Sunday Service: When is it too long? - AfroChat - African American

inkbutterbabie · February 6th, 2005, 06:02 PM

What timeframe do you think is feasible for one church service? Do you think time is important or do you feel that there should be no time limit?
Let's talk about it....

deej42 · February 6th, 2005, 11:22 PM

there sholdnt be a time limit...if the Holy Spirit is ministering to the congregation then time is out of the window...if the Pastor is just talking and repeating himself or herself over and over then there should be a limit and the elders or the deacons should tell the Pastor to sit down...

saraphen · February 6th, 2005, 11:50 PM

When everybody needs a bathroom break and the diabetics need to carry lunch, then it's too long.

Chelbe · February 6th, 2005, 11:51 PM

I don't think there should be a time limit, but I also think that they shouldn't look at me as if I'm committing a sin when I get up and walk out.
Sometimes I'm not sure if the things going on in there are real or staged.

inkbutterbabie · February 7th, 2005, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chelbe

I don't think there should be a time limit, but I also think that they shouldn't look at me as if I'm committing a sin when I get up and walk out.
Sometimes I'm not sure if the things going on in there are real or staged.

I've seen when a pastor will confront you when you get up and leave. (Basically call you out)I don't like that. People should be able to move about as freely as they like.

Juicy Black Lips · February 7th, 2005, 09:55 AM

Black people just overdo everything and make me sick.Everything should have a time limit.Sitting in church for four hours is just insane and uncalled for.It is disrespectful as all hell and something that usually only happens in the fakest and most pretentious of Black churches.Hour after hour of people singing,fainting and hollering has nothing to do with serving God whatsoever.Every type of church except for the ones headed by us are run in orderly and timely fashion.Maybe if we didn't spend the first two hours begging for money, singing, and dancing we could get out on time.

tafui · February 7th, 2005, 10:49 AM

^^Well our timeliness (or lack of it) comes from an African tradition where time is different from the European framework. For instance, we say Colored Peoples Time because we get that idea from Africa. So, if someone tells you to meet them somewhere at noon, in Europe (& and the West) you'll be there at 12:00 p.m. In Africa you'll be there anywhere between 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. Time is cultural. Black church services are run on emotions. The spirit moves and directs the schedule.

But I say all of that to say...I have adult ADD and hours sitting down is just not right. I can't do it. How is half of the service going to be "organized" and the other half just running on and on?

Peace,
tafui

February 7th, 2005, 11:07 AM

When the collection plate comes around I know I have been there too long.

Java · February 7th, 2005, 01:38 PM

:LolLolLol @ MIM...Man I love ya bluntness...

Well, I get jittery after three hours. That's why at my old church home I stopped attending the special offering services.

Inkbutterbabie, my ex-pastor use to call people out who left during offering. I was one of the folks he called out. :)

slickbitty · February 7th, 2005, 03:08 PM

I think that the problem is that they really aren't answering any questions. I mean when I was Catholic, I would go and would love the peace and quiet of being in church. Praying, sitting there talking to Jesus about what was going on in my life at the time. No priest, no patrons, no choir, just me and Jesus and God. It was a wonderful thing. Then the priest would get up there and go to his lecturn and his homily and it would be about.........NOTHING. I mean I don't mean to be disrespectful to what he was trying to do, but honestly, I wasn't feeling him. I mean how is this man in this nice robe, going to really answer my questions, and NOT use something other than what was going on in the world today. I'd ask questions all the time. I asked in confession one time, how come we sin, and the priest actually got an attitude, and asked me if I had a sin to confess. That was my first and last confession. I still went to church, but I never went on Saturday's, which was the day you confessed your sins and if you chose, go to 5 o'clock mass. Even my mom stopped going years ago, and when we would go, she wouldn't take communion, she didn't feel like she was worthy. I now TOTALLY understand that logic.

I mean maybe if they would provide real answers, USE THE BIBLE, and talk TO people instead of AT them. And then stop begging for money for the ministry, when they could easily sell that BENZ that the congregation bought and actually do something to help their flock, then maybe people would actually want to stay and hear what you had to say.