''Ban iPads during church service''

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By Ivan N. Baliboola

Tabs and smart phones should not be allowed in churches.

We are living in a generation of technological advancements that has made religious books available in electronic formats but that should not replace traditions.

Tablet computers are handheld small versions of laptops. Smart phones are electronic devices that can easily access internet and have traditional phone features.

There are many free Bible apps that can be installed on tablet computers and smart phones. Churches should discourage their congregations from using a tabs and smart phones during the service. These gadgets are too distracting.

It is hard to concentrate on Bible app alone. Someone may be tempted to check out other social media apps. Church leaders must encourage the culture of switching off electronic gadgets or keeping them in silence while in Church.

Gadgets are not clean. Some electronic devices are not fit to be in God's presence. The same gadget that has taken or downloaded nude pictures is the same gadget being used to read the Bible in church. It might be the reason God is not answering your prayers.

Why worship a gadget? The Bible is very clear. You cannot serve two masters at the same time. According to Luke 16:13, “No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”

There is a reason it is recommended that you carry your physical copy of the Bible to church. It will keep your heart and mind focused on one thing which is God. Almost all public places today have free wifi. It is hard for a gadget owner to resist the temptation to chat on their gadgets during service.

Social media becomes a God to worship. Remember God is jealousy being. Why not wait until after the service to catch up on social media accounts? It is just being disrespectful to God and failure to sacrifice time. Church is sacred place.

God will punish those that just carry their gadgets to show off in church. Being an attention seeker in church is wrong.

A tab may make other members of congregation not to follow the word of God as all their attention is on a tab. Please understand that some people have not had that much exposure to computers.

You are equally responsible for any bother that falls.  Besides how sure are you that the gadget will not be stolen? The fear that it will be stolen may create a lot of tension on the owner that they do not follow the church service.

If carrying the physical Bible is heavy then be prepared to share with a neighbour or read off a projector screen which is common in most modern churches.

Sharing a Bible in church promotes the spirit of togetherness among believers. Just imagine the lack of interaction, if everyone was glued to their individual Bibles in front of them. The e-book and audio Bible software are not evil but should be used outside church services.

The writer is a public relations and organisational diagnosis specialist