Zetland Park Methodist Church Pastoral Letters
October 2016
Harmony
At a recent church event I went to I sat on the back row listening to the singing in the opening devotions. We were singing a well known 1970's chorus which clearly everyone knew. As we moved into the second and subsequent verses I noticed that some folk started singing harmonies, but oh dear, it was anything but melodious! Clearly, different people knew different harmonies and rather than them blending into a lovely sound, the harmonies were jarring and clashing against each other and were anything but melodious!
As a past member of several choirs I recognise the importance of the need for all members to sing together on an agreed score, following one leader! There can no room in a choir for everybody deciding to do their own thing, else mayhem follows.
I believe this is also true for the Church, indeed for society in general. If we all do our own thing, chaos tends to erupt. We see this in our communities, in our country and, of course, in the international arena - no one can have missed what has happened in a certain country in the Middle East as different world powers have 'done their own thing' to try to resolve the age-long conflict!
As the church of Christ we have but one leader, that is Jesus, and His is the church and we are His followers. While there are times within the church, for the sake of order and harmony, that we appoint an individual or group to act as 'subconductor', their role is always in submission to the King of Kings! But there is never a place for everyone doing their own thing in His church. We may all do different jobs in the church - like singing different parts - but we do them together to create a harmony which is the sign of the presence of the Spirit and the Lordship of Christ!
It is only when we 'sing' together in the harmonies of the Creator and of the Redeemer that the church truly produces an effect which brings glory to God, rather than reflect the ways of humankind!
All Blessings