Posted 2/7/2010 18:04 (#1063230 - in reply to #1062716) Subject: Re: church manners
I find this thread and the view points expressed very interesting.
I think ILUVAFARMER hit the nail on the head. Being a Christian and earning your way to heaven is only about believing Jesus died for your sins. It is not about pleasing the pastor or other church goers. I've seen many churchs torn apart by the attitude that "I am right and everyone who disagrees is going to hell". (from the pulpit and the congregation).
I can remember many many years ago when I was an usher at a Southern Baptist church a man walked in the back door about 15 or 20 minutes after the service started. He approached the man who had married my cousin and the first words out of this mans mouth was "I have been drinking this morning and feel the need to be in church if that is alright with you guys". My cousins husband said something along the lines of you are welcome and follow me after which he proudly led the man into the sanctuary and seated him. When my cousins husband returned to the vestibule I must have had a look of astonishment on my face because he walked up to me and stated that man needs God and that is why we are here. Admittedly I was very young and naive so I couldn't handle the juxtapostion of drinking and a Southern Baptist church, but I learned a valuable lesson that day.
I guess the point is if your church isn't for everyone who needs to find God then who is it for? Children are known to have short attention spans, but at least the parents are getting them to church and after that it is up to God to move their hearts. Let the kids color as long as they are in church, they are still hearing the pastor.
The cell phones are a whole nother matter. Anyone who ever attends any kind of meeting knows to turn the phone off as you walk in the door.
church manners
