Technology. Most of us love to rail against it while simultaneously checking Facebook like a chain smoker. Today we’re going to feature a question from a reader and my response which I know will cause people to both love and hate me. Don’t worry. I can take it. Here’s to our love/hate relationship with those blasted cell phones. Lord, give me strength.
Dear Lisa,
I have witnessed numerous teenagers bringing their cell phones to church and being too busy texting to hear their Sunday school lesson or better yet the preacher’s sermon. Is this disrespectful to God or is it just me being from an older generation where this was unheard of? I don’t know if this is anything you’d like to write about, but I wouldn’t mind reading your thoughts regarding this problem. I would also like to remain anonymous.
Thank you!
Sincerely,
Concerned Citizen Tired of Young People Being Ridiculous
(Okay. The letter is real. But yes, I made up the name. You already figured that out, right?)
Dear Concerned,
I often long for bygone days when cell phones were only owned by brain surgeons and bail bondsmen. But alas, now the average 14-year-old is evidently in such incredible demand that he or she needs to be on call 24 hours a day. Personally, I don’t know one 14-year-old who could bail you out of jail or remove a tumor from your cerebral cortex. So it makes no sense to me.
But despite our disdain, cell phones are here to stay. Well, unless something even cooler than a cell phone comes out. Don’t be surprised if manufacturers figure a way to install a chip in your child’s brain which will give them the power to instantly “message” friends day or night with important information about American Idol and the cutest boy at school. Yes, I know. They could also message back and forth about the history assignment. But they won’t. Go figure.
However, you may be a bit surprised by my answer regarding cell phone use at church. My husband is a techie. He hasn’t read a Bible with paper pages in years and years. He reads the Bible on his iPad and his iPhone. When we read the Bible together in the mornings, again, it’s always on an electronic device. I can assure you he stays on the text during church or sometimes scrolls down for reference materials related to the text. If the pastor is speaking about the temple, I’ll look over and see that Phil has pulled up an illustration of the temple on his iPad. It’s a great reference tool. So, just be aware that some church-going techies might actually be on the Bible lesson being discussed. In fact, this is becoming more and more prevalent.
Now, to those who are actually messaging or receiving messages during church (or ANY place where someone is speaking up front) allow me to be crystal clear. No. Just no.
Church is a joyful sacred time to hear the word of God and encourage others with the gospel of Christ. So, dear precious readers young or old, unless you’re on call with a job or you need to remove a tumor from someone’s head, please stop messaging during church. Stop checking FB to see if your old high school friends are thinner than you. Stop looking at cute cat videos on Instagram. Stop reading emails from your stock broker. It’s rude and frankly, ridiculous. I hope that was clear. If not, feel free to message me (just not on Sunday morning).
The Smartt View 