Monday, February 6, 2012

Electronics @ Church...

HAPPY MONDAY FRIENDS!
Hope your SuperbowlSunday was awesome...
Today i wanted to talk about something i have been wondering for awhile now.

A few weeks ago, i saw a lady at Church holding out her phone. 
What happened to turning off your phone at Church since Jesus is NOT trying to reach you via your phone!
BUT... 
Come to find out she was reading her Bible scripture from her cell phone.
OF COURSE...
On Friday, i attended a church event and  another couple were using their phones to access scriptures.
Perhaps it is the new trend...after all we use our phones everywhere else.

Now i am not sure how i feel about Electronics at Church.


I have an iPad and an iPhone and both i can use to access the Bible
but the idea of bringing my electronics into the Church building makes me wonder how appropriate it is.
Aren't we supposed to leave our phones at home, in our purses, out of sight at Church because we are supposed to be concentrating on the message.

I know some Pastors use iPads to read their sermons but this also makes me pause.

What happened to the old fashion Bible...the actual book you take to Church with you.


I am all for using electronics to read The Book at home BUT for some reason...that's where i think we should leave it....there is something sacred about bringing your actual Bible to Church.
Again...bringing our electronics to Church is easy and compact.
But then again...our phones can be such a distraction...
i can just imagine myself checking out blogs or tweeting
while i am supposed to be following along the message.  
Am i alone on this one?
Maybe i am being too sentimental!
What are your thoughts?


Question of the Day: 
What are your views on using electronics at Church?


29 comments:

Oneika said...

Strange! Doesn't seem to fit somehow..

Bijee said...

Good one! I personally felt the same way on this one, until recently. I recently took on my nephew (whose 3) and it became all to much with him and my daughter to lug around them along with my bag containing my bible, notebook and whatever else. I have also found it easier to take notes from the sermons with the scriptures referenced, that I am to pull up on my desktop at work for those needed "prayer breaks". It had truly made it easier to hold on to and study tue word because I have my notes and everything with me wherever I go.

Simply Tasheena said...

I agree, I feel that electronics should be left at home. Unless, that is the way that particular church operates (meaning everyone is using a phone or Ipad). In the event that it is due to not have a bible churches usually have plenty of extra bibles on hand. (This is just my two cents)

~Mrs. Delightful
ourdelightfulhome.blogspot.com

Mrs. H said...

I don't see anything wrong with electronics at church. I attended Troy Gramling's church over the weekend (he's partnered with Joel Osteen and shepherds one of the largest churches in the South). He reads from an ipad and so does much of the congregation. I think I threw all notions and sentimentalities of those things out the door when I first moved to the US. Back home people don't wear jeans to church, or even much jewelry for that matter, you dress somber and dress up (I'm talking hats and all), everyone has a bible and the whole reverence of church is a lot different. When I moved here I learned to adjust because I don't think it matters how you come to him, but that you do. So if books should one day become obsolete (which I doubt) I don't think God will say ok there are no more books so I don't expect you to read the bible or follow the word.
I dunno for me I just kind of see it as the times. After all we don't go to church in white long robes like they dressed back then. I don't know. Don't know if thats coming across the way I mean but for me its not a problem.

A Haute Mommy said...

I think that electronics should be left at home but with all the new technology that's out now I'm sure it's moving to that direction. I wouldn't do it personally because I don't want any distractions that can come from using that technology such as text messages and Facebook and twitter notification.

Desiray said...

For me people use what they want I don't have a problem with it, I know my pastor don['t use it and I see others in church using it. But the only question I have is this, if they are using them then how does it help them to know the books of the bible, because all they have to do it type it in and it comes up.

When I was young and in Sunday school they taught us all the books of the bible and you had to say them in order and if you missed them you go home and write them down so next Sunday you will say them again.

It's disciple and we need more people discipline,having those things surely aren't disciplining anyone. If anything it makes them lazy to turn to God's word. We just want to make everything so easy for people these days.

Salvation is not easy it cost Jesus everything. That is my view on it.

Adrienne said...

I don't see anything wrong with it. I think as long as you discipline yourself to NOT tweet/ fb/text/email while you are in church then that's great.

I take my IPAD to church every time I go and if I leave it at home by mistake I ALWAYS have my phone but once he is done reading the scripture I put it up. Doing all that "other" stuff with my phone has never been a distraction for me.

~Style Bot~ said...

Great topic! I personally feel that the important part is actually getting the word. If you are disciplined enough to read the word from your electronic device then more power to you. To me, it is not much different than watching a live sermon online. Or even on tv for that matter. If that is how you receive the word I would say I would rather get SOME word than NO word.

With Class & Sass,
~Khalilah~

Marilyn said...

I think it's really the idea of if it's something that could wait and not cause you distractions per the message at hand. I wouldn't tweet unless it was something powerful I just heard preached and want to share incase I forgot, things of that nature..

Anonymous said...

Very timely post. I just downloaded the bible on my tablet and planned on using it at church yesterday. However, I never pulled it out. I used the traditional bible. In some ways I felt weird about using it, especially since no one else was doing that.
The bible app is nice because you can still highlight and takes notes, etc. etc.
Ultimately I think it is fine as long as you are truly just using the bible and not other stuff.

