Is it ok to comment in a church service?

[Unions]

I've been to church perhaps 5 times in my life so I'm not very familiar with this. But for those who do know more about christianity - is it ok to question/comment on what the preacher says during the service?

Say you're listening to a rabid fundamentalist one or even one who isn't. If he says anyone who is gay is condemned to hell during his speech, or is essentially campaigning for a republican, can you stand up and ask questions or give a comment on what he said? Does it depend on which sect it is?

If not, why? And if not, what would happen if you did? Condemned to hell?

I know there are plenty of christians who don't agree with what the fundamentalists say so I'm wondering why they don't ever stand up and call them on it. Put them on the spot so to speak.

[More Than A Feeling]

1. The main reason is...

The main reason why Christians who don't agree with fundamentalists don't stand up and call them on it is that they don't attend the same churches, IMHO.

Also, it is rude to interrupt when someone is speaking, which is why in my church (American Baptist) people don't stand up to comment or ask a question. Church sermons are really a spectator sport, not a group activity, at least the ones I have been to (not that many)

[Unions]

4. That makes sense

but I have a christian friend who tells me she goes to a somewhat liberal church, but that the preacher does attack GLBT people... though in subtle manner. So I know there are churches with liberal members that don't say anything.

[More Than A Feeling]

8. Well, I haven't experienced it

I imagine if there is no specific rule against it, its just one of those things that is *NOT DONE*. More power to any person able to resist the social norms and peer pressure to stand up and be heard in the middle of a sermon. I can't imagine they would be welcomed back.

[FreedomAngel82]

14. What you could do

is talk to the preacher privately. Tell them how you feel and let it be known and even point to some Biblical references from Christ about "love thy neighbor" etc. or you can see them privately or something. If your town is like mine it probably has tons of churches in town.

[Telly Savalas]

26. If the preacher attacks the GLBT community...

then the church isn't liberal. Or even "somewhat liberal".

[Yupster]

28. I go to a liberal church

I'm a Methodist.

In my church, you would not comment during the preacher's sermon.

If you disagreed enough, I guess you could walk out.

The place to comment would be as you're leaving. The preacher hangs out near the door saying goodbye to anyone who wants to and engages in conversation for as long as people want. That's when you would tell him whether you liked or disliked the sermon and why.

Also, Wednesday night mealtime would be a time to discuss what's going on, and most adults also have a Sunday school class they go to which discusses the recent happenings with each other.

If needed, there is seemingly always someone on every church committee in every Sunday school class, so if things need to be brought to attention through proper channels, that is possible too.

[blonndee]

2. Wow, I only have experience with fundies

but if anyone ever did that in one of THOSE services, people would have heart attacks and/or try to exorcise you.

Fundie Xtianity is NOT a dialogue-friendly forum. And likely the majority would yes, think you were going to hell.

Now try a UU service and comments would likely be welcomed...then again, a UU speaker wouldn't ever deliver that kind of ridiculous message.

But if you want to do that I say more power to you!

[DanCa]

3. I usually confront the "priest"

after the service. I dont want to allienate my ride home. Or offend my family at the service. I figured if I did they'd would suffer the consequences. It's funny though since I started to attend episcopal mass I never had any problems with what a priest said.

[murielm99]

19. I have complimented our pastor on sermons after church.

He told me one time that he was glad to get positive feedback. He said that people were not afraid to criticize him if they took issue with something in the sermon. So, a positive comment or polite disagreement was welcome.

I go to a liberal United Methodist church. I did walk out of a service in another church when I was a visitor. I took issue with the condemnation of abortion, so I stood, looked around and left. People knew why I was leaving.

I have an acquaintance who is in her eighties. Just before the November election, she stopped going to mass for the first time in her life. She said the priest criticized abortion every Sunday, and she was tired of it.

Depending on the traditions of your church, there is a way to give feedback.

[Az]

5. In a Unitarian Universalist church its no problem.

They even have an hour set aside after the service to discuss such things. Of course its not polite to do so during the actual service. But openness is an important part of the UU service.

That being said you won't get fundamentalists in a UU church. UUs tend to be arch liberals. We have been supporting homosexual rights for some time now.

I would ask what you are doing attending a church with such a fundamentalists bent if you are such a lite believer (assuming). A UU church may be more to your liking.

[Unions]

7. I don't attend church

but sometimes I see the preachers on TV with 400 people in attendance and no one ever calls them on some of the most vile things you ever hear. Surely there has to be at least a few people in such a big audience that don't always agree.

[Az]

10. Mega churchs create a tremendous pressure

In such a crowd a person feels pressured to fit in. Speaking out against the preacher carries with it to much pressure for most to overcome. Plus the entire flow of power is framed to give the power to the podium and dispensing it towards the audience. That is the people do not feel it is their place to speak up. They are there to be enlightened. They are there to be shown answers.

[blonndee]

11. IMO the televised church services are like Bush's political rallies--

the only people there are people who are going to automatically agree with the Big Speaker no matter what. Brainwashed...no reason to call anyone out.

[Wizard777]

One way communication. Has uses in Brainwashing.

It's a form of "Continuous Conditioning." When used in brain washing it exploits and abuses the brains learning functions. Continous Condition is how we learn. If you tell anyone the grass is purple for long enough. They will eventually come to believe that the grass is purple even if that conflicts with sensory input.

