Text Invasion

Does it annoy you when a cell phone rings during a meeting? How about someone knocking on your door while you are in a closed door meeting? Do annoying teenagers ruin your movie experience with silly ringtones and text message alerts? Does it bother you when you are at church and other members are fumbling around with their phones while others seem to have forgotten to turn their ringers off? I’m sure that if you are in any of these situations, your simple answer would be “Yes.” Any rational person in such situations would be genuinely annoyed by the disrespect and rudeness of such behavior.

I have written before about the negative consequences of cell phones within our lives, but there has been a new path opened for this life controlling (and altering) mini-computer. Some churches in my local area have started allowing members to text the Pastor during proceedings. My first response is, “Why?!” My second response is, “Are You Serious?!” I’m pretty sure you know my third, fourth, and even my last response… The specific churches believe that texting allows church members who are potentially embarrassed about certain issue to be heard without retribution. They also believe that members can interact with the Pastor in a way that directs the sermon in real time.

Technology has its place, but is that place acceptable in a pew during worship within the sanctuary? Some have mentioned that the use of cell phones allows for note taking. Sure, I’ll agree with that. Some people (the younger generation) have moved past the pen and paper and live with their digital assistants. However, to specifically encourage texting as a form of interaction within the sermon is another issue.

The majority of messages delivered by the Pastor is not a question and answer session. Pastor’s who effectively lead their congregation, do not stand upon canned sermons and messages to deliver the News. Sermon’s can take many days or months to achieve the direction believed by the Pastor. What I am saying is that a simple text message from a church member fumbling around with his cell phone trying to figure out how to abbreviate Biblical passages into appropriate cell phone speak will interrupt the sermon. Not to mention the Pastor having to interact with the message during his sermon…

There is a place for technology, but this technology does not belong in the pew in this manner. I’m pretty sure that the Pastor of your church doesn’t need immediate gratification regarding the direction of the sermon. He’s not looking for a “Way 2 Go!” or “This Sucks!” message or even a text saying “Good Job!” If a Pastor is giving a sermon truly based upon where his heart has been led, text messages can only interrupt and potentially destroy any coherent message he is trying to relay.

Over time, churches must allow technology to enter their doors and sanctuary, but they must be very careful in the manner with which they allow it. We have the ability for video conferencing, but we still enjoy our Pastor to be there live and in person don’t we? We have the ability for conference calls, but we still get up and attend church don’t we? Should we all bring our laptops to the sanctuary? You see where I’m going.

I’m not advocating a stoic and past focused sermon delivery, but I am saying that some things are best left untouched by certain advancements. Even if the younger generation thinks it’s cool, it doesn’t necessarily make church “better” or more “exciting.” Sacrificing the sanctuary in an attempt to become hip amongst your peers is the absolute wrong way to approach the youth. Yes, they need to be reached in different ways than in the past, but it must be done the right way and not at the expense of the church or sermon itself.

What do you think? How far should technology invade the pew?