Is This Sinning? Your Thoughts?

Question

If a family always shows up to Mass late by 40 minutes, a girl who wears clothing that exposes her crack, and snapping gum, and playing with her manicured nails.
A couple who constantly talk in church during services.
People who just come in and out of church to take Holy Communion. Or are these just lack of respect?

Also people who answer their cell phones while in mass.

Answer 1

You're kidding! People answer their cell phones in your church!?!? I thought doing that in the movie theaters was blasphemous enough.

I don't recall a passage that says you should be on time for church, but to me it shows a lack of respect for the whole idea of worshiping together. Of course, I was that kid who would rather skip a college class entirely than come in late and disrupt the flow of things.

The girl who's butt-crack is showing is a tragic victim of today's current clothing trends. They don't make pants that fit us girls properly anymore without going up past our belly-buttons and making us look like we've got a butt in the front. That's obviously not an excuse for her, but it might be completely unintentional.

Snapping gum's definitely not sinful, but it's a sign of bad parenting. :) Playing with manicured nails isn't sinful either- it's just a waste of money.

Is the couple talking loudly and disrupting others' worship? To me, anything that's disruptive when other people are trying to pray isn't cool. I still wouldn't be so bold as to call it sinful, but it's absolutely rude.

So disrespectful, yes sir. Sinning? Not really. They're showing up and hearing the word of God. Some of it's bound to sink in.

Answer 2

First of all, is certainly a sin if you judge any of them. Second, I think is a lack of charity, against others. Girls or ladies not well dress is a lack of dignity and disrespectful to themselves and for others. Snapping gum is more like immaturity.Talking among themselves is usual, people are not ready to listen to something for an hour straight, Maybe if it was a bingo they will listen better. When you like what you do, you do it with love, and when you like something or somebody you don't care how long you are going to be with that person or in a that place. In other words, many people go to church as a tradition or because their parents oblige them. All you got to do is seat in the front and pray for them. I can't pay attention when I have anybody in front of me doing anything they shouldn't been doing during mass. So I always seat in front.

Answer 3

Church is a joke. Loads of people go for the wrong reasons. It's all a show really. I'm sure some go for the experience and their love for God or whatever but, most aren't living by what is preached so why are they there?

I tend to believe that no, your bad thoughts are not a sin. Some will disagree. It just sounds like the people you've described have better things to do than sit in church. That's between them and God if it's a bad thing or not.

Answer 4

Yes. I would say it's disrespect. Some Church's call the service a WORSHIP service. What you describe doesn't seem like worship to me. If these people were in school rather than in Church, what would the teacher tell them? I'm afraid they'd fail the coarse. If it were some very will renowned preacher, such as Billy Graham, was giving the sermon, would they do these same things? I doubt it. Church should be a place of worship, reverence, listening, learning, faith..showing thanks to God...

Answer 5

Chill out and remember but by the grace of God go you! I understand what you are saying but here's the truth, church services are attended by humans who are flawed and some more than others. Those people who attend may need a friend to make them feel welcome, encourage them to return, let them see the Joy of the Lord and the Love of Christ. Those people are the very people Jesus died for and they need him. It's not easy to be a Christian but don't get discouraged about others around you. Be an excellent example and when they mess up pray for them. Pray for yourself, ask God to help you see them through his eyes. Hang in there and think of the glory and joy it would bring to see those people saved, taught and perhaps to teach others some expectations and traditions aren't gonna get you to Heaven and neither is perfect conduct in a service. Love them just as Christ loved you. I know you're not a saint but we have to strive to be more like one. Love and Peace
PS Sit up in the front rows and don't look back!

Answer 6

Its definitely a lack of respect. I wonder why they even go. I don't go to a Catholic church, so I don't know how it usually is. If you ever want a change, you might try a Non Denominational church. I wish you the best.

Answer 7

I think that in any church you should respect other and be there for the right reasons, I think you should pray for those people, I think that it is good that they are at least there. It is not our job to judge if they are sinning. Let God do that, but he has drawn your attention to them for a reason. So pray for them

Answer 8

these are just lack of respect, anyone can be late to mass but you wont go to hell, exposing your crack is poor judgement which wont cause you to go to hell playing with your nails in Mass is not a sin i do it some times when im bored but snapping your gum during Mass you definitely going to hell.

Answer 9

If you read the rulebook, it says that if you honestly-and-truly-deep-down- in -your-heart believe something is not a sin (remember, you can't fool your God !) then it is not a sin. Bad manners, sure, but only in my opinion.
Most priests would be happy just to have their bums on seats, any time, in any condition. Can't preach to them if they're not there, and if chewing gum and wearing low pants is what it takes, so be it.

Answer 10

I would have to say that is a Total lack of respect. To God, the priest/preacher, and the whole congregation. If they are going to be like that, they shouldn't show up period. Don't think it would be considered a sin, just total inconsideration.