Gum-Chewing Worshipers????

Several years ago, my late wife and I attended a worship service where we observed some of the members chewing gum. The individual who lead the opening prayer was chewing gum. When the Lord’s Supper was observed, we noticed that the men serving were chewing gum. Even the announcer and song leader were observed chewing gum! My questions are these:

• As Christians, are we not demeaning and degrading our worship to the Lord by the “common act” of chewing gum?
• What does this practice tell our visitors who attend our services?
• Doesn’t our Lord who died on the cross for our sins deserve more honor and respect?

I believe it demonstrates a lackadaisical and indifferent attitude toward the worship of our heavenly Father (Matthew 15:8; Isaiah 29:13; Ezekiel 33:31).

The following is a poem by an unknown author that my late grandmother kept in her Bible concerning the chewing of gum that I believe is appropriate to include in this article. She detested the practice of chewing gum before, during, and after worship services and so should every Christian. Hopefully, it will make us think before we stick a wad of gum in our mouths as we assemble to worship our heavenly Father, the Creator of the universe and all life (Job 12:10; Psalm 33:6-9; Isaiah 42:5; Acts 17:24-25).

“The gum-chewing student
And cud-chewing cow
Look quite alike
But they’re different, somehow,
And what is the difference?
I see it all now —-
It’s the intelligent look
On the face of the cow!”

In Revelation 5:11-14; Revelation 7:9-12; Revelation 11:15-17; Revelation 19:1-7, John pictures for us the worshipers of our heavenly Father. In Revelation 5:13 the scripture says, “And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.” Notice the honor, reverence, and dignity offered by these worshipers to the Creator.

In this writer's humble view,  if we can’t refrain from this “common” (and seemingly growing) practice for at least three hours a week, maybe we should re-examine our attitudes toward our worship (2 Corinthians 13:5) in order to give proper praise, honor, glory and respect to our heavenly Father from whom all blessings flow (Psalm 89:7; James 1:17).

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets