How do you deal with a distracting person who showboats during a church sermon?
My somewhat conservative Baptist church has been getting kinda Pentecostal lately. We've got an attendee that has been really distracting and I believe is making the congregation uncomfortable (I know I am). The preacher doesn't seem to mind, but if it distracts us, how could it not him? This person yells "amen, hallelujah, preach on, good word" after almost everything the preacher says. It takes our attention off of the sermon and places it on her. What would you do? I consider myself open with our preacher, but this is such a tough situation because all praise should be loud, proud and to Jesus. Who are we to say anything at all? Ugh. Moral dilemma. Oh and I have approached the distracter and all she said was "when I feel it, I praise him!" I guess i wasnt clear enough. Thanks
?2011-06-05T19:10:43Z
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The thing to remember is that you are there to glorify and worship God in Jesus' name. I don't want to sound hard, but maybe you need to take your eyes off this person and keep them fixed on God. I say this with understanding, because I have experienced the same thing in my church. There are some who do things that sound like they are glorifying God and they are really glorifying themselves. That being said, I attend a penticostal church and we respond with agreement when the pastor preaches and much in the same way. Still, there are others who go too far sometimes.
As I said before, it is important that you keep your eyes on God and allow Him to do the things necessary to make His worship service pleasing to Himself. If you decide to do anything, I would suggest talking to the pastor and allowing him to handle the situation. After all, it is his responsibility.
Not necessarily. If the early Christians screamed like Pentecostals, the Romans would have found them easily and then rounded them up and killed them. They had to be quiet and secretive to avoid persecution. I'm not saying that it is wrong to be loud, though I myself detest it as well. I'm saying that such is not the only, or perhaps not even the orthodox, way of praise.
Speak to the pastor or one of the elders. It's ok to express such discomfort. Chances are, she is distracting others as well.
Regarding the hassle of whether or not Christians have an "absolute" guarantee of salvation, irrespective of their movements, recall this caution Paul gave: "See then the kindness and the severity of God: severity in the direction of people who have fallen, however God’s kindness to you, offered you maintain in his kindness; or else you too shall be reduce off" (Rom. eleven:22; Heb. 10:26–29, two Pet. two:20–21). As the Bible says: I am already stored (Rom. eight:24, Eph. two:five–eight), however I’m additionally being stored (a million Cor. a million:18, two Cor. two:15, Phil. two:12), and I have the wish that I shall be stored (Rom. five:nine–10, a million Cor. three:12–15). Like the apostle Paul I am figuring out my salvation in worry and trembling (Phil. two:12), with hopeful trust within the guarantees of Christ. (Rom. five:two, two Tim. two:eleven–thirteen).
if this person is bothering you and distracting you during the service you should definitely talk to them again. remember to approach them with love and understanding. as a sister in Christ she should try to be considerate of those around her during the service. otherwise consider a doggie 'bark collar'. lol thats a joke.
i hate to say it, but perhaps the best thing to do would simply be to talk to this person again. start a conversation with them and then casually mention her usual habits. if she responds in a similar manner as before, calmly suggest a quieter alternative. if that still doesn't go through, you may have to flat out tell her she is distracting you. beyond that, all i can say is to try and ignore it. otherwise, bring a squirt gun or spray bottle for every time she calls out...