gathers and functions, an usher must also know the needs of the church. Such an usher will understand the best way to seat people, the materials (if any) to distribute to congregants, the order of service and their role therein, and the different elements that must be maintained to keep their local body functioning properly.
- The best usher will also know the people of the church. He must know or learn their names and at least something about their lives. When an usher treats a person like a “pillar” in the church, they will be more likely to act as one.
- Ushers should be very HELPFUL. The Bible describes the spiritual office of “helps” (1 Corinthians 12:28), which is a suitable description of them that usher. They should serve as heartily and helpfully as possible: helping with the preparation for the services, helping with the proceedings of the services, helping with emergencies in the services, and helping the people of the church in any way necessary. Ushers (or, at least one appointed usher) are responsible for numbering the people. And, if they are not assisting with their hands in a task, they could also be assisting in their hearts by a prayer. In order to be this kind of usher, a man has to be like the porters of the temple under the reign of David, which “waited at every gate; they might not depart from their service” (2 Chronicles 35:15). They should be ever available.
- Ushers should be CORDIAL.
- Greet everyone, “Salute every saint in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:21), and let none go unsaluted into the house of God. In the ancient world, they bestowed a friendly kiss to greet each other (1 Peter 5:14; Romans 16:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:26; 1 Corinthians 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:12), but a handshake was not uncommon (see Galatians 2:9).
- Move to greet people, and welcome the children of God to the Father’s house like the father of the prodigal son, who, “when he was a great way off,” ran to meet him (Luke 15:20). Someone should not walk up to the usher, the usher should walk up to them. The brethren of Rome came to meet Paul as far as Appii forum, so should not ushers be willing to go out to meet the lambs of Jesus’ flock a few meters? Alas! Many ushers are like sleeping watchmen who must be awoken by the sword of the enemy. An usher who knows what they are doing will sound a lot like Boaz, who anticipated the nearer kinsman when he “came by” and was still a little far off, saying, “Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here.” (Ruth 4:1).
- Greet people personally. John, the apostle of love, explicitly told us to “greet the friends by name” (3 John 14). We must love our brother whom we have seen in word and in tongue as well. A wall or sign will do a better job than an impersonal usher. A great usher acts like a great friend when they see a companion of theirs whom they have not seen for some time. They speak warmly to all, and if available, they speak to some for a moment or two.
The Virtues Of An Usher
Hospitality: Ushers ought to be able to receive and entertain members and visitors of their church in the most congenial fashion, being “given to hospitality” (Romans 12:13). A hospitable usher (see 1 Peter 4:9) makes churchgoers feel that they care (“use hospitality”) about them (“one to another”) sincerely (“without grudging”). Attendees of church should experience a sense of belonging, as if they were workers in this “business of the Lord” (see 1 Chronicles 26:30), and members of this “whole family” of the Lord (Ephesians 3:15).
Kindness: Ushers ought to show the kindness of God to the people of God. However they can, an usher will make themselves stand out in the service of God when they, in deep compassion for the people for whom Christ died, manifest the affection of the Savior toward his redeemed. They should be happy to see others, and glad to be of any assistance wherever they can. An usher like this is not a sour-faced obelisk, but a joyful caretaker––Someone that is approachable, who appears like a person that others can inquire at the mouth of; gentle as a nurse, and serious as a father (1 Thessalonians 2:7, 11).
“Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another” (Romans 12:10).
Watchfulness: Ushers ought to be observant and thoughtful about every aspect of church services. The shepherds watched their flock by night, so it is not at all a tall order that ushers should be watching the assembly. As much as the preacher needs to be anointed with Spirit to preach, the usher needs to have his eyes anointed with “eyesalve” that he may see. A preacher should be the last to see or hear a problem in the assembly. This can only take place if ushers do what Jesus said the “man taking a far journey” instructed his doorkeeper to do, when he “commanded the porter to watch” (Matthew 13:34).
A Question For Every Usher
If Jesus came to your church, what would he be treated like, and how would he think of your church? Would an usher go forth to meet him as the Jews of Jerusalem did (John 12:13)? Would he be thronged by an usher as he was by the crowds (Luke 8:45)? Would the ushers know his name as the people everywhere knew the fame of Jesus? Would Jesus be preferred to the best possible place? Would Jesus know that you are his disciples, by your love one to another, or question whether or not you are instead worse than publicans, which at least saluted their brethren (Matthew 5:47)?
Psalm 24:7 “Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.”
Jesus, the Lord whom you seek, will suddenly come to his temple (Malachi 3:1). He walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks (Revelation 2:1). If you do not watch, then you shall not know what hour he comes upon you. Jesus identifies himself with his church (e.g., Acts 9:4), so when you greet even the least esteemed church member, remember the Lord’s words, that, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (Matthew 25:40). If he is the Good Shepherd of the sheep, then you should at least be a good usher of the fold.
John 10:3 “To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.”