“For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” Romans 12:4,5 (NIV)
I really enjoy listening to Christian singing groups, particularly those who sing acapella. Solos can be beautiful and stirring, but there is something about the dynamic of groups singing harmony that touches my heart. I enjoy trying to figure out who is singing which part, but sometimes it is not easy to do because the blend is so beautiful. It takes close listening and close watching of expressions and mouth movements to know who is who. I spent a long time listening to several groups the other day and was greatly blessed by them.
To be effective as an acapella singing group, each singer must put as much effort in listening as he/she does in singing. If a singer cannot hear the other voices, chances are that his/her voice may be dominant, disturbing the overall blend. Even when singing a solo with the rest providing background, the soloist must listen to the others to make sure that the total sound is the best it can be. The word “harmony” even has a pleasant sound. Webster’s New World dictionary defines “harmony” as “a combination of parts into a pleasing or orderly whole.” That certainly describes my favorite, which is four-part harmony. Successful quartets are known by the group name without undue emphasis on any one singer. The group is know as a group not four individuals. It seems that harmony takes effort. Even though some members of a quartet may have an easier time finding the correct or good sounding harmony for his/her part, he/she needs to work with all the other members to be sure that the overall sound is harmonious.
After I had spent a long time listening to acapella quartets, the following words came to my mind. I take them as a word from the Lord: “Harmony that is shown in music is the harmony I want throughout my Church and in each individual church. Stop fighting each other! When you sing harmony, you listen for the other voices so that you know you blend and give the best sound. Just be sure that you, as a church, are singing a song that you know I would like and enjoy.” I believe that the harmonious song that God wants to hear is based on the knowledge of the deity of Jesus Christ and His value as Messiah and Savior with the harmony provided by the Holy Scriptures. If I am speaking things that are not supported by the Word of God, or if I am making derogatory statements about other Christian churches whose day-to-day operations aren’t the same as those of my church or who may interpret some portion of scripture differently from what my church does, then I am not in harmony and my song is not pleasing to God. Lord, help me to listen to my brothers and hear their hearts before I criticize them. Lord, help me to be part of the harmony that pleases you.
“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; One Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” Ephesians 4:4-6 (NIV)
There is one body, and that’s us, and this body has been given many gifts of the Spirit. These gifts differ according to the Scripture passage, but here is a list made of those listed in several scriptures: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, fear of God, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, distinguishing between spirits, tongues and interpretation of tongues. Perhaps your list contains more. Today, I would like to speak of other gifts or abilities or roles necessary, used, and present in the collection of various churches, depending upon their focus and ministries. It’s a longer list than the one written above and probably not as well known: ushers, pray-ers, greeters, security, singers, AV techs, secretaries, friends, pastors, listeners, treasurers, decorators, youth leaders, schedulers, janitors, kitchen workers, maintenance, service coordinators, children’s teachers, worship leaders, volunteers, volunteer coordinators, copy machine operators, praisers, encouragers, intercessors, intercessory prayer coordinators, Bible study teachers, and receptionists.
Did you find yourself in that list? You should have because some of them are roles and gifts given and needed to be used by all of us in every church. Others are more specific and may not be present in each church. One interesting fact of Christian churches is that when a role needs to be filled, or a task needs to be completed, God taps someone on the shoulder and says, “Here’s your chance to further my kingdom.” Join Isaiah, who said in Isaiah 6:8: “Here am I, Lord, send me.” (NIV) It may not seem to be as important as God’s call to Isaiah, but if it is important enough for God to ask you to do it, then it is important enough to say, “Send me.”
The point is that we are all called by God to fulfill some vital part of His church, but not everyone answers the call, and the church is just not quite as effective as it would be if each of us answers. But remember that our God is a forgiving God, and He will ask you again, giving you the opportunity once more to serve, once more to earn the accolade: “Well done, good and faithful servant!” Matthew 25:21a (NIV)
Please forgive me if I have omitted a role that you are fulfilling in your church. You can be sure that God has noticed and He will express His thanks at some point.
Unity
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” John 17:20-23 (NIV)
Jesus prayed this prayer for His disciples, and early in the prayer, He extended it to you and to me. He wants all of us, His followers, to be one as He and the Father are one. Now, that’s unity. In John 5:19 Jesus says, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does” (NLT). That’s a behavior worth striving for, to do what God the Father does. If we strive for that, we can make great headway in spreading the Gospel everywhere. I don’t think that we will be completely successful in doing only what the Father does, but I do believe that we can do better than we have been doing—at least I can. Jesus asks God that the Son would be in us and that the Father would be in Him, so that we could be brought to “complete unity.” Then the world would know that Jesus was sent from the Father, who loves us as He loves Jesus. Thank you, Jesus, for praying that prayer over us.
