MAKING BEAUTIFUL MUSIC TOGETHER
Mark 9:38-41,50
Listen to this performance of the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's Messiah. Did you notice that not everyone is singing or playing the same notes? In some parts, all the members of the choir are not singing all the same words. Yet with this diversity of instrumental and vocal voices united by Handel's composition create a powerful harmony.
You know, I think there's a lesson in that for us and for the church.
Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's Messiah
Previously in Mark 9, Jesus chastised the disciples for arguing among themselves about which of them was the greatest of all the disciples. It what seems like in an attempt to redeem himself and his fellow disciples, John spoke up, saying, "But we did a good thing the other day. We came across some guy who was casting out evil spirits in your name, and we tried to stop him because he wasn't following us!"
He wasn't following them. He wasn't one of them. He wasn't a member of the "Disciple's club." He wasn't like them.
Unfortunately, it's part of human nature to want to hang out with people who are just like us, people with shared experiences and who act and think the same way we do. People with new ideas and different opinions make us uncomfortable because we want to avoid conflict.
However, if we can respect and honor our differences, they can become gifts.
People with new ideas can help us out of that mire of always doing the same old thing the same old way. Don't get me wrong, I believe in "if it ain't broke, don't fix it," but sometimes, we don't always realize that what we've always been doing has ceased to be relevant and effective until someone comes along with a fresh view point.
The Hallelujah chorus wouldn't be as majestic as it is if only the alto section and the wood winds showed up for the performance. There would be a lot of awkward silences. The audience wouldn't hear the piece as it was meant to be played.
The same is true in the church. Since the Holy Spirit can speak through every member of a church, when we accept and are open to other's ideas, even when we don't agree with them, we get a more complete vision of where God is leading us.
Jesus said to his disciples, "you don't get it, do you. He's doing good in my name, and you're doing good in my name. You're all on the same page, working for the kingdom of God!"
What keeps the performance of Handel's Messiah from turning into a cacophony of chaos is that the musicians and the choir are all on the same page of the same composition. As individual performers, they are united by one purpose -- to perform the Hallelujah Chorus.
Similarly, we in the church are united by these things:
"There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all." (Ephesians 4:4-6)
and we have one and only one mission, and that is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. (Matthew 28:19-20)
John Wesley said, "If your heart is as my heart, take my hand."
If you're on the same page as I am when it comes to the main thing, Jesus Christ and the mission of God, then let's respect and honor our differences and go out there and do good in the name of Jesus -- let's make beautiful music together for the transformation of the world.
Listen to this performance of the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's Messiah. Did you notice that not everyone is singing or playing the same notes? In some parts, all the members of the choir are not singing all the same words. Yet with this diversity of instrumental and vocal voices united by Handel's composition create a powerful harmony.
You know, I think there's a lesson in that for us and for the church.
Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's Messiah
Previously in Mark 9, Jesus chastised the disciples for arguing among themselves about which of them was the greatest of all the disciples. It what seems like in an attempt to redeem himself and his fellow disciples, John spoke up, saying, "But we did a good thing the other day. We came across some guy who was casting out evil spirits in your name, and we tried to stop him because he wasn't following us!"
He wasn't following them. He wasn't one of them. He wasn't a member of the "Disciple's club." He wasn't like them.
Unfortunately, it's part of human nature to want to hang out with people who are just like us, people with shared experiences and who act and think the same way we do. People with new ideas and different opinions make us uncomfortable because we want to avoid conflict.
However, if we can respect and honor our differences, they can become gifts.
People with new ideas can help us out of that mire of always doing the same old thing the same old way. Don't get me wrong, I believe in "if it ain't broke, don't fix it," but sometimes, we don't always realize that what we've always been doing has ceased to be relevant and effective until someone comes along with a fresh view point.
The Hallelujah chorus wouldn't be as majestic as it is if only the alto section and the wood winds showed up for the performance. There would be a lot of awkward silences. The audience wouldn't hear the piece as it was meant to be played.
The same is true in the church. Since the Holy Spirit can speak through every member of a church, when we accept and are open to other's ideas, even when we don't agree with them, we get a more complete vision of where God is leading us.
Jesus said to his disciples, "you don't get it, do you. He's doing good in my name, and you're doing good in my name. You're all on the same page, working for the kingdom of God!"
What keeps the performance of Handel's Messiah from turning into a cacophony of chaos is that the musicians and the choir are all on the same page of the same composition. As individual performers, they are united by one purpose -- to perform the Hallelujah Chorus.
Similarly, we in the church are united by these things:
"There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all." (Ephesians 4:4-6)
and we have one and only one mission, and that is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. (Matthew 28:19-20)
John Wesley said, "If your heart is as my heart, take my hand."
If you're on the same page as I am when it comes to the main thing, Jesus Christ and the mission of God, then let's respect and honor our differences and go out there and do good in the name of Jesus -- let's make beautiful music together for the transformation of the world.
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