cell phones in church

The biggest problem isn't that it's considered rude, on the behalf of the gal with the phone. Rather that she apparently cared more about the phone than the sermon. Now, maybe she was expecting an important call. I will give her that doubt....

If you're expecting an important phone call, the phone should be on vibrate and you should be down the back of the church, where you can quickly exit to answer the call. It's not that difficult.

True enough. I'm not interested in defending the woman. I just believe the actions of the guy were beyond what was necessary.

The thing about cellphones, in any place, is that they remove you from being present. If you're texting during church, not only is it rude and distracting for others around you, but it removes you from being present from where you are. You can't be listening and texting at the same time, not fully, at least. So, is your priority to respond "LOL yeah" to a friend, or listen to what God may be wanting to teach you?

It bothers me when I'm trying to have a conversation with someone and they're constantly checking their phone. It makes me feel like they aren't really listening. Granted, sometimes my friends and I are just hanging out and we'll text someone else every so often, but when I'm trying to have a direct conversation with someone, it's a bit off-putting when they aren't totally present with me because they're also distracted by what's on their phone. It's not selfish. It's common courtesy.

Edited to add: I'm not against cellphones or texting. But it seems that there's a sort of phone etiquette that we've somehow lost.

Thanks, you are absolutely right that most people actually don't realize what they are doing is rude.

Thanks , you are right and i also don't like when people text or talk on their cell phones while your talking to them, my oldest sister does that your talking and then she's talking , when you realize...oh she's no longer listening to me and it makes you feel unimportant, disrespected , ticked off, (well she also corrects you when you talk, another rude habit)

This is why my battery is physically removed from my cell phone before i enter the sanctuary. And not replaced until service is over.

Rauleetoe, I'm not sure what part of the US you're from, but don't they have phones with the vibrate option there?

Thats a good practice,sometimes i forget to put my phone on silent or vibrate ,i'm glad they put a reminder to silence your phone on the screen.

Only time it bothers me is if the ringer or whatever is distracting me from the sermon. (it happens haha, I imagine it can't be fun to be "that guy") other then that I don't personally mind it, that is there business. The pastor who spent time prepping the sermon may or may not have an issue with it though.

I am a non denominational Christian and in my church back home this was very common. I would take out my cell phone to take notes all the time since I have a notepad app specifically for my Jesus notes. iPads being pulled out were also common for note taking and easy access to the Bible app. At times it would cross my mind like how rude but technology is taking over. I would try not to come to that point but whenever I didn't have a pen I'd just use my phone to take a quick note on something very important I needed to remember from service. I really hope people were not texting but I'd want to believe everyone was note taking. Haha...

I used to meet a small group from my church, we ld do book and bible studies. A member would bring her daughter a grown middle aged woman. We were praying, her phone rang and she answered and had a conversation about her lawn mower. I think that could wait.

Cell phones in church? interesting. Maybe....just maybe....we could be just glad that this person was in church?, AT ALL?? these un-hibited phone users, are, by this threads general consensus, deficient in 'manners' dare I even say it... a love of the Lord? but, maybe they do not know the Lord? are you drawing alongside? just a thought. Could we not give thanks that they are in the sanctuary at all? Are they not now amongst those who will be understanding of the fact that they may not know how 'to behave'. Phones? wearing too short a skirt? Jeans / not standing / sitting / singing/ giving an offering....their children not respectful enough....NIV / KJV....too much make up, not enough oh, my goodness. It could go on and on.
As TinTin said wisely in an earlier post, many of us have Bibles on our phones, we also have husbands who are maybe not too keen on us being in church, we may have a sick child or relative at home...or, most basically, we are very nervous about being there at all ( a realistic & grounded fear I may say from some of whats said on this thread So, they 'hold' on to the familiar! their phone. Who knows? What we do know is how to be a real, true loving church, in ALL ways acknowledging Him. Not questioning others motives and failings, perceived or otherwise. Taking a call about a lawn mower? Yes. Not the best. But, that person 'knows no better' they need to have someone draw alongside them, mentor them. If that person had dropped a copy of their latest best seller in the foyer or stalled their Aston Martin on the church forecourt would be be so quick to condemn? MMMM....<><