June 3, 2007 – Yeah, this is what our founding father’s had in mind.

Maybe it’s just me, but I’m profoundly disappointed by the fact that people in today’s world are far more reverent in a movie theater than they are in a worship service. I resigned myself, long ago, to the fact that in a church as big as the one I attend I’m going to have to deal with people forgetting to turn their cell phones off. Hearing a few ring tones every service may simply mean that some people are just too ignorant or forgetful to pay attention to the 2 12 foot power point projections reminding them before the service starts to turn them off. I’ve even decided to be content to merely roll my eyes when the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th ring tones go off because maybe the previous ring(s) of other phones wasn’t enough to clue them in to make sure their phone is turned off. But it’s getting pretty stinkin’ ridiculous when people answer their phone in the middle of the service and proceed to hold a conversation. And then to think it’s cute, makes it that much worse. I’m even more disappointed that anyone witnessing that happen is not allowed (read “required”) to slap the phone out of the person’s hand and then throw it as hard as they can against the wall.

But today’s service (to coin a phrase) really takes the cake. First, the guy that sat next to me walked to his seat by walking ON the pews between him and the girl sitting at the end of the pew. They had a nice little laugh about it. Luckily, he was wearing sweat shorts and one of those basketball shirts with plenty of holes in it so he didn’t get dehydrated from the exertion. Apparently, all of this made him cool and somehow I missed it.

The people who sat behind me decided that what they had to say about the people they were gossiping about was way more important than singing worship. They talked through the first 2 songs. When the music got louder, they talked louder. At one point they were yelling back and forth like they would at a night club.

When the service started the guy directly behind me put his foot on the back of the pew I was sitting in right next to my head. Not to be outdone, the chick with him put her leg over the pew on the other side of me with the back her knee resting on the top of the pew, so she could bounce her leg. Turning around, cringing and giving a “seriously?” shrugging got me a disgusted look back, but did nothing to resolve the situation. Anything I would have said at that point would have been entirely ungodly. If someone were acting like this in a movie theater, they’d be asked to leave.

I know, I know…typical teenage behavior, right? I totally agree. These people were in there late 30’s or 40’s. The teenage kid with them obviously learned how to act from his other parent/step-parent family unit, because he seemed well-behaved and respectful. And maybe a little embarrassed.

Now, some people who read this are probably thinking, it’s all about grace and we just need to let these things go and focus on our own relationship with Christ. And it’s fine with me if you feel that way. But I’m a dude who is action packed with issues. I need all the church learning I can get. If I’m sitting in the service, trying to get something out of it, but the ridiculousness going on around me is so big I can’t even focus on anything that’s being taught, then odds are, I’m not the only one.

And don’t even get me started on the “me first” fiasco in the parking lot after the service every Sunday.