Monday, August 27, 2012

Cell Phones in Worship

Cell phones ringing and people texting during services is not only distracting to other members who are trying to listen to the lesson, it can be a source of discouragement for anyone who has taken the time to study and prepare a lesson or sermon.
We all need to ask ourselves what  kind of example am I to others who see my behavior during worship? Can those around me tell by the way I sit and listen that I believe that God’s word important (2 Tim 3:16)?
Texting and accepting phone calls during bible classes or sermons is just as disrespectful as filing ones finger nails, balancing ones check books or reading secular materials. You can also be cold hearted and distracted with a pencil and paper! What kind of message are you sending when you do these things? Are you showing others that God is first in your life?
Are you showing others that what happens in God’s church is completely different that what happens in the world?
Hebrews 12- Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God
25 See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, 26 whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” 27 Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain.
28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. 29 For our God is a consuming fire.