Church is not just a building. It is a sacred space where people gather to worship, grow in faith, and connect with God and one another.
While every church is a little different, there are some behaviors that simply do not belong in any house of God.
Sometimes people do things without meaning any harm, but small actions can still carry big consequences.
Knowing what to avoid in church helps keep the focus on worship, respect, and unity. When we treat the church with honor, we help create an atmosphere where others can meet God without distraction or discomfort.
Treat Worship as a Show
Worship is meant to honor God, not impress people. When we walk into a church service, the focus should be on lifting God’s name, not drawing attention to ourselves or evaluating others. Sadly, it is easy to slip into the habit of treating worship like a performance. Some watch the singers or musicians the way they would watch a concert. Others join in only when the music matches their taste. When this happens, the heart of worship is lost.
John 4:24 says, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” This verse reminds us that true worship comes from a sincere heart. It is not about showmanship. It is not about talent. It is about connection with God. Whether you sing loudly or quietly, whether your voice is on pitch or not, what matters is that your praise is real.
Treating worship as entertainment also puts pressure on those leading it. Instead of focusing on guiding people into God’s presence, they feel the need to perform. That pressure can turn church into a stage instead of a sanctuary. The goal of worship is not to entertain a crowd. It is to invite God’s presence and point all hearts to Him.
If you find yourself judging the quality of the music more than joining in, pause and ask yourself why. Are you worshiping with your heart, or just listening with your ears? Are you focusing on how the singer sounds, or on what the song is saying to God?
Worship is not a show to sit through. It is a moment to lean in and honor the One who gave you life. No matter how the music sounds, your heart can still praise Him. True worship has nothing to do with performance and everything to do with presence.
Leave Hurting People Unseen
One of the worst things you can do in church is pretend not to notice someone who is hurting. Church should be the safest place for broken people, yet sometimes those who are struggling feel the most invisible. They may walk in quietly, sit in the back, and hope someone will notice them. When no one does, they often leave feeling more alone than when they came.
Galatians 6:2 says, “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” This verse is a direct call to care. It reminds us that being part of a church is not just about showing up. It is about looking around. If someone is grieving, hurting, or clearly withdrawn, God may be calling you to be the one who sees them.
Many people show up to church smiling on the outside but battling pain on the inside. They may have lost a job, ended a relationship, or just feel far from God. A kind word, a simple hello, or even just making eye contact can break through their silence. God often works through small acts of love to do great healing.
Jesus never ignored the hurting. He noticed the woman who touched the hem of His robe. He stopped to speak to the blind man calling out from the crowd. He wept with Mary and Martha when their brother died. His heart was always tuned to those who were suffering, even when others passed them by.
If you feel the urge to check on someone, follow through. Do not assume someone else will do it. You may be the one God sent to bring comfort. The church is not just for the joyful. It is also for the broken. And it is our job to make sure no one leaves feeling forgotten.
Seeing the hurting and responding with compassion reflects the heart of Christ more than any sermon ever could.
Let Your Phone Become a Distraction
Phones have become a part of everyday life. We use them for everything from work to communication to reading Scripture. But when we let our phones distract us during church, we risk missing what God is trying to say. A simple text, a social media notification, or even a habit of scrolling can take our minds away from worship and bring distraction not only to us but to others around us.
Ecclesiastes 5:1 warns, “Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear.” The verse reminds us to enter God’s house with focus and respect. If your attention is on your phone instead of the Word, the worship, or the message, you may be physically present but spiritually absent.
Sometimes it starts small. You check your phone for the time, then glance at a message, and before you know it, your heart is far from the sermon. It might not feel like a big deal in the moment, but it slowly builds a habit of distraction. Over time, it becomes easier to ignore conviction, miss truth, or treat church like any other room instead of holy ground.
Your phone itself is not the problem. It is a tool. But tools can either be used for good or become a source of temptation. If you are using it to follow along with Scripture or take notes, that is helpful. But if it pulls your focus, silencing it or leaving it in your bag may be the better choice.
Church is a time to tune in to God, not check out of the moment. When we silence our devices and quiet our minds, we create room for God’s voice to speak clearly. Do not let a glowing screen steal what God prepared just for you that day.
Tear Down Those in Leadership
Another serious mistake people make in church is tearing down their leaders with criticism, gossip, or slander. God places leaders in the church to guide, teach, and serve. They are not perfect, but they carry heavy responsibility. Speaking against them without cause or spreading negativity can do great harm to the entire church family.
Hebrews 13:17 says, “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls.” This verse does not mean leaders are above correction. But it does mean they deserve respect and support. God holds leaders accountable, but He also expects us to lift them up in prayer, not tear them down with our words.
Criticism often starts as a whisper. One person complains about the music. Another questions a decision. Slowly, the focus shifts from worship to fault-finding. Division grows, trust weakens, and the church loses its unity. When we allow bitterness or pride to shape how we speak about those in leadership, we create cracks in the foundation of the church.
Jesus modeled servant leadership. He led with humility, but He also expected those who followed Him to do so with open hearts. If a leader makes a mistake, there are biblical ways to address it. Matthew 18 lays out how to deal with conflict. But spreading rumors or stirring doubt in others is not God’s way.
If you have concerns, bring them to God first. Then, if needed, speak with grace and honesty to the right person. Always aim for restoration, not destruction. Leaders are human, just like you. They need encouragement, wisdom, and patience.
Tearing down leaders harms more than just the one leading. It damages the body of Christ. Choose words that heal, not hurt. Choose honor over criticism. God blesses unity, and unity begins with how we treat those He called to lead.
Make Everything About You
Church is meant to be a place of worship, fellowship, and learning. It is a place where people gather to focus on God and grow together as a community. But when someone makes everything about themselves, it begins to shift the purpose of that gathering. Whether through constant attention-seeking, pushing personal opinions, or expecting everything to go their way, this behavior takes the focus off God and puts it on one person.
Philippians 2:3 gives a powerful reminder. It says, “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” This verse calls believers to humility. It invites us to put others first and avoid selfish motives. When someone enters church thinking only of how they look, what they want, or how others treat them, they miss the deeper calling of what it means to be part of the body of Christ.
Making church all about your preferences can damage unity. If worship does not match your favorite style, or the message challenges your thinking, do you shut down or stay open? Church is not a performance for your enjoyment. It is a gathering for God’s glory. The moment we expect everything to cater to us, we start losing sight of why we came in the first place.
Some people also dominate conversations in small groups, make decisions without seeking counsel, or turn every event into a stage for personal gain. These actions may not be done with bad intentions, but they reflect a heart that is looking inward instead of upward and outward.
God wants us to come to church with a heart ready to give, not just receive. Encouragement, service, kindness, and support should all flow through us toward others. When everyone comes to church ready to bless instead of impress, the whole church becomes stronger. Church is not about me. It is about us, and most importantly, it is about Him.
Final Thoughts
Church is a place where hearts are healed, lives are changed, and God is lifted high. To protect that sacred space, we must pay attention to how we act and treat others while we are there.
Avoiding distractions, honoring leaders, and loving people well helps keep the focus on God where it belongs.
When we walk in with humility and a heart ready to serve, we create a space where God can move freely.
Remember, church is not about being seen. It is about seeking Him together with love, grace, and respect.