Rev. Daniel True
The other night I went to a funeral. This celebration was for a fellow minister in the area.
Although he was a casual acquaintance we disagreed on several points, on theological or Scriptural direction. Without going into details as to those variances, for they are moot points now, he remained a friend. All too often many of us, when there are disagreements, we sever any/all relationships with a person. That didn’t happen here.
I learned many years ago that I do not know it all. Now, I know that will shock many of you who know me personally, but I do submit (occasionally – okay, rarely) to that notion. I did learn that, when I do reach an impasse, the phrase “we agree to disagree” is most valuable. You DON’T have to hate someone with whom you disagree – just “get over it” and move on with YOUR life! There are other things for which you can agree.
In the rare instances where it is SO obvious that the other person has chosen to step outside the bounds of Christianity and into sin, you need to address the issue with that person, for he/she is a brother or sister in the Kingdom of God.
That was NOT the case here!
Getting back to this “service”, I learned a lot about “Pastor Tony”. Obviously the latent work in which he was involved as a pastor and teacher was miniscule to the work in ministry that preceded the current call. He had obtained “authentic” degrees in ministry (not “mail-order” as is the case with a lot of people in recent times), having spent “campus time” for years to achieve (earn) a Doctorate in Ministry. His list of achievements was long. He served for years as a missionary in Africa, and having lost his wife while there, raised and educated four young children.
The list of his accomplishments went on and on during the +two hour service. I changed my opinion of him for, in his humbleness, none of this ever came out in my interaction with him. I was glad to have attended.
My guesstimate was that there were between 400-500 people in attendance. It was amazing as to the lives that this man’s ministry touched over the years!
However, since I always tie the title of these articles to the messages they contain, I had this further observation of the meeting. As the service started, which was conducted by one of “Tony’s” sons, there was the usual request to silence cell phones during the service. You would think that people would not have to be reminded that sometimes offensive or distasteful “ring tones” could disturb any religious ceremony, much less show disrespect during a solemn time of memorial.
At least two times, that disturbing sound resounded with an echo throughout the sanctuary. Worse yet, one person who actually “forgot” to silence the phone, even after asked to do so by the leader, sat there and “chatted” to the caller instead of requesting a call-back later!
And, even in the row in which I was sitting, there was a person beside and one in the row just in front of me who were texting. I know that one of them was a pastor; I did not know the one beside me. However, there is no “call” to do those things that distract those around them. If they were expecting or had received urgent messages, they should have retreated to a room out of the sanctuary, or better yet, conducted their business before entering the service. Although I did not see the content of their texting (snooping would not have been appropriate) they should have considered others, as well as the request of the leader.
When the congregation was asked to stand, to sing a hymn or for other purposes, they chose to sit and text. The singing of “How Great Thou Art” was less important than the texting that was going on. And that was just in my row!
I’m NOT an advocate against cell phones; I have and carry one myself. They are an almost indispensable item these days, especially for we elderly who are alone. As a courtesy, I switched mine off before the service began. Just short of a life in danger, which would be a rare scenario during a two-hour period, there is nothing that can’t wait a little while. In case you don’t answer an important message the call should be followed by a “voice mail” and you can return the call when you “power up”. In all fairness, the caller probably doesn’t know you are in a meeting and shouldn’t be blamed. It is up to YOU to control the use of YOUR cell phone!
If we take the word “sanctuary” to heart – sanctuary means “a consecrated place”. It is a derivative of “sanctified” – “made or declared or believed to be holy; devoted to a deity or some religious ceremony or use”. Or, sanctity; “the quality of being holy“. Is THIS the way we should be honoring the place and the purpose for which we gather there?
Okay, to leave with a humorous (?) observation – ten years ago, when cell phones were starting to gain popularity over pagers (pagers – remember those things?), we were regular visitors at a small non-denominational church in this area. The pastor rarely wore a jacket during the services (we DO live in Florida!) and on his belt were his pager and his new cell phone. One time I asked him what would he do if one or both of those devices started ringing in the middle of his sermon! I received a quick smirk but no answer; he continued to wear his “toys”.
Call me when you get a chance – - –
