Ever notice how common courtesy seems to have disappeared over the last several years? Being inconsiderate is the norm, from people elbowing past others in line, to car drivers who honk impatiently at disabled and elderly people who can't cross the streets as fast as everyone else.
Churches should be free from displays of inconsiderate behavior, but unfortunately, the ways of the cruel world have permeated its walls.
Church is supposed to be a safe and peaceful haven from the trials and tribulations we face during the rest of the week.
In order to make things pleasant for members and visitors alike, it would not hurt to practice being considerate inside houses of worship.
1.
Turn the cell phones off.
I think it's a shame that church bulletins have to include a line asking people to do this.
The pastor spends all week preparing a sermon, and the people who show up on Sunday morning want to hear it.
I understand if there is a true emergency, but most of the calls that come through don't qualify as such.
The same thing goes if you are attending a meeting or any other function at church.
Think about it: how rude is it to step out to take a call during the middle of a discussion or performance? It's a distraction.
2.
Don't eat and drink in the sanctuary.
The only time this is acceptable is during communion.
If you skipped breakfast before Sunday service, don't bring snacks to tide you over until the benediction.
No one wants to hear you crunching on cookies or anything else.
Do you need to keep your kids quiet during services? Don't give them candy or dry cereal in a vain attempt to achieve that goal.
Besides, the church custodian does not appreciate having to clean up gum stuck under the pews and crumbs on the floor on Monday morning.
3.
Don't take or borrow anything unless you have permission.
This covers everything from food in the kitchen's refrigerator, to flower vases, to sheet music.
Regardless if you think someone may not mind, ask anyway.
Just walking off with something is akin to stealing from the church.
4.
Don't talk while someone else is speaking or performing.
I remember being in a meeting where two women kept up a running conversation during a presentation made by a guest speaker.
They weren't whispering on top of that.
It took them being admonished by another church member several times before the message sunk in that they were disturbing others around them.
Another Sunday, the pastor had to stop in the middle of his sermon to ask the kids sitting in the front pews to stop talking and giggling.
The speaker or the performer is putting across a message, and people should be respectful enough to pay attention to it.
5.
Don't allow your kids to create disturbances.
I know parents get tired of people rolling their eyes at their kids' behavior.
But I'm also tired of parents using excuses that blame a child's age and/or maturity level as reason why they can't control certain aspects of their child's behavior.
Take your child to the nursery or another area of the church building to calm their crying down.
Restrain the kids from running up and down the halls.
Stop your kids from talking during the sermon.
You are the parent; you are the authority, so take charge.
6.
Keep a cool head during meetings.
During the annual church business meeting earlier this year, one of the members suggested a very controversial idea.
What followed was a lot of heated opinions and no solid resolution to the issue.
People are passionate about what they believe in, and from time to time, everyone is not going to agree on every point.
But to avoid confusion and chaos, people have to be willing to listen and be respectful of another's opinion, regardless if they agree with it or not.
The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so abandon the quarrel before it breaks out (Proverbs 17:14).
7.
Drop the gossip.
I have known of people who've left churches because they were tired of hearing gossip and sometimes discovering they were the topic of it.
I've been annoyed when someone in church asks a question about me based on erroneous information they heard elsewhere.
You are better off in going directly to the source if you don't know instead of running off of hearsay.
Even better is not contributing to the gossip mill yourself.
Remember, Christians are to be "in the world, but not of it".
These simple suggestions will go a long way is keeping down dissension and drama in the Lord's house.