Church Decorum Series: Punctuality
Lesson Nine: Punctuality
Lesson Eight: Visitors | Lesson Seven: Fasting | Lesson Six: The Dress Code | Lesson Five: Altar Ministry
Lesson Four: Presiding | Lesson Three: Prayer | Lesson Two: Learn To Be A Student | Lesson One: Be Observant
Let’s say you visit a church, find that you really like it, and are extended the right hand of fellowship. You meet with the Pastor and agree to abide by the rules and regulations of the church. But then you start asking yourself, “What rules am I supposed to keep?”
Have you ever found yourself in this predicament?
When I went to the first Church Of God In Christ International Holy Convocation held in St. Louis, I was impressed, but a little disheartened, by a book that our Presiding Bishop and Mother Blake wrote about how the saints should deport themselves. While the information was very useful, I was surprised that we needed to be told some very basic things.
Then I remembered when I first came to the holiness church. Can you believe I did not even own a dress! I did not know what to say or what to do. I felt so inadequate those first few times I visited.
For those of us who have been in the church for a long time, we tend to assume that everyone knows the basics of church decorum. But over time, I’ve come to realize that there are just some things we won’t know – unless we are taught.
Well have no fear, this year I am here to help! It’s 2013, a brand new year, and I will be focusing on church decorum – those things we wished someone told us so we wouldn’t have felt out in left field while everyone else was in right. I’ll be covering lots of topics, including presiding, speaking and teaching; praying for different occasions; dressing modestly; altar work and laying on of hands and more. I’ll also be taking topics from you! Simply email your suggestion to Blog@holinesstabernaclecogic.org and you just may find your idea as the focus of one of my monthly blog posts.
Before we begin, I would like to start with a disclaimer: RULES AND REGULATIONS DIFFER FROM CHURCH TO CHURCH. IT IS ALWAYS WISE TO FOLLOW THE RULES OF THE PARTICULAR CHURCH YOU ATTEND.
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“Early is on time and on time is late.” I don’t know who coined this phrase, but I certainly believe in it. In this world where everything happens so fast thanks to the advancements in technology, it surprises me that we are constantly late. Many of our fore-parents had to walk or rely on public transportation to get around, while we have the benefit of having one or more vehicles. But our fore-parents made being on time a priority, while today we have a very relaxed and casual attitude towards punctuality.
My father-in-law is a great example of someone who does not believe in being late. My husband tells the story of him and my father-in-law at the Holy Convocation in Memphis one year. They went out for breakfast – my father-in-law’s idea of going to breakfast is leaving the house at 5:00 a.m. – and arriving at one of my father-in-law’s hot spots, they took a seat. My father-in-law proceeds to put the coffee on to brew. After waiting a long time to be served, my husband asks, “Where is the waitress?” and my father-in-law responds, “Oh, she doesn’t get in til 7:00 a.m.” As you can see, my father-in-law is an extreme case of that generation that believed in being punctual!
Unfortunately, this generation’s lax and casual attitude about punctuality has also entered the church. We are consistently late. It’s like we plan it out in our minds, “Ok, prayer should end about this time and I can make it to the service right afterwards.” Or we assume that service will start late and there is no reason for us to arrive on time. We do a disservice to ourselves, others and God when we don’t take the service of the Lord seriously – which is exactly what we are doing when we arrive late. Not only that, but there are so many advantages to being on time for service. The following are just a few:
- Join in the prayer – In many churches, service usually opens with prayer, setting the tone for the rest of the service. Getting to church on time for prayer will get you in tune with the Spirit of God and what He wants to accomplish during the service. It also prepares your heart and mind for worship.
- Alleviate frustration – When you’re running late and are rushing to get to service, you tend to be frustrated and it takes you longer to focus on what God has for you in that particular setting. If you arrive early you can avoid this anger and frustration.
- Greet visitors – I know I’ve said this before, but it bears repeating. It looks really bad when visitors arrive before the members. Visitor should never have to seat themselves or wonder what time the service really starts. If we advertise a certain time for service, we should adhere to it or change the time.
- Help build the service – When you arrive on time you can help take care of some things that will make the service flow smoother. For example, you can pick up papers from the floor, ensure the pulpit is presentable, see if your Pastor needs anything done before service, open up with prayer and much more. Of course, if you’re never there early enough, you won’t be able to help.
- Demonstrate concern – When you are where you are supposed to be during service, you demonstrate to your Pastor and others that you are concerned about the work of the Lord. You are an integral part of your church and are needed to be in place before service starts. Just like the members of your own body, every member is relevant and important for proper functioning of the body. Not only will the service flow smoother and more efficiently if you are where you are supposed to be on time, you also show that you are responsible and accountable.
Again these are just a few benefits of arriving early for service. The work of the Lord requires haste and we cannot afford to take a casual and unconcerned attitude toward His work. Souls are depending on us to be there for them. If you arrive late, you may just miss an opportunity to witness and win a soul for Christ.