Come and See
I have always loved hearing the sound that comes from a barbershop quartet. If you are unfamiliar with a barbershop quartet, it is basically a group of 4 unique singers (a lead, a bass, a tenor, and a baritone) that harmonize together to sing a song a cappella. What is so amazing about the sound is that although each singer has a unique voice, they come together to deliver such a warm and unified sound which we know as harmony.
Harmony is the composition of individual sounds that comes together in a consistent, orderly, and pleasingly unified way. Harmony doesn’t require everyone to have the same voice or play the same instrument but comes from everyone contributing to the same tone.
Harmony in our world should be considered in the same light. We won’t all have the same voice, nor will we use the same God-given instruments, but if we can have the same tone, which is love, we can achieve harmony. The Apostle Paul in the fourteenth chapter of his letter to the Romans makes an appeal to harmony. In the Roman church there was a disagreement concerning regulations of the Mosaic law regarding dietary regulations and the Sabbath. Paul insisted that you don’t have to agree over this matter to love one another. For our mutual affection for one another does not come from our agreement on how to live but instead who we live for, we live for Christ.
Paul goes on to say that on matters that you disagree or find your neighbor in the wrong it is not your responsibility to cast judgement on them. Judgment comes from the one who gives us all life. Instead, we should be walking in love making sure our own actions do not contribute to our neighbor stumbling. If you consider yourself strong in faith, then it is your responsibility to live your life in such a manner that builds up your neighbor, not tears them down.
What if the church was a place where people could “come and see” what harmony looks like? What if it was a place where we are united by our common love rather than divided by our differences? When Jesus invited the first disciples into ministry, he invited them to “come and see” what God’s vision for the world looks like. The disciples then invited others into their fold by inviting others to “come and see”. Let us do the same. Let us be a church that invites others to “come and see” true harmony and what Christ’s loves looks like. Join us this Sunday for worship at 8:30 and 10:45 am as we explore how part of our vision for Lake Cities UMC is to be a place that invites others in the love of Christ to “come and see” that love.
In God’s grip,
Pastor Chuck Church
