Slideshow image

The old-time preachers were often known for using some blunt force trauma in their sermons. George A. Lofton was a popular Baptist preacher of the late 1800’s. He was a master illustrator on a blackboard. The PowerPoint of the day!

In 1898 the book Character Sketches was published containing his art work along with some of his sermons. In one sermon Mr. Lofton depicted the behavior of people during religious assemblies. I will not mention the title of his sermon lest some should take offense. I will say that he chastised what he called “asinine” behavior in the assembly. In a milder tone he called such people “church disturbers.” He portrayed people, in donkey caricatures, engaged in the following: Looking back over the pews, passing notes, scribbling in hymn books and defacing pews, “gabblers” laughing and talking back and forth, “a courting couple in sweet converse – ‘billing and cooing’ during the sermon, and cannot wait one hour for a better opportunity,” a “dude” and a “dudine” walking in late, people coming in and going out during services, the tobacco chewer leaving spots on pews and on the floor, and the timeless favorite of “pulling out your watch and snapping it, throwing back your head, and yawning in the face of the preacher and his audience.”

            As I like to say people are people everywhere you go, and regardless of the times. Many of these behaviors are still seen in a more or less dignified fashion. If George Lofton were alive today he would have to revise his portrayal of disconnected people in the assembly by adding the person seated in calm repose staring down at a cell phone instead of their Bible. Of course some of us use the Bible app on our phones.

The announcement to turn off or silence your cell phone is now routine. But that does not keep some from replacing some parts of the worship with something more urgent or interesting on their phone. They are not disturbing anybody (except by their influence). Yet neither are they connected with the activities of the worship. If one is disconnected in worship they are tuning out the songs, prayers, teaching, preaching and praise they so much need!

Reverence for God should be the cure for distracting behavior in the worship assembly as well as being disconnected during worship. A reverent soul trembles before the God worthy to be worshipped (Heb. 12:28). No one can praise God who does not bow before him in adoring awe because his name is “holy and reverend” (Psa. 111:9).