DON’T TEXT AND WORSHIP
At the risk of sounding legalistic, I am going to suggest that you consider bringing an actual bound Bible to the meeting house on Sunday. It is more and more common for preachers to use iPads and other electronic devices in the place of the bound paper Bible. I’m not sure if they are following the trend in the congregations or the congregations are following their lead. Nevertheless, it is more and more common to see folk looking at their phone during the preaching.
What difference does it make so long as the participant is looking at Scripture? Maybe none, if that’s all that is being viewed. Smart phones are used for many things other than a Bible. It doesn’t only represent that in which the word of God is found, it represents everything else in one’s life and in this world. There is at least a subconscious connection to your busy life when you are handling the nerve center of communication in your life. Isn’t that distracting? Do you really tune all else out and focus upon the word of God and the gathered worship when you are holding your smart phone? Be honest.
Oh, and what about the vibration or pop up message that comes in the middle of a pressing point in the message, or even prayer? Can you honestly say that you are not distracted? Isn’t it easy, and tempting, to quickly check a message, and even send one when a thought enters your mind? It can’t wait, can it? That’s one of the problems with bringing a phone into a church meeting. It really can be a distraction.
Hold a Bible instead of a phone in the assembly, if for no other reason, to aid you in staying focused. We are gathered for the important purpose of collectively praising our God, praying, reading Scripture, and being taught and exhorted from God’s Word. Handling a phone in a service can be spiritually distracting: “don’t text and worship.”
