In praise of rosters

I love a good roster. There, I’ve said it.
I know many Christians disagree, seeing them as a necessary evil, a secret shame. “Rosters seem so artificial. Why have some people ‘on duty’ and others ‘off duty’ at a gathering? Shouldn’t it be more natural and organic? Can’t we all just follow the inner voice of the Spirit and be prompted into ministry
No.
If you think
If you think organised religion is ugly, have a look at disorganised religion!
A good roster helps us to be the body of Christ – all different parts, well co-ordinated under the Head. It reminds us to work together in harmony, to submit to one another, to take turns stepping up or resting while the whole body moves on. All of this can itself be a witness – by this will everyone know that you are my
So a good roster requires (and prompts) a lot of love, and not just from the co-ordinator. It’s a spiritual discipline to communicate promptly, clearly and humbly with the poor soul putting it together.
Jesus wasn’t fighting against
For discussion: (1) What was Jesus fighting against? (2) When some
says they don’t likeorganised religion, what might they really be saying?