We offer a wide variety of musical offerings here at First Baptist Church. While we lean modern or contemporary, our musical offerings are actually quite eclectic and diverse. On any given Sunday morning, you will certainly hear our praise band, complete with acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, drums, cello, and vocals. On some Sundays, you are likely to hear our organ or grand piano ringing out the notes of classic hymns. On occasion, you will hear and be led in a song or two by our classical orchestra, featuring flutes, oboes, clarinet, bassoon, trumpets, French horns, baritones, timpani, bells, snare, and miscellaneous percussion. During the Christmas season, you are likely to get a special musical treat as our hand bells ring out, announcing good news of great joy for all people. For some, the presence of these diverse styles of music together is counter intuitive. I would submit that it is reflective of the poignant power and beauty of one of music’s greatest gifts; the gift of harmony.
Harmony is a pleasing combination of different parts.
I recently read a very simple and beautiful definition of harmony. Harmony is a pleasing combination of different parts. Harmony is only possible when each musician plays their part, but also makes space for others. Harmony is only possible when each musician is heard by, but also listens to the musicians around them. Harmony happens when musicians respect and reflect the beautiful diversity that surrounds them. Harmony is certainly essential to the successful presentation of any musical selection, but it is also valuable across a given set of selections and groups. And the harmony we see reflected on the stage communicates essential lessons for our interactions with others beyond music.
The apostle Paul calls us to live in harmony in Colossians 3:12-14. He writes, “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” We might say Paul provides the orchestration for productive and positive relationships. He provides an assortment of parts that, when combined, create something exceedingly pleasing. The result of playing this particular piece is harmony, which is most clearly manifest through love.
Our styles and parts may be diverse, but each of us have something to add and we need one another in order to make the beautiful music for which the Lord has created us and which will bring Him the most glory and honor.
The world is dissonant and discordant enough without us adding to the noise. The sound is loud and unpleasing. We need to learn to listen to one another with humility and grace. We need to work to make space with compassionate hearts, kindness, and patience. We need to learn to forgive and bear with one another when mistakes are made. We need to learn to engage with one another in harmony. Our styles and parts may be diverse, but each of us have something to add and we need one another in order to make the beautiful music for which the Lord has created us and which will bring Him the most glory and honor.
