Sermon question time?

In most Churches, if you tried to ask questions during the sermon you would be considered rude and insulting. If you tried it repeatedly, you would find yourself very unwelcome at that Church.If you tried to ask questions during the Commencement speech at a university, you would probably be escorted out of the room.On the other hand, questions might be welcomed at a theology lecture at a university or seminary.Some events, such as that lecture by a scientist, are educational events with a purpose of conveying information. Other events are ceremonial events. The social traditions on how to behave at ceremonial events are very different from the traditions for educational events.That same Church that does not welcome questions during the sermon - that Church probably has some Bible study classes, and questions would likely be welcome during those study sessions.

I don't know, but perhaps that's true. It is is true, then that goes a long way toward explaining why so many Christians are so ignorant of their own religion. There are activities in life where it is rude to ask questions. There are other activities where questions are welcome. This is all largely a matter of social tradition.So you could attend a Church and ask questions during the sermon. People would soon let you know that you were very rude and that your kind of rudeness would not be welcomed. On the other hand, you could join a Church, and work to change the traditions from within for that particular church. And if you were successful, perhaps you could work to spread that change to other churches. That's the way traditions change - by actions of people working together to bring about those changes. No, it doesn't put him on a pedestal, and it does not say that he should not be questioned. It only says that he should not be questioned during the sermon. That he is not to be questioned during the sermon is not a matter of respecting the pastor. It is a matter of respecting the members of a congregation who came to participate in a ceremonial ritual and don't want it to be changed into a drama.If ceremonial ritual is not your kind of thing, then skip the Church service, and go to their bible study instead. Questions will likely be welcomed there. That probably varies between Churches. Those that do quote parts of the bible are probably quote mining (taking little snippets out of context). Generally speaking, people want the sermon to be edifying, not educating. Don't expect that in a sermon. Maybe in a bible study class, though I would guess that many bible studies skip past those sections. But if you were a regular member of a bible study class, you might be able to insist that those sections be included. Just to be clear - for most of the issues that arise at evcforum, I am on the opposite side to Buzsaw and Peg. And no, I am not really recommending that you join a Church or a bible study class. I'm just pointing out that those are the places to go to change church traditions or to ask difficult questions.