SHOULD EVERYONE SWITCH OFF THEIR PHONES IN CHURCH?
SHOULD EVERYONE SWITCH OFF THEIR MOBILE PHONES IN CHURCH?
INTRODUCTION: this article was was written in 2012 when the use of smart phone was very limited , yet the relevance of the article is still seen because we still have some church officers who are against the use of devices in church.
In a recent forum with some church youth, they complained bitterly about some of the things they dislike about some church leaders and structures. Some of the areas which they raised issues included marriage procedures (courtship, different dates for traditional and church weddings, long counseling periods, etc.) appointment of officers based on education and riches, and exclusion from church preaching in church and a lot of issues.
Today I want to talk about one of the appeals they made. It is about the use of mobile phones. They are of the view that whenever we talk about mobile phones in church, we use them (the youth) as examples as if they are the only people whose mobile phones ring in church. They contend that they know how to handle their gadgets better than the adults. They use sophiscated devices and therefore know how to control them than the adults.
Their suggestion was that instead of posting SWITCH OFF YOUR PHONES notices in church premises, they prefer DISCIPLINE YOUR PHONES rather. They gave the following reasons:
1. They use the phones in church because they use bible applications from the phones. In other words, they use the phones as bibles.
2. They write and save notes from sermons on their phones.
3. They record sermons and other notable activities with their phones.
4. They take photos and clips of some of the service activities and save them on the phones.
5. They cross check some of the messages we preach in church with similar messages available on the Internet to make sure whether preachers are being faithful to the bible.
According to some of them, such inscriptions as SWITCH OF YOUR PHONES give them mixed feelings because they don't want to disobey the orders of their leaders but they also don't want to sacrifice the other benefits they can derive from the use of their phones during the church service. They know what to do to prevent their phones from ringing in Church. It is the duty of church leaders to train church members how to prevent their phones from ringing in church rather than giving orders which may ont be relevant for all.
Well, these are some of their ideas. We may agree or disagree with them. But let's take note of the fact that mobile phones have grown from a simple gadget for making calls to a multi-purpose device. Any comment? We shall address the other issues next time. Stay blessed.
PASTOR WILLIAM BOACHIE-ANSAH
boachieansah@gmail.com
In a recent forum with some church youth, they complained bitterly about some of the things they dislike about some church leaders and structures. Some of the areas which they raised issues included marriage procedures (courtship, different dates for traditional and church weddings, long counseling periods, etc.) appointment of officers based on education and riches, and exclusion from church preaching in church and a lot of issues.
Today I want to talk about one of the appeals they made. It is about the use of mobile phones. They are of the view that whenever we talk about mobile phones in church, we use them (the youth) as examples as if they are the only people whose mobile phones ring in church. They contend that they know how to handle their gadgets better than the adults. They use sophiscated devices and therefore know how to control them than the adults.
Their suggestion was that instead of posting SWITCH OFF YOUR PHONES notices in church premises, they prefer DISCIPLINE YOUR PHONES rather. They gave the following reasons:
1. They use the phones in church because they use bible applications from the phones. In other words, they use the phones as bibles.
2. They write and save notes from sermons on their phones.
3. They record sermons and other notable activities with their phones.
4. They take photos and clips of some of the service activities and save them on the phones.
5. They cross check some of the messages we preach in church with similar messages available on the Internet to make sure whether preachers are being faithful to the bible.
According to some of them, such inscriptions as SWITCH OF YOUR PHONES give them mixed feelings because they don't want to disobey the orders of their leaders but they also don't want to sacrifice the other benefits they can derive from the use of their phones during the church service. They know what to do to prevent their phones from ringing in Church. It is the duty of church leaders to train church members how to prevent their phones from ringing in church rather than giving orders which may ont be relevant for all.
Well, these are some of their ideas. We may agree or disagree with them. But let's take note of the fact that mobile phones have grown from a simple gadget for making calls to a multi-purpose device. Any comment? We shall address the other issues next time. Stay blessed.
PASTOR WILLIAM BOACHIE-ANSAH
boachieansah@gmail.com this piece in 2012 after a good discussion with the youth of my church. I posted it at our church facebook page in 2013 when an issue cropped up. I was at churches leaders meeting and the same debate came up. This has prompted me to repost this write up here with the hope that when you read it, you will change some of your perspectives. Thahe note that when the article was written people in Ghana didn't know much about smart phones.Today I want to talk about one of the appeals they made. It is about the use of mobile phones. They are of the view that whenever we talk about mobile phones in church, we use them (the youth) as examples as if they are the only people whose mobile phones ring in church. They contend that they know how to handle their gadgets better than the adults. They use sophiscated devices and therefore know how to control them than the adults.
Their suggestion was that instead of posting SWITCH OFF YOUR PHONES notices in church premises, they prefer DISCIPLINE YOUR PHONES rather. They gave the following reasons:
1. They use the phones in church because they use bible applications from the phones. In other words, they use the phones as bibles.
2. They write and save notes from sermons on their phones.
3. They record sermons and other notable activities with their phones.
4. They take photos and clips of some of the service activities and save them on the phones.
5. They cross check some of the messages we preach in church with similar messages available on the Internet to make sure whether preachers are being faithful to the bible.
According to some of them, such inscriptions as SWITCH OF YOUR PHONES give them mixed feelings because they don't want to disobey the orders of their leaders but they also don't want to sacrifice the other benefits they can derive from the use of their phones during the church service. They know what to do to prevent their phones from ringing in Church. It is the duty of church leaders to train church members how to prevent their phones from ringing in church rather than giving orders which may ont be relevant for all.
Well, these are some of their ideas. We may agree or disagree with them. But let's take note of the fact that mobile phones have grown from a simple gadget for making calls to a multi-purpose device. Any comment? We shall address the other issues next time. Stay blessed.
PASTOR WILLIAM BOACHIE-ANSAH
In a recent forum with some church youth, they complained bitterly about some of the things they dislike about some church leaders and structures. Some of the areas which they raised issues included marriage procedures (courtship, different dates for traditional and church weddings, long counseling periods, etc.) appointment of officers based on education and riches, and exclusion from church preaching in church and a lot of issues.
Today I want to talk about one of the appeals they made. It is about the use of mobile phones. They are of the view that whenever we talk about mobile phones in church, we use them (the youth) as examples as if they are the only people whose mobile phones ring in church. They contend that they know how to handle their gadgets better than the adults. They use sophiscated devices and therefore know how to control them than the adults.
Their suggestion was that instead of posting SWITCH OFF YOUR PHONES notices in church premises, they prefer DISCIPLINE YOUR PHONES rather. They gave the following reasons:
1. They use the phones in church because they use bible applications from the phones. In other words, they use the phones as bibles.
2. They write and save notes from sermons on their phones.
3. They record sermons and other notable activities with their phones.
4. They take photos and clips of some of the service activities and save them on the phones.
5. They cross check some of the messages we preach in church with similar messages available on the Internet to make sure whether preachers are being faithful to the bible.
According to some of them, such inscriptions as SWITCH OF YOUR PHONES give them mixed feelings because they don't want to disobey the orders of their leaders but they also don't want to sacrifice the other benefits they can derive from the use of their phones during the church service. They know what to do to prevent their phones from ringing in Church. It is the duty of church leaders to train church members how to prevent their phones from ringing in church rather than giving orders which may ont be relevant for all.
Well, these are some of their ideas. We may agree or disagree with them. But let's take note of the fact that mobile phones have grown from a simple gadget for making calls to a multi-purpose device. Any comment? We shall address the other issues next time. Stay blessed.
PASTOR WILLIAM BOACHIE-ANSAH
boachieansah@gmail.com
SHOULD EVERYONE SWITCH OFF THEIR PHONES IN CHURCH?
Reviewed by Pastor Boachie-Ansah
on
9:28 AM
Rating: 5
Reviewed by Pastor Boachie-Ansah
on
9:28 AM
Rating: 5
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