Hearing the Music

Music, a Foretaste of Heaven

Music is a universal language. It has the unique ability to reach our hearts, cutting through language barriers and misunderstandings in a way that words often can’t. This never fails to amaze me.

It's not just the poetry, notes, or rhythm alone that create the "soul" of a song or the connection we feel when we hear it. There is some other quality in the composition of those things that makes music special. I believe that’s why music is such a central part of our worship. It touches something deep within us, while also creating a bond between us. There’s something ineffable about the beauty of music that draws us in and moves us in ways few other things can.

I grew up in a musical family, though I never excelled at learning piano. Later, during a stressful time in college, I found that playing music brought me peace when I needed it most. Eventually, I stepped into a leadership role in dorm worship, picking up guitar and learning as I went.

Susan found out that I could play guitar and has been an amazing musical influence. Bek often talks about how connecting with Susan and playing music was one of the first ways she felt connected at Christ Church. Playing at Christ Church has led to many of our best musical memories and it is one of our favorite ways to serve our church family.

I sometimes can feel nervous or inadequate when it comes to my musicianship. I worry about stumbling over notes or being out of sync with the others I’m playing with. My wife (who has impeccable rhythm) and many of my friends and family are far more accomplished musicians with a deeper technical knowledge than I have. Also, our church is filled with incredibly talented people! Sometimes I catch myself thinking, "Can I really keep up with all of this?"

I find encouragement in our passage from 2 Timothy 1:3-11 this week. Paul urges Timothy not to be timid, but to trust in the power, love, and self-discipline that come from Christ. He reminds us to "fan into flame" the gifts we’ve been given. That means my skill level on the guitar isn’t the focus—it’s not about playing perfectly. Whatever talent we bring to worship, it is good and right that we bring it to worship! The purpose is Christ. Worship comes from the joy of the good news, and that’s what pushes us to praise.

It's only right that we use music in worship. That indescribable "something" that makes music so powerful—connecting us physically, emotionally, and spiritually—is a perfect way to offer praise to God. While I believe all music and art can be forms of praise, there’s something special about worshiping together, no matter the instrument or skill level. It gives us a glimpse of what’s to come. When Christ gathers us to Himself, we will have been made perfect to continue to worship and glorify the Lord.

Photo by John Hult on Unsplash

Here We Stand

Many of you are familiar with the story of Martin Luther. He recounts his early days as a monk in the following way: “When I was a monk, I wearied myself greatly for almost fifteen years with the daily sacrifice, tortured myself with fasting, vigils, prayers, and other very rigorous works. I earnestly thought to acquire righteousness by my works.”

God delivered him to a place of rest in his meditation on Rom 1: 17. Through that text, Luther came to realize that salvation was a gift for the guilty, not a reward for the righteous. Man is not saved by his good works but by trusting the finished work of Christ. In other words Luther had a brush with the heart of God as made manifest in the Gospel.  

Luther's Gospel experience was to spark a reformation and upset the halls of power in the Catholic church.  Luther was eventually called to trial for his beliefs and was demanded to recant or face excommunication, possibly even death. When forced to renounce his teachings, Luther faced his inquisitors and famously said, “I cannot and will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand, I can do no other, so help me God. Amen."

I share this with you because, as we begin a study of 2 Timothy, we see Paul taking his stand on these very same Gospel truths. For Paul, in prison at the end of his life, it seemed that "‘Christianity trembled, humanly speaking, on the verge of annihilation’. Who, then, would do battle for the truth when Paul had laid down his life? This was the question which dominated and vexed his mind as he lay in chains, and to which he addressed himself in this letter. Already in his first letter he had pleaded with Timothy to keep safe the deposit: ‘Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care’ (1 Tim. 6:20). But since then the situation had worsened. So the apostle’s appeal became more urgent. He reminded Timothy that the precious Gospel was now committed to him, and that it was now his turn to assume responsibility for it, to preach and teach it, to defend it against attack and against falsification, and to ensure its accurate transmission to the generations yet to come" (John Stott).

As we move into the fall, it is both an earnest responsibility and a deep privilege to immerse ourselves in these Gospel truths yet again. They are the center of our life together and we dare not move off that center.  Like Paul, like Luther, here we stand.

Photo by Helena Lopes on Unsplash

IYKYK

IYKYK. I’ve pondered these letters on my friends' and family’s social media posts and in my news feeds. DO I know what they’re talking about? Do I want to know?

According to artificial intelligence, “IYKYK is an abbreviation for if you know, you know. It's a slang term that's often used in social media posts and as a hashtag to reference an inside joke or shared experience for a specific group, like a fandom.” It projects feelings of exclusivity and makes it obvious who is in or out of the joke/experience/knowledge base.

I experience this with my friends at work–the bonds that are formed as we navigate hours spent alongside each other, for better or worse. How we seem to relish the stories of the absurd, stressful, outrageous, and hilarious things we have gone through together. Just this week, for reasons not clear to me, we completed a personality quiz that informed us of what kind of vegetable we are. IYKYK

Sometimes I get to assist in leading worship. Getting together on a Tuesday evening, singing and playing and praying. Practicing the songs throughout the week. Feeling the sleep in our eyes as we gather at 7:30 on Sunday morning. The songs become stamped in our minds and hearts. IYKYK

Last week, Andrew spoke about David and his band of brothers. I imagine they had their share of stories around the campfire. “Remember when we crossed enemy lines to get the king a drink of water?” “Remember when Eleazar took out the Philistines and his hand was so tired he couldn't let go of his sword?” “Remember when JB took out 800 at one time? IYKYK

As we have come to understand through the stories of King David, we are part of a larger story that is both precious and expansive. We are invited in closer to come to know the things we do not know. We are never left out as outsiders. We are invited to know THE king. To understand and believe. To share the stories of our humiliating losses and hard-won gains. We will be granted courage by the most courageous one. That’s reassuring to me because sometimes I feel really scared.