Articles
SOLO OR SYMPHONY?
As the auditorium lights dimmed and the curtain began to rise, the concertgoers ended their
conversations and turned their attention to the stage. The conductor strode to the podium and
bowed in response to enthusiastic applause.
Then the conductor turned to face the orchestra. He raised his baton and began the concert
with a dramatic gesture. What followed was one of the strangest concerts imaginable.
After the harmonious first minutes, only a few musicians continued to follow the
conductor’s lead. The others seemed to play only when they felt like it, or they played a
completely different tune. A violinist sauntered out in front and tried to perform a piece he had
written himself. A trombonist broke into a jazz number. Chaos reigned. The audience sat for
several minutes in stunned silence, then walked out in disbelief.
Fortunately, the situation described above is fictitious. Skilled musicians, who agree to play
in an orchestra simply do not behave that way. They sign on with the agreement that they will
follow the conductor’s lead. They are part of a symphony, not soloists who just happened to be
playing at the same time.
Unfortunately, we who have declared ourselves to be followers of Christ can behave as the
members of that imaginary orchestra did. We may not like to think so, but we have a tendency to
want to direct our own lives. We tend to focus on self-survival and self- promotion and we think
we are wise enough and strong enough to take care of ourselves.
Every instrument in the orchestra has a part to play. Every musician playing the instrument
must know the music well and follow the sheet music. In our fellowship in a local congregation
the same principle applies. Paul wrote, “But speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all
aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held
together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part,
causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love” (Ephesians 4:15-16).
Bulletin Fodder
Valley Station church of Christ, Louisville, KY