Sunshine Blossoms said...

This is something I think about too. I always see people in our church with their iphones out and the preacher even talks about it. I'm old fashioned when it comes to certain things in church, such as this. To me, it seems like other things such as texting, checking email, facebook, etc would be a big temptation and therefore distraction if I had my phone out to use it for following along with the scripture readings. But maybe people are more disciplined with that than me!?

LaShawn Wiltz said...

I would feel so weird about pulling out my iPhone or an iPad to read in church. Maybe I'm old fashioned !

Why Girls Are Weird said...

I don't attend church but I don't think it should be a problem. As long as people are being respectful it shouldn't matter.

Nicole said...

As long as they're using it appropriately and not for games during the sermon, I'm all for it! I personally wouldn't use it though.

My thought is, if they're reading the bible, who cares what form it is in? The point is, they're reading it!

Heather said...

I don't go to church, but I think it makes sense that electronics will ultimately make their way into that environment, perhaps eventually replacing the traditional hymn books and other printed materials. If someone wants to do other things -- blogs, email, etc. -- instead of listening to the message, I guess I don't understand why they would bother going to church, but on the other hand, I guess it's not much different than daydreaming or otherwise zoning out.

Carlie said...

I love having my iPhone to read scriptures at church. I think it is super convenient. I do think electronics can be distracting though so I can see where you are coming from. =)

Christina said...

I think it's a personal choice. While it might be distracting to you to use your phone, it may be the perfect thing for someone else. I personally like to have my bible in church, but I've seen a lot of people using their electronic devices when the scripture is being read. I have looked up something following along with the message for personal clarification on my phone before during a service though. If they're using their devices for something other than reading the bible, then that is between them and God...and honestly, they'd probably be distracting themselves in some other way if they weren't intent on focusing on the lesson anyway.

Anonymous said...

I'm so glad you brought this up! I just recently noticed this trend taking off at my own church which I thought was pretty surprising considering we are pretty "old school". I know for myself, it wouldn't work. If I saw I had a new text message, I wouldn't be able to NOT click on it and respond. That's just how I operate, so I will always bring my Bible with me instead. I am sure there are some people with a little more willpower that would do just fine reading their Bible on their phone. I'm just not one of them.

What I do like about the Bible app is that it's always with you. I don't carry my Bible in my purse, but if I have that app on my phone and I'm talking to someone and can't remember a verse I think they'd like (or any other similar scenerio), I can just pull my phone out and there it is! That part is REALLY handy.

Kirsten Harr said...

That's so funny! I was just talking to a friend about this last week. I was so shocked when I saw someone with a phone out during Bible Study, but then I realized what they were doing. I'm not so sure I'll ever feel comfortable using an electronic device in Church--mostly because I know how distracted I get.

Katie said...

Hmmmm, I'm not sure how I feel about it either!! I think it's a little strange as well.

his little lady said...

i typically use my iPhone at church to access the scriptures, mainly because i don't always like lugging around my giant scripture book, also because i used to always have the habit of leaving it there. but i definitely understand how some people would find this not the appropriate time. i say it's all about how you feel individually, and if you feel it hinders the spirit then i say don't bring them along :)
xo TJ

Anonymous said...

I feel more comfortable with the physical bible over an electronic one myself, but I'm not totally against an electronic one as long as that's all the device is being used for at the time and it doesn't make noise. My pastor hasn't gone to electronics himself and I'm glad for that.

Bravoe Runway said...

Personally, I don't think that electronics are appropriate in church, even if it is a kindle or a cell phone with a bible on it. Religion to me is sacred, it is traditional, and it should be observed in the traditional manner.

Earl-Leigh said...

I'm on the fence about this one. While I'm more on the traditional side with my religion, I do see the advantage of using an electronic device in church. (Like if you left your Bible at home one morning)

Urban Homeschoolers Of Columbus said...

I was thinking the same thing, I personally don't like it at all!!!!

Asha said...

Me and my hubby were discussing this the other day! I've noticed at our church that about 50% of the congregation uses their phones or ipad and I'm still torn on this. When I first got my ipad I was ready to bring it to church that Sunday but my hubby was against it because even though its easier than flipping pages, it's just not the same! Maybe one day I will come to terms with this but for now I just don't think it's right!

Alida Sharp said...

I guess I don't even think twice about it anymore. We have been seeing electronics in church for a while now. And I just assume when someone pulls out their ipad, or phone or Kindle that they are using the Bible app there.

Mimi said...

I'm with you. But I have heard many people say they don't have a problem with it. I think the BIBLE is to have pages that are flipped and highlighted. I don't like the idea of phones or iPads or tablets or whatever in church. I know its a move to grow with the times but some things I think need to stay the same. Just my opinion.

MrsTDJ said...

It doesn't bother me at all. If that's what someone prefers, who am I to object? I'm happy that they are in church and taking in the word, in whatever format they like. I do object to using social media or texting during service though.