Question of the Month: Cell Phones?

This month we offer families more of a challenge than simply an answer – turn off the cell phones before you enter church!

Tech gadgets are great for all kinds of things (Rob even has several Bibles on his Droid) but cell phones are the easy way to disconnect from those around you and offer a quick alternative when you feel bored or disconnected.  HOWEVER… when we enter church, when we arrive at a “House of Prayer,” our thoughts and energy should be especially focused on God (not ourselves).

Too often we see kids sneak the phone out to check texts or double-check facebook.  Most often the problem seems lessened when they get them out before a program or event has started or after it has ended – but is it really lessened?  When we are at church we should be spending the little time we have together to embrace our relationship with God AND, AND, AND, each other.  That 5-second trip to the cell phone can distract us long enough to suffer that conversation, prayer, discussion, etc.  Worse, unchecked, that 5-second distraction leads to 30-seconds or minutes.  We ultimately are ignoring God and those around us.

We can’t stop (nor want to stop) people from bringing their cell phones, iPads, MP3 players and the like to church.  As technology continues to progress we will indeed find ways to use these wonderful tools for ministry instead of distractions.  What we challenge youth and adults alike to do is simple…

Before you enter God’s  ”House of Prayer” (our church) check what you need to check, silence what you need to silence and then enter knowing you can freely discover your time with God and others without tech interference.  Do yourself a blessing and turn off the cell phone or store it deep in a pocket and let the full blessing of being at church unfold.

Consider ourselves challenged!!!