Why do some people sleep in church?

January 21, 2008

< snip >
don't underestimate the power of "subliminal preaching", so to speak. God's word can slip right into those ears no matter how tightly shut the eyes are.

Hmm.........."subliminal preaching." Is that like Bible Study by osmosis? (You know, head down on the Bible on the table, fast asleep!)

LOL, well, that's not quite as effective! the gospel is supposed to be imprinted on our hearts and in our minds, not on our faces!

January 21, 2008

I'd rather have people sleeping in church instead of at home in front of the television!!

Actually, LadyC is right, your subconscious picks up things you don't realize.

Psalm 122:1 I was glad when they said to me,

"Let us go to the house of the Lord."

January 21, 2008

< snip >
don't underestimate the power of "subliminal preaching", so to speak. God's word can slip right into those ears no matter how tightly shut the eyes are.

Hmm.........."subliminal preaching." Is that like Bible Study by osmosis? (You know, head down on the Bible on the table, fast asleep!)

LOL, well, that's not quite as effective! the gospel is supposed to be imprinted on our hearts and in our minds, not on our faces!

Well, it does tell us to write it on our foreheads. Deuteronomy 11:18

January 21, 2008

So true in this busy age we live somtimes the only time we sit still is to listen to the pastor!!! An at time even the best of the person may nod off but God can use that time to speak to our hearts!! God Bless!

that was just for a lack of a better phrase... LOL, i used up all my mental energies listening to the sermon this morning! but i think you know what i meant, right? tell me you do..

Ddavid from NC · January 21, 2008

Many of the blessings of God are conditional to our obedience and the condition of our heart...reference the Beatittudes. The attitude of worship is one area that Jesus said the condition is "in spirit and truth". I don't think you are in the right spirit non-egaged and snoozing. We have all done it and may be guilty in the future. Certainly, if you are not feeling well or the speaker is unethusiastic and has no content. But, we all no there are many it is a weekly routine. Again, I have been present in all types of worship styles and have seen it everywhere.

Shiloh62 · February 12, 2009

Have you ever notices that some people are completely unengaged in the church service? Engage them in conversation before and after church and you will find them knowledgeable and active in the work or ministry of the church. They give and support but look totally uninvolved in the order of worship. As someone who has attended churches that are liturgical to charismatic there is an element of this in every church regardless. I have been to gatherings where the speaker was of great notoriety and the message dynamic and sitting next to someone bored, but who was praising the Lord 10 minutes ago when the band was on stage. Yet, I have been to churches where I was bored and everyone next to me seemed engaged.

OK, your title threw me. I am guilty of sleeping in church, but its not because I'm not engaged. I do know what you mean here,there are those that seem not to be interested. I give full maximum effort to be engaged in paying attention in church, but,but the reason I fall asleep sometimes in church is that I work a double on Saturdays, and with Saturday being the busiest day, that doesn't help either. Oh, and I might add that that 2nd shift is 11-7, and sometimes I don't get out until almost 8 o'clock, and barely have time to catch the bus to get to church on time. So, do I fall asleep in church? Yes, I'm guilty. Shiloh62

Shiloh62 · February 12, 2009

Have you ever notices that some people are completely unengaged in the church service? Engage them in conversation before and after church and you will find them knowledgeable and active in the work or ministry of the church. They give and support but look totally uninvolved in the order of worship. As someone who has attended churches that are liturgical to charismatic there is an element of this in every church regardless. I have been to gatherings where the speaker was of great notoriety and the message dynamic and sitting next to someone bored, but who was praising the Lord 10 minutes ago when the band was on stage. Yet, I have been to churches where I was bored and everyone next to me seemed engaged.
Hi David, I know exactly what you mean when you say "but look totally uninvolved in the order of worship". But isn't that the problem 'order of worship'? If these same people were at a meeting at work and were not 'involved' then why would they be there in the first place? The problem with most churches is that they actually expect passivity from the 'audience'. If you were to ask a question or make a comment (assuming the meeting were small enough for you to be heard) you would be ignored or asked to be quiet. We, the church, need to be asking ourselves some serious questions about participation and 'ministry' etc.

Very true, findmysheep. That describes my church to a tea. They do not let you get a word in edgewise, and participation is extremely frowned upon, since they are racing the clock to go home; God forbid somebody have a question to ask or a testimony to give. Shiloh62

Shiloh62 · February 12, 2009

Have you ever notices that some people are completely unengaged in the church service? Engage them in conversation before and after church and you will find them knowledgeable and active in the work or ministry of the church. They give and support but look totally uninvolved in the order of worship. As someone who has attended churches that are liturgical to charismatic there is an element of this in every church regardless. I have been to gatherings where the speaker was of great notoriety and the message dynamic and sitting next to someone bored, but who was praising the Lord 10 minutes ago when the band was on stage. Yet, I have been to churches where I was bored and everyone next to me seemed engaged.

Find my sheep and Other one both made good points.

Much of what is called "church service" is just the same old ridiculously repetitive and boring thing. Even if you start out motivated, its hard to remain motivated about attending a service where you are hearing the same things for the 100th time. Church service becomes like a safty slogan, once you see it a few times, it loses its newness.

"Work Smarter not Harder..."
"Work Smarter not Harder..."
"Work Smarter not Harder..."
.
.
.
.
before long its just something people say out of habit, and don't really understand what it means.

The other thing is, in some cases, you may percieve a person to be "unengaged" because in modern church we are told that singing, clapping, dancing, or whatever the case is "worship" so you conclude that if a person isn't doing that, they must not be "engaged" in the service. That isn't necessarily true. Zeal and emotional involvment and motivation does not necessarily produce heart to heart worship and relationship of God.

The Flagellants during the time of the Black Death believed that in order to worship God they needed to torture themselves through self beating and mutilation as penance for percieved sin, yet ironicly, many of them ended up being arrested for involvement in prostitution. This is an example of zeal to the point of fanaticism, yet it still did not produce righteousness in their lives, and did not give glory to God, at least as a general rule.

Which is exactly what Jesus warned us about ,remember Conundrum? He told us not to pray repetitively as the heathens do, so maybe some of our church leaders need a little reminder.

Shiloh62 · February 12, 2009

two weeks ago, i found myself drifting in and out of the nods during the sermon. i was quite embarrassed... i sit near the front, so i KNOW pastor dean saw me nodding off. and that's something that has never happened to me before. but a dear friend of mine, who ironically is on the worship team and a fellow bible college student, will actually put her sunglasses on about ten minutes into the sermon. i guess she thinks nobody will notice her snoozing if she's wearing shades LOL.

for others, it happens frequently. it doesn't necessarily mean they're bored or uninterested. some people get sleepy after eating, and may have eaten breakfast before church... so when they get still, they drift off.

some people get sleepy when the temperature is too warm, or too cold...

for some people, like was already mentioned, it could be a soothing or droning voice that puts them out.

but the common element for all who drift off is this... they get still, they get quiet, they get relaxed.

don't underestimate the power of "subliminal preaching", so to speak. God's word can slip right into those ears no matter how tightly shut the eyes are.

I agree Lady, in the subliminal preaching,and often use it to my advantage. I often leave gospel music playing or the TV on TBN when I'm sleeping.

Leonard · February 12, 2009

As a minister, I have come to understand that the drooping eyelids, the nodding heads, the suppressed yawns are all signs that Christian Worship is taking place!