So . . . theres this thing called timeliness that exists out there in the real world. The basic premise of which is that you are where you are supposed to be when you are supposed to be there. Now this idea comes in several flavors, usually it stems from being scheduled to start a shift at a particular time. But also tied up in that idea is that you are where you said you were going to be when you said you were going to be there. This is painfully truthful and honestly it is one of the aspects of the good old American workplace that makes it work so well.
However, there is this idea that permeates the Christian world that we just start whenever we all get there. Or we will extend ‘grace’ to the late party and so on, showing the love of God to that person, etc…
There is a problem with this idea . . . and especially as I have seen it laid out here on campus. The idea lies in the fact that the offending party never learns to actually be on time or to hold up their end of the deal (what they said they would do, or when they said they would do it). This is particularly painful when there is some other person or event that is being held up by that one persons lack of delivery.
Also in being as ‘gracious’ as we are, we end up training those people we are interacting with to be lazy in their post-graduate employment. It is a diservice to them when we let them just float through their commitments and not call them down for it.
I would challenge us all to step it up, just in our personal interactions of holding people to their word and making them aware of their downfalls. In order to do this though we have to prove our own worthiness and prove our word is true to those who are watching us. In so doing I would hope that we are able to help produce a generation of healthy non-lazy young people willing and able to tackle the toughest stuff people can throw at you. From my own experience this is the best witness we can have to the world. It is amazing, I have never been asked to leave any of my positions and instead have nearly every time been asked to postpone my return to school to stay working with them. Being on time proves not only your competence, but often times it additionally highlights your capability and in light of the many many lazy “christians” they might have been exposed to it also proves the character of Christianity.
We aren’t just supposed to be doing our best at church or when we are in Christian circles, but more importantly when we are on display before the world in the workplace. Not just in the quality of our work, and also in the way we present ourselves, but most importantly in the timely manner we arrive for work. This is something that I believe the generally conservative Christian world has problems with and needs to cease being allowed and dealt with.
No more late arrivals. No more excuses for not being on time. No more allowence of anything less then on time.
Early is on time.
On time is late.
Late is inexcusable.
so in all of my social circles i have found there is always going to be one or more persons who are never on time, even when they come early, they still manage to be late to start whaver they are supposed to be doing. most of this is comeing from work, where i am super early in the morning but everyone else is going to be late, for one reason or another…. so feel your pain. and it is not excused as far as i know.
its about time someone said that….side note: if someone else is driving it doesn’t count!
Well that’s dumb, if you can’t use your drivers’ license, what are you supposed to use??
Sheesh, people are dumb.
-Billy
I am very glad that you thought about that subject long enough to be able to write a blog about it.(And having a blog helps too) I very much agree with your conclusion about how tardiness affects a christian’s witness before others. I believe that God is a God of organization and His children, i.e. beleivers, christians, wannabe saints in the future, should all be willing to be people of their word. There are heathens in this world that haven’t missed an appointment in their life because they want a perfect record or, they are concerned about what somebody might think! But a “regular” christian is willing to tell somebody else that if you think “we” should be on time, that we are being intolerant or too demanding.
When are people going to start taking christianity seriously? THIS IS YOUR LIFE-BOTH TODAY AND FOREVER-LIVE LIKE IT.