Last Sunday, my church had it's first service reopening, and I was so proud of all the future friends and old friends coming together to worship our God. It was a beautiful sight to see the band playing on the new stage and hear their voices lifting their praise up to Him. Meeting and greeting had always been the most awkward part for me, but this time it wasn't and it made me wonder how special this journey was going to be with the rejuvenation of our church.
However, the only thing that was not perfect about our service were cell phones and "tap happy" thumbs. I was so embarrassed by the row in front of me that also served as the front row in the middle section of the congregation. It included two young women who would not set their phones down. Wait, my apologies. They did set their phones down during the service. However, one picked her phone back up 28 more times. (Yes, I counted.)
It really struck something inside me. I felt personally offended as I watched these girls type away on their phones while I was still trying my best to pay attention to our pastor up on stage no less than six feet in front of the girls. These girls were not simply taking one text message or trying to lay low about their texting. One would rest it on her bent knee a few times for my row to read and the other girl held it out in front of her not caring that many around her were being distracted by the lit up screen. A Bible app was never opened either.
Professors are right. Lit up screens are a distraction for everyone. Our eyes are constantly wandering and when we see this screen, it's hard to look away. I do not know why. Maybe it's because many people my age are addicted to technology or maybe a lot of us are really nosy. Either way I'm looking, and I find it really difficult to forget about it. So my eyes keep wandering back until I find myself stuck in the same trance as the one on their technology.
That is exactly what happened to me with these girls sitting in the row in front of me. I was stuck in this trance wanting to watch these girls on their technology for the rest of the service. I couldn't pull myself out of it. Then anger started running through me, and I hated that I had been so petty and ignored the service to watch these girls. It was both of our faults. I should not have been worried about what these girls were doing. It wasn't my place; I didn't even know them. But they shouldn't be texting wildly during a church service where they could distract people, where they should be in this community worshiping our God and being in this moment with Him. They could wait an hour or so.
It struck me deep and I really had no place to feel offended, but it was there and I felt it. I'm a Christian, and for me to feel that way was spiritually wrong. It's not an old-fashioned way of thinking. It's a common courtesy and it shows respect to keep your phones silent and to keep your mind on Him.
Don't be that person, folks. Keep your phones out of sight, and if you think you're going to be tempted in church to text or check your email, leave your phone in a compartment in your car. Use the Bible app? Bring a paper version instead and right down your thoughts and verses so you can put them in your phone later. It eliminates distractions for you and for those around you.
Your church is your community. Don't be that person to disrespect those around you, those up on stage who are working hard, and the man upstairs who's counting on you to be the best you can possibly be. Please don't text in church, y'all.
