In the second instalment of my ‘bad answers to perfectly good questions’ series, I’m recalling a question I was asked at the last Music Ministry Conference about lateness at rehearsals.
This may seem a little trivial, but consistent lateness betrays more serious problems with discipline and service. It follows then that, if we’ve been given responsibility for rehearsing church musicians, the job involves much more than just playing the right notes. Rehearsals are another chance that God gives us to learn Christ and to serve his people.
Servant heart?
We’re all late once in a while, but consistent lateness is something that should be checked for the sake of the musician and for the church as a whole. Consistent lateness shows that a person hasn’t thought about the other musicians, and expects people to work around them, rather than to serve. This in turn produces discontent in others. No one is built up. Promptness, however, shows a servant heart, helps everyone do as good a job as they can and encourages a spirit of unity.
