Rude to God in Church!!

It actually bothers me when people are nonchalant during a church service. Please I want to know if it’s part of life in the 21st century church. Why on earth will people engage in the following; Talking during service, Texting or surfing the web during a service, Sleeping—or snoring!—during a sermon, Clipping fingernails during church, Answering a call, Walking out of a service  during sermon, Letting babies cry incessantly in the service and Chewing gum.

Yet today we live in a distracted culture. We surf the web while we watch TV; we text while we drive; we tweet while we work; we take calls when we are meeting friends for conversation. Some people even crash into each other while walking on sidewalks because they are too busy pinging to see another distracted person headed straight toward them.

We are so focused on everything that we can’t focus on anything. I sometimes wonder if the proliferation of fast food, sugary drinks, movies on demand, “smart” phones and 24-hour news isn’t rewiring our brains so we can’t focus on what’s really important. We’re turning into media zombies.

Last Sunday in church, while the sermon was going on I noticed a lady who strolled in while the service was almost over!! She stylishly brought out her Smartphone and started pinging!! Can you imagine? I thought she was even reading the bible from the phone but I was wrong because she was foolishly smiling to herself as if she was in her sitting room. I do not want to judge her behavior but I believe that she was rude to God!

I do not hate technology. But we could lose the art of discipleship if we don’t reclaim the habit of careful listening. That means when we come to church, especially, we should not just turn off our phones but also tune out all other distractions so we can focus on what God is saying to us—through the preacher, the worship songs, the prayers and the Holy Spirit’s still, small voice.

Please don’t be rude to God. Don’t just go to church. Go and hear the word of the Lord. Don’t talk, text, sleep or take calls when He is speaking. Listen as if your life depended on it.

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