Is rehearsing together as a worship team important for doing our best?

Ummm, is this a trick question? If I said, “No, don’t worry about rehearsing together. It’s not at all helpful or worthwhile,” wouldn’t you think that was an absurd answer? Of course it is important.

However, the question is one that honestly needs to be asked. I’ve encountered churches that clearly do not believe that rehearsing together is necessary. They get together on Sunday morning, tune their instruments, begin the service and “wing it.” Sometimes it works but more often than not the music sounds as though there was no rehearsal. These times remind me of the book title, When Bad Things Happen to Good People. Transitions were caught by some of the instrumentalists but not all of them. Modulations were clearly missed by at least one or two key folks. Harmonies fell flat. Tempos fluctuated between various instruments. It wasn’t pretty.

The amazing thing is that even afterward, they still don’t see the need to rehearse together. After all, “It’s just church.” Arrrggghhhhh!!

What kind of an attitude is that? Is it one that brings honor to God? Can we honestly convince ourselves that the Lord is blessed by such a half-hearted, lame attempt at music?

Please don’t misunderstand. I am not suggesting that the musical quality of your church must rival the latest recording from the major praise and worship music company. God is more interested in the heart. However, He is apparently interested in the quality also. Psalm 33:3, says we should play “skillfully.”

Face the facts. The best musicians in the world rehearse together before they put on a concert. And your church (or my church) does not have the best musicians in the world. Yes, practicing together is important for doing our best.