Can you concenrtate the sermon if the preacher is chewing gum while preaching?

I don't think it would bother me unless he was chewing it like an animal or something. lol As long as he's just barely chewing it and you can't really see the gum very well in his mouth then I don't think it would distract me. I'm a gum chewer myself though so maybe that's why it wouldn't bother me.

I WAS BROUGHT UP IN THE U.K. AND AT THAT TIME IT WS CONSIDERED VERY LOW CLASS TO CHEW GUM. WE WERE NEVER ALLOWD TO CHEW GUM AT ALL. i NEVE ALLOWD MY CHILDREN TO CHEW GUM EITHER IN THE HOUSE OR OUT WITH ME. I THOUGHT AND STILL THINK THAT IT IS A DISGUSTING HABIT. MOST PEOPLE LOOK LIKE COWS WHILST THEY ARE CHEWING. I THIK THAT I WOULD HAVE WALKD OUT OF TH CHURCH OR WHEREVER IT WAS AS THE PREACHER SHOWED NO RESPECT FOR THE CONGREGATION

Wow, that is really destructive...So far, I have not seen anyone who is preaching or discussing in front of a crowd and chewing a gum, when I was teaching, it is very common to the students.. Anyway, I hope someone can remind that preacher to stop doing it, will always divide the attention and focus of the people for sure!

Ha!ha!ha! It sounds funny at first friend! But later as we dig deeper we will realize this is not really a funny thing but rather disgusting thing. Imagine how a man who claims to be a man of God does not know how holy and sacred is the word of God that every time any one preach this, he should make sure he is respectful enough. Even by the way a Pastor dress himself up before going to the pulpit, even by the way he behave himself and chewing gum is one very disrespectful gesture. Indeed he did something that degraded his personality. He was unable to experience the power of the pulpit in that case. Certainly, listeners will not be pleased to see a Pastor that looked like cow or goat chewing and chewing in fornt of them while preaching. I understand you my friend. I am happy I've not encountered such kind of Pastor or Preacher because certainly, I will not be blessed at all. If chewing gum while talking to someone is to me already rude, how much more chewing while preaching the word of God? How sad for that Pastor. I think he should go back to Bible School to be taught of the right way to behave.

I consider that inappropriate for him to do that. There is a time for everything and surely chewing gum while you are preaching is not that time. Like you, my respect for him would be brought down, if not lost. A man of his stature should know what and which are appropriate in the premises. With him already doing that during the ongoing session, there would be no other thing for me to do except to "endure" my bad feeling by staying there till it ends. If there is a suggestion box where I can write to air my comments, I will surely comment on that.

that is really bad, for a preacher to do that since he is addressing everyone . but i wonder, how no one in your church has complained about this issue and asked him not to do so!? it can be quite distracting1 plus usually people say that one who chews gum is usually not so confident so just to overcome their nervousness they chew gum!

I have never seen a preacher chew gum and preach! I can't imagine what it would look like, but it doesn't seem proper and I doubt that I could concentrate on the sermon, either.

funny, i have never sat through a sermon where the preacher is chewing gum and believe me, i have been to a ton of church services in my life. it just is not done. but you are right, i think i would loose interest in the person too!

i have never experienced such a thing.. this sounds funny and stupid at the same time.. when some one dilivering a speech he or she should not be doing inapprptiate things.. sepecially when the speech is an important one..preacher should not be chewing gum while preaching and there is no argument about that.. he has to be serious.. comon it is s sermon not a joke story...

I think it is quite rarely to see one as if he is speaking and chewing gum at the same time his voice would not be clearly heard. It is inappropriate to do it especially in front of many people it is informal things to do for a man of God to do it. I seen a lot of people even those singer involve in a band they always have chewing gum while singing that is quite obvious very noticeable it makes me think they have bad breath thus they always have chewing gum to cover up their smelly smiles or the simply use thee gum to clean their teeth which a very disturbing things to do. Though instead of listening to his preaching the audience would likely notice his mouth and those makes him laughable with the he is showing his mouth is moving.

I have never experienced this, but I would lose respect for the preacher too. Chewing gum while talking in a public forum is disrespectful in any event, then what to say of preaching. As a preacher your are trying to inspire the congregation to live by God's word and yet while chewing gum you are disrespecting the same God you are telling everyone to follow. I don't get this at all. If I were you I would see him after the sermon and ask what is the purpose of his chewing gum at the podium? Also let him know how you feel about the situation?

according to chewing gum shows that u don't respect the person in front of you.you can chew gum when you are among your friends and close relations but when talking to elders and as u told talking in a crowd such action should be avoided. i go with u if i had been in your place i would have felt the same.

mabe the gum makes him(her) relaxin,the i guess preachin on the dais aint an easy thing. i dont mind the gum unless his(her) speech is borin.. lets pay more attention to the speech, not gum =P

it's an unspoken rule... basic conduct not to chew a gum when formally conversing and much more when on a public appearance. And when one with respectable stature does this,say a preacher on a sermon, it could either be degradation of the speech or the audience. The sight maybe disturbing and unsightly no matter how discreet the manner by which it is being done, but if we see beyond the "chewing" .. and that is to undertand the person.. why he/she does it? maybe we could offer help. Most of the people i know who are on this habit said they are hardly aware that it is not acceptable. For most of them, it is a form of defense mechanism, to channel nervousness, fear, insecurity or any uncontrolled emotion felt at the moment or in getting ready for an act. Other times it is done to forge confidence. It is as if by grinding or temporarily busying the brain into doing something that tension is release. So, for some it has a stress- relieving effect. However, this cannot justify the act. If you want to go on extra mile to enlighten anyone who's in this habit to find other way of channeling their emotions to some societal accepted norm or more discreet way, then it would be of great help. To the question if i can concentrate listening to a chewing preacher? Yes, i can, especially if the sermon is interesting and if he gives beautiful insights. Yet after the sermon, my mind would initially wander on thoughts y did he do that?^_^

I find it very distractive trying to listen to someone who is constantly chewing and I cannot imagine why he would be so inclined to do this.

I have never noticed this but I think it would bother me. I have seen others give speeches with gum in their mouth and it was very distracting.

Oh boy that preacher must have some serious addiction towards eating gum that he forgot he has some gum in his mouth. I hope he wouldn't do that again as it is indeed a turn off for them. I hope someone from your parishioners would tell him for his own good too.

Oh, bebs, you're right! I don't think it's proper to chew gum while sermon. Yes, they can chew gum in their daily life, even if they communicate with other believers. But sermon is a very formal way to preach God's words. And they are professional! Luckly, I never see this situation here. I think they should learn to respect God more. And it maybe make them to give up this bad habit!

Maybe he has dry mouth and needs it to help him generate salvia. Now if he starts blowing bubbles I gotta put my hand up and it won't be to testify.

I think it is rude for anyone to be chewing gum and holding a conversation with someone else. It is the height of bad manners!