Texting in Church

Wisdom needed: We are having trouble, again, with kids texting in the church service. The problem is that the parents, and even the church leaders do not want to to do anything about it. I have attempted to handle the matter according to Mt. 18, but this latest round has the potential to cause serious problems. Yet, I cannot before God, just let all the teens text and carry on during the preaching of God's word. One of our sweetest ladies and one of the best supporters, is now upset that I ask her to talk to her grand daughter about texting in the service.

What is worse, is the advice I am getting from some pastors is that since phones now have the Bible on them, You can't ask people not to use their phones in church. Suich advice, I'm afraid, does not come from a desire for people's spiritual welfare. Rather, it comes from the fear of man, and an injudicoius love of the lastest technology that comes close to idolitry.

I would ask the people who are desiring to use their cell phones during the service either turn them off in the beginning of the service and put them away or please step outside for the whole service.

Even if you end up with only 3 people left it would be worth it to me anyway. At least you would be with people who want to hear God's Word.

Or do you have a Church service for them in a different room? They are obviously rebelling. Maybe they need a youth group time during the service. Still with no cell phones of course. I will be praying with you on this situation. I am sure others will have some good advice too.

Psalm 118:6 The LORD [is] on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?

Psalm 13:6 So we may boldly say: "The LORD [is] my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"

We ask You dear Lord to come and intervene in this situation. Wisdom, boldness & be lifted up and glorified O Lord. Amen

I am not sure if this scripture applies, only you know the situation, and to be honest I rue the day that I ever have to do something like this but consider 1 Timothy 5:20.

RefRev, I lack a boldness that I should have and I feel I am maturing in this (but still with a lot of room to grow). I was listening to a recorded teaching where L.R. was speaking to Pastors and there were 2 men in the audience who were obviously not paying attention to Mr. Ravenhill as they were laughing about something between them. I was in shock and I wanted to crawl under the table after Mr. Ravenhill got through with them. I thought the barrage would never stop and I'm sure what was a couple of minutes seemed as a couple of days to these two men. If these two men are still in the ministry after this, then God has placed them there. Most men would never be brought this low and go back for more unless they truly loved God.

I say this because in this climate of freedom without culpability, this live and let live tolerant atmosphere, an action such as this severe a castigation will stand in such contrast to the norm that it will be shocking. That a man with such love for truth would stand so boldly. Not that he might be recognized but that God may be honored as He should.

Why tip toe around it. Get up and speak to the matter. This however is not the larger part of the problem I suspect if this is going on under the noses of the parents. I guess it's a good thing that Phinehas is not in the audience. You might be so bold as to ask the priests who are pofessed lovers of our Lord and Savior what they have brought to the fellowship to share with their brothers and sisters in Christ whom they would give their very lives for. Certainly God would not bring them to such a fellowship empty handed?

We are having trouble, again, with kids texting in the church service. The problem is that the parents, and even the church leaders do not want to to do anything about it.

Our church ORGANIST (surely he must be in his 40's) comes to sit in the congregation during the sermon and texts during the whole sermon....with examples like these, what hope is there for the kids???

I remember being in a service where Ravenhill did that. The World has come too much into the church.

This makes me sick!

Do they text while praying?

Do they think their prayers are heard?

Come out of her my people!!!!

That is not the place to be to worship God. I would rather worship alone than with such open disrespect for Almighty God.

ws

When I taught VBS some of the girls would text AND I find that very annoying because it is disrespectful, rude.

Anyhow.

This year I/we did something so very different and was truly blessed and they were as well. Let's see...shall I tell the long story or the short one? Maybe the long one will do - somebody might learn from it.

There was a huge problem at VBS with disorderliness among the children. What can we do? and what was done?

1. The organizers passed out invitation cards and on it they asked the girls to wear necklines up to their neck - no low necklines (some were so low it let little to the imagination).

2. When we had the main assembly, the teen girls were seated on the opposite side of the room, away from the teen males.

3. Several classes were held in the woods behind our church house. My class was held in a pavilion in the woods built by the males in the Kidz Klubs. We have noticed that having classes in the woods has a subduing effect on the children.

4. And we all prayed.

For me, I did this:

I let them know that I am in charge by taking command of the class time. They told me they are there to learn about Jesus so now we do want to eliminate from the classtime things that work to distract. To accomplish this:

1. Told them that no cell phones will be allowed during class time - I will take them up, put them in a basket until they get ready to leave. No problem.

2. Prayed that the LORD would not allow the rowdy ones to come who do nothing but distract others. (I prayed this for the entire VBS - we had fewer students but it was much nicer.)

3. Reiterated that no low necklines are to be worn. They did well until the last night when two came with low necklines. I got a jacket and asked the one girl who had the lowest one to put it on...she did not resist at all.

Results?

Orderly. Quiet. Listened and responded well...

AND they asked me why I do not teach at Kidz Klubs - they want me to. This took me by surprise because I figured that as mean as I was they would not appreciate me all that well...but I was mistaken.

Before they left I asked them for a hug and they readily gave it.

Everyone who taught this year was amazed with the improvement in their behaviors...we were all so encouraged.

This is our story and what happened just a few weeks ago. Hope it helps someone.

Amen Ginnyrose and Mama 27!

I would rather worship alone than with such open disrespect for Almighty God.

I know the homechurch movement (as has been discussed on SI) is not without its problems and issues, but I think this sort of thing is in part what has led many to a move away from the "traditional" church. It is surely a grief beyond words!

i have the bible on my phone. Sometimes I use it during the service. And if I don't have a pen or paper. I'll takes notes on my phone. I'm sure it looks like. I'm texting too.

Of course it is obvious the teens are texting..which they probably are..then those in authority over them need to speak to them directly about it. They also make programs that will jam the signal. Many schools and churches use them.

It would be an excellent opportunity to give a good example and not 'appear' to be texting. A notepad and a pen fit in a pocket, plus it is entirely appropriate to carry a hard copy of the Bible in a Church. Even then, better to pay attention to the preaching, rather than distract anyone else who may be sitting near you - or the speaker themselves, who can see you almost as clearly as God Himself does.

It sounds like you are making excuses for what you are doing. Most any Church I have been in gives out papers with the [age numbers of Hymns to be sung during that days service and there are usually pencils on the backs of the seats for writing on the envelopes for the collection plate. You do not need to use the phone, you choose to use the phone. Choose not to use it, out of respect for others.

white stone

What is more troubling to me is how do you know that one of these ladies is one of your "best" supporters? And of course if one of your best supporters are upset, you better do something.

One of our sweetest ladies and one of the best supporters, is now upset that I ask her to talk to her grand daughter about texting in the service.