One Voice in Harmony
Author name
Midweek Message
One of the primary ways in which I experience the spirit of worship is through music.
This probably began when I was an often un-cherubic kid singing in the Cherub Choir in
my home church. It continued when I sang in the Concert Choir when I was in college
and in the chapel choir when I was in seminary. And that is why I have tried to sing in
the choirs at the churches where I’ve served, because music is one of the main ways I
connect with God and with my fellow worshipers.
Whether it’s listening to the Crest band perform an arresting arrangement of “Be Thou
My Vision” like they did last Sunday, catching Michael’s subtle nod to a beloved hymn or
occasionally a popular tune in his prelude, hearing Andrew proclaiming “It Is Well With
My Soul,” or trying my best to follow along with the bass line in the weekly anthem (you
know how us basses often know neither what page we’re on nor what song we’re
singing!), music feeds my spirit and stirs my soul.
I don’t know if the Apostle Paul liked to sing or not, but perhaps I am detecting a choral
allusion in one of his letters to one of the first-century churches. Toward the end of his
magisterial letter to the church in Rome, after discussing at some length how we can
stay connected with other Christians while staying true to our convictions, he offers this
prayer:
“May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with
one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice
glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 15:6-7 NRSV).
Did you catch those choral terms: “live in harmony with one another…so that together
you may with one voice…”? Paul is juxtaposing, holding together, both harmony and
unison at the same time!
Harmony is using the various gifts that God has given each one of us to the best of our
abilities. It’s singing the part that suits our particular voice—whether it is in the high
rafters with the sopranos or the bargain basement with the basses—as well as we can.
And when each one of us does that, Paul’s prayer suggests, then it all comes together
and in unison we can “with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ.”
I’ve certainly had moments in worship—and maybe you have too—when I’m singing my
part with all the gusto I can muster, and then it seems like my own voice just gets lost in
the midst of all the other voices singing together, and it becomes one—one great and
glorious offering of praise and thanksgiving and glory and honor to God in the Spirit of
our Lord Jesus Christ. And that, my friends—that is worship!