[Az]

20. Not quite

It takes more than just telling a person the grass is purple. There also has to be an emotional component to the repitition. With religious sermons the performance, environment, and social pressure of the fellow adherants carries the necissary emotional reinforcement.

Brainwashing in the malicious form relies on overwhelming pressure to be the carrier of the emotional force. Due to the strength of the emotions it creates a more rapid effect. Thus under torture a person can be made to believe a thing faster than under more congenial circumstances.

[tjdee]

6. Happens all the time in my church...

though, interruptions are more of the "I agree, which reminds me of the thing that happened last week..."

And it's always the same people. Oy. Always polite about it, and apologize after their diatribe, but geez!

But, more particularly to your comments, it (challenging/disagreements) doesn't happen often...so questions/comments in my experience have been to the pastor after the sermon's ended. Or to other members during coffee, again, after the sermon.

No rules against it though. A pastor cannot outright condemn you to hell for asking questions. Plus, if he/she did such a thing, wouldn't matter anyway, as he/she is not the Pope (or equivalent, which there isn't one in Protestant denominations that I know of).

I've heard tell of many colorful disagreements in the middle of sermons...never saw one though.

[WillowTree]

9. No. It's simply not done.

If you wish to discuss a point of theology or dogma that comes-up during a sermon with the priest/rabbi/minister/whatever, they're almost always willing to sit down and talk with you at another time to explain the teaching. But interrupting the service would be rude and really, really bad form.

If you're a guest in the church and you were to do such a thing, your host would be humiliated. If you're a church member, there are a plethora of other venues in which to discuss church teachings. And if you're a member and the priest/rabbi/minister/whatever is teaching something that you disagree with so strongly that you simply can't accept it under any circumstances, then it's time to start shopping for a different church.

[Occulus]

22. That "not done" crap is REALLY a completely pathetic reason.

We all know this, correct?

[WillowTree]

27. No, actually.

There are still lots and lots of people who still believe in things like manners and proper time and place and don't consider either to be "pathetic" or "crap". Believe it or not, one does not have to resort to boorish behavior in order to make a point or voice a disagreement and the point is often lost amid the rudeness and disrespect when we do. Much easier and more effective to keep one's head and wait for the appropriate venue when trying to make a point.

[FreedomAngel82]

12. It's not known

If I was in a situation like that I'd just stand up and leave. I've never had any problems with my church personally.

[H2O Man]

13. Sure.

Go for it.

[Wizard777]

15. YES! It was okay to question Christ himself.

As Christ was traveling through the Middle East and the world spreading the Gospel. In letters it was asked of the apostles how will we know Christ when he comes? Their reply was. "If one comes unto you claiming to be the son of God. Then ask him for a miracle. If the son of God he truly is. Then a miracle you shall surely receive." You need to learn the difference between Christians that are Christ LIKE and the Christians that are CHRIST like. In encountering the Christians that are CHRIST like. Ask them for a miracle and when they fail to produce it. Simply tell them they are not Christ and avoid them.

[blonndee]

16. Good point

I have a double major in English and Religion and I had totally forgotten that that was a major test of whether someone was a true follower of Christ. Then again, my fundie education didn't emphasize "miracles" too much. Wonder why...? ha ha

[nonconformist]

17. I would say, and this is just a guess, that

the liberal Christians going to a church with crazy fundie preachers change churches (or just don't go back) if the sermons get really insane.

I would also guess that standing up in the middle of the sermon and starting to speak would be considered pretty rude, whether you were speaking up to agree or disagree, so most probably wouldn't do it.

But I'm a heathen, so I dunno. :shrug:

[Zenlitened]

18. I guess doing the 'wave' would be right out, then?

:D

[Lydia Leftcoast]

21. There is no hard and fast rule across denominations

A few of the most liberal and free-form churches have so-called dialogue sermons, where the preacher lays out some points and the congregation is asked to respond.

I can't imagine this happening in a fundamentalist church, though. The only permissible responses would be to shout "Hallelujah" and "Amen, brother!"

On the rare occasions when I have seen people visibly object to a sermon, they have simply gotten up and walked out. Most other times they either grumble during coffee hour or confront the preacher afterwards.

Personally, I have never attended a church where they preach hatred, and I would not do so.

[Left coast liberal]

23. Why not stand up, sigh disgustedly and walk out

[Az]

24. I think the point of the OP was

There are broadcasts of evangelists in megachurchs all the time. Preaching hatred is not an uncommon subject from the pulpit. Why is there not the occaisional person in the audience that speaks out.

In answer to this question I would suggest that the church is not going to air its own denouncement. They edit and shoot what they want to in those services. It's not CSPAN.

[ultraist]

25. In some churches people do comment during the service

But only to support what the preacher has said, with an Amen or Hallelujah, or "Praise Jesus" etc.

Growing up, I attended an Episcopalian church and the only time the congregation spoke was to participate in the prayer or singing. Spontaneous comments were not offered. (It is a fairly formal service).

Some Quakers have "meetings" whereby people speak during the "service." There isn't a preacher or priest at a pulpit though.

As others have said, questions or criticisms are reserved for after the service or at church organizational meetings.

[Karenina]

29. The answer can be found on a CD

by Wesley Willis. The song is titled, "They Threw Me Out of Church."