I am going to assume that God answered that prayer, and that it’s up to us to show the unity of the Church to the world, so that the Great Commission can be completed fabulously. As that prayer is answered, infighting among churches will cease, and we can all agree that Jesus is Lord and Savior for all who are willing to accept Him. We can agree and preach that Jesus is the son of God and the ONLY way to eternal life in heaven. We can have various differences about how we run our churches and even how we run our worship services. Some of us can even sing hymns while others can sing praise and worship choruses. We might even get to appreciate each others’ music. Pastors might even feel comfortable to trade pulpits for a Sunday. Now, remember, we are doing this in the unity described by Jesus in John 17:20-23. It will be great for Christians to feel at home in any church claiming to be Christian.
I know that this may almost seem like a fantasy, but that is what Jesus prayed for, and the Father certainly hears the prayers of Jesus, and I believe that He answers them. If we can do as Jesus asks, and as long as the position of Jesus is the same in each church, we can appreciate the differences in the various churches and maybe we can even get to enjoy them, knowing that not all people need the same type of worship service.
To God be the glory. Great things He hath done!
“One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:24 (NIV)
My friend’s name is Jesus, and He is very special. He is extremely intelligent, and He is very strong. He created the entire universe, and He created it because He wants to have fellowship with me. Oh, He wants to have fellowship with you, and with your neighbor, and with Peirre Monsant in Paris. Well, He wants to have fellowship with everybody. He has other qualities beyond great intelligence and great strength. He is the most loyal friend you will ever have—He will never leave you. In fact, He is with you all the time, and He is willing to talk with you any time. He’s a great listener, and He’s a great solver of problems, but you have to remember that His definition of time is different from ours. He solves problems, but He solves them on His timetable. That means that we have to be patient and really believe that He will solve our problems.
He really sounds like a great friend, right. Well, there’s more. He also created a beautiful place, even better than the universe. It’s called heaven, and there are no problems in heaven: no sickness, no crime, no sorrow, no tears, no money problems. He created heaven also so we can fellowship with Him for, not millions of years, not billions of years, but forever. And He went there ahead of us to prepare a place for each of us. I hope that you will join the rest of us there.
None of the qualities I have mentioned about Jesus are as important as His most prominent quality—His love, and He loves unconditionally with only one requirement. We must accept His love, and we must believe what He did for us. He has paid the penalty for all of our sins so we can all go to heaven, as long as we ask for His forgiveness and ask Him to be our Lord.
Sounds good, doesn’t it? It will be great. I look forward to seeing you in heaven someday, where the streets are paved with gold. Then we will be able to see Jesus in person and walk and talk with Him. If you want to learn more about my best friend, get a Bible and read it and go to a good church where they talk about Jesus all the time.
JUST
“He pleaded earnestly with Him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.’” (Mark 5:21)
"Overhearing what they had said, Jesus told him, ‘Don’t be afraid; just believe.’” Mark 5:36 (NIV)
Jesus was in a large crowd when a leader of the synagogue came to Him and asked for healing for his daughter. In answer, Jesus started to the man’s house, but He was interrupted by a woman of great faith who expected to be healed of a serious condition if she could JUST touch His garment. She touched His garment, and she was healed. She JUST did what she believed would result in her healing, and it did. It certainly wasn’t easy. She had to fight through the crowd and get close enough to Jeus to touch His garment, a daunting task even for a healthy woman. And, according to the rules, she was not supposed to be in the crowd because of her physical condition. Well, she JUST did it, and she was healed. I haven’t found the word “JUST” used in any translation of this portion of Mark, but to me it is implied and is often used in any telling of her experience.
By the time this had transpired, people came from Jairus’s house and announced that his daughter had died. Jesus’ response was to ignore them and strengthen Jairus’ heart: “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” I believe that Jesus used these particular words because of the faith shown by the woman who had just been healed. She had JUST believed that healing would occur and it did. Well, Jairus JUST believed, and Jesus raised his daughter from the dead. To me, that is huge believing, much more than “JUST” believing. I’m not sure that I would have been able to “JUST” believe in this circumstance.
I am often convicted by the word “JUST.” “JUST” sometimes is quite difficult for me when I have a problem, and I am told to “JUST” believe, and God will take care of it. “JUST” sounds so easy, and if I can’t “JUST” believe, then I must not have much faith. That’s when I recall Mark 9:24 (NIV) where another father said to Jesus, “…I do believe, help me overcome my unbelief.” I love that man because He spoke my heart. Sometimes it is hard for me to “JUST” believe. I can, however, tell my Lord, “I believe, but please, Lord, show your mercy and grace to help me to “JUST” believe! I place myself in Your hands.” I know that Jesus is loving and forgiving and kind and wants me to be able to say, “I ‘JUST’ believe with all of my heart all the time.”
Picture from Istock Studio Annika
