Have you ever walked out of a service before?
 

My question is partially inspired by this post. I recently spoke with a friend of mine who walked out of a service after a guest speaker broke the one hour mark in his message, when according to my friend "could have said it in 20 minutes."

Have you ever walked out of a service? If so, for what reason and would you do it again if given the same chance?

Well I had to put the bass down and go home because I was sick.

Yes, we did once. Years ago there at Camp Meeting, I don't even know who was preaching and wasn't too impressed either. Anyway, we had a baby and a toddler and they were tired and it was miserably hot, so we got up and left even though the preacher said not too.

I walked out of a service once but can't remember why.

I'm pretty sure I have walked out when Bro. Fauss would start implying that the people in his church should vote Democrat during the middle of his sermons...

Also at my parents church I literally cannot keep from laughing when some of the people sing so I have to leave for a few minutes. One of the songs was to the tune of, "On Top of Spaghetti" and it was two old ladies singing it as a duet.

I walked out of a service, not because of the preacher, but because a woman got mad at me because I was with my baby in the crying room (Maybe nobody calls it the crying room....that's what we called it in the Catholic church I grew up in) and the baby was, you guessed it, crying. She asked to hold my baby at first and when I declined she got mad, told me I was a bad mother and stormed out. She was a pillar of the church. I went and got the keys from my husband and left.

Only one time in my life, and it was hard.

I was visting a church that was in revival, I was on my third night there, having a good time. I was new in the Lord..(translated NAIVE.)

By the third night this Evangelist had figured out who my pastor was. My pastor was a very conservative man, just not quite as conservative as the Evangilist was.

I had even brought visitors with me.. The third night this man preaching his conservative views hot and heavy. He got right in our face with his finger and told us our pastor was hellbound and taking us with him...The church was shoutin right along with him screaming at us..

His first mistake was talking about my beloved Pastor.. Them was fighting words!!!!

We got up and left... I could name this man and the majority of you would know him.. I won't...I have no desire to cast a bad light on his ministry.. This man today does not even hold the same conservative views he did back then.. I hope one day to get the chance to talk to him.

Bad choices happen in life, People get in the flesh, I understand that, I have no bad feelings concerning him..

The only time I ever left a service...

Lost, what are you reaching for here, friend?

:groan

I thought I would remember something like this... I don't remember if I ever walked out [in protest].

There is only one service that I don't plan on walking out of........that is if my wife don't burn me ...:bubble

I know for a fact that our pastor walked out of a certain "mile high" conference, not once but twice!

One of the incidents has been talked about on this forum before in length. :drseuss

I don't know if I've ever walked out of a service before but I sure felt like it a few times. :)

I walked out on David and the Giants. Some the other young people ask me to take them to the singing, our pastor trusted my judgement. After two songs I got up and motioned for the other to follow me and walked out.

I have been in the UPC movement for 45 years, and yes, I have walked out a few times; Once was because of the racist and sexist comments a preacher kept making, Once was because I knew the visiting minister had had an affair just a few months earlier with a married preacher's daughter in another part of the country, and lastly, because the music was so loud. With regards to the latter one, nearly 50 people did the same thing that I did.

One poster asked, "What do you have to gain from this post?" In the business world we always have a devil's advocate because he helps us see things from a different perspective. It is that perspective that helps us prepare a response to the worst case scenarios. So many of our people are passive/aggressive and don't allow themselves to think critically. You know, like, how can we make this the best possible experience for all those who attend our services. After all, aren't we in the people business?

I've found it easier just not to go.

Sorry you didn't like their music enough to stick around through the altar call at the end of their concert. I know their music isn't to the taste of some people-- but in my younger years, I never missed one of their concerts when they came to this area. There was ALWAYS an awesome outpouring of the Holy Ghost in the altar services following their concerts. But to be honest, I don't think their music would exactly fit my taste in music now-- but my daughters would probably love it just like I did when I was their age.

Well at the time I was young about 19. No I didn't like their music our the spirit that I felt.

Preach it.

Nah... couln't be the REAL Holy Ghost.
:heeheehee

I'll never forget a David and the Giants concert that we attended as young people. Keith Thibodeaux played a drum solo and at first my righteous indignation flared up, but when I looked up there and saw tears streaming down his face as he played the drums in worship to God - - my spirit was checked and I realized who am I to say how and what is considered praise to God.

If we don't praise him, the rocks will.

Amen!! :highfive

Maybe that was the problem.

That is awesome Renda!

I always loved David and the Giants. Awesome guys who SINCERELY love the Lord. I have talked to David personally several times.

Or "the ROCKERS will":heeheehee


I actually played sax with the Giants a few times. Once at Gospel Lighthouse in DeRidder, LA and the last few times at O. R. Fauss' church in north Houston!

I think sometimes we see/feel what we are expecting to see/feel in life. My mom can see God in the worst situations and I have known others who see the devil in every situation. I have discovered that there is great joy and peace in looking for Jesus ALL the time because I usually find Him!

Aint it the truth!

That's a sermon right there!

AMEN! Great post, Phil....:sing

Took my kids to a youth convention where Barlow Girl were one of the musical groups scheduled. They rocked, they sang, the spoke, they sang some more, the Holy Ghost fell. Hundreds of kids were filled with the Holy Ghost... They rocked...

I've always respected David Huff because he did not stoop down to the level of the character assassinators in the upci... Larry Carter is doing the same thing D&G were drummed out of the upci for... I hope for God's sake LC has bigger aspirations than General Conferences and Youth Congress.

If it's not your cup of tea a person might be uncomfortble with their music,but their attitudes and spirit are usually wonderful.They came to a large charismatic church by us a few years back that is trinity and they(David Huff) preached Jesus name baptism and the necessity of the Holy Ghost during their concert.I was so proud of them,they did'nt back down one bit.

I'd have to say I would walk out on a country and western Gospel concert, or Southern Gospel.

LOL!!!!:sing:sing:sing

There have been several times that i wanted to, that's for sure.

Thats too bad. My Canadian wife likes southern gospel.

I've walked out of a service before. It's been a while ago, can't really remember the reason.

We Canadians can forgive her for that, though. ;)

What am I reaching for? The truth of reality.

Sometimes we don't face it enough.

:tiphat

That's a soft answer...:smack

Its simple minds like you that lead to problems in the church today.

Denial of what happens in reality isn't going to make it go away.

Deal with it or go crawl back under your rock, Jekyll

:club

One time when I got sick.

I called the pastor to let him know why the next day.

He still loves me, he said so. :)