In this second part of our discussion on “Walking The Walk” we will take a look at walking in harmony as the bride of Christ. There is probably nothing more urgently needed to bring the Kingdom of God to earth than for the bride to be a powerful spiritual force in America today. And a key ingredient in that becoming a reality is for her to walk in harmony, one with another, with each member standing strong in the gifts and calling that the bridegroom has given her.
Let’s see if we can create some “harmonious” notes for the world to hear.
Walk Together In Harmony
Walking in fellowship, by necessity, requires us to walk in harmony with one another. Harmony is an interesting word that paints a number of pictures. When I think of the word I immediately think of my dear friend Charlie Norris. It was Charlie who introduced Diane and me to the wonderful world of barbershop singing some 30 years ago. Now mind you, I can’t sing a note and at best I “make a joyful noise unto the Lord,” but I do appreciate good 4 part harmony.
I would guess that over a period of 10 year we averaged 2 or 3 concerts a year as Charlie’s guests. It was during the first one that he explained to me many of the nuances of competitive barbershop and one has always stuck out in my mind. As the four individual parts are performed independently they blend together in perfect harmony and create yet a 5th voice. My son has explained it to me as being the result of harmonics … that didn’t help much. But as clearly as you hear the quartet you hear that 5th voice and it resonates the other 4 parts into completion. In thinking about that it came to me that as we, the bride of Christ, each do our part in harmony here on earth, God becomes the added voice that resonates the gospel and the advancement of The Kingdom. Let’s look at Jesus’ four-part harmony.
1. The Head
Col 1:18-19 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell; 20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
If we are going to walk harmoniously in God’s will then we must be in agreement with the head (Jesus) of the body (the bride). Jesus represents all of the Godhead in bodily form as head of the church; the bridegroom. He was there in the beginning and is called I Am. Among all humanity He is the most preeminent; above all the rest. This is the part we want to focus on. He is the lead singer in our quartet around which all the other voices blend.
Jesus IS the beginning of creation and IS the firstborn of the new creation, the church. It was God’s will that Jesus should have preeminence over all things and He gave Him all power in heaven and earth (Matt 28:18). It is our duty, as the body, to follow the Father’s will and honor Jesus as we do the Father (John 5:23). It pleased God to place all fullness in Jesus (19) and He has made it all available to us (John 1:16) by filling us (Eph 1:23).
Now, before we move on to the body, take note in verse 20 that through the cross all things were reconciled unto God through Jesus. What things — all that was lost in the Garden; the restoration of a right relationship with the Father and everything that goes along with it. To that end when Jesus rose from the dead He stopped in Paradise (the place where the dead saints went before Jesus) and brought them all with Him to heaven (Ps 68:18; Eph 4:8-10); nothing was left un¬reconciled. We now are all members of His Body and as the Father has given all things to Jesus, He is now the head above all (1Chr 29:11). Now comes the one in our quartet who hits the high notes, the tenor.
2. The Members
1Cor 12:12-14 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For the body is not one member, but many.
Take a moment and look up this scripture and read all the way through verse 27. We can’t possibly be walking in the perfect will of God if we aren’t, as individual members, edifying the rest of the body. It is not in keeping with the will of God for one who is given a particular gift to take it upon himself or herself to set it aside and try and operate in another gift. If, for example, you are given WISDOM and try and operate in HEALING you’re out of order. You will suffer and the body suffers because you are out of God’s will.
In God’s eyes all the members are equal and have the same important task of advancing the Kingdom of God. Remember our previous discussion on harmony and it easily fits here. If the bass tries to sing the lead and the baritone wants to be the tenor we won’t have harmony and we won’t have our 5th voice. So it is with the body, the bride of Christ … we each need to do our part. Jesus is not the head of a bunch of eyes or arms or legs. He is the head of a whole body and we are responsible for being in and functioning in our part. That is where the Holy Spirit comes in as He administers all the gifts in the body and when we listen to Him we know where we are supposed to be. Remember that in the previous verses Paul was talking about one Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
If we, as the tenor, don’t hit our high notes it is obvious for all to see and hear. When we get off key it has the effect of pulling all the others in the same direction. Now, if we are to have a full 5th voice we need to support those places that aren’t obvious at first but if missed they stand out like a sore thumb.
3. Submission
Eph 4:2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love.
Submission is a word that really brings mixed reactions. We briefly talked about it previously in relation to authority but for our purpose here let’s focus on its relationship with service. When we elect to submit to one another it is not a natural act that is welcomed nor supported by the flesh. The virtues of lowliness, meekness, longsuffering, forbearance and love are only attainable through the Holy Spirit. Let’s take a look at these key elements in maintaining harmony in the Body. Submission is our baritone … he is the one that is asked to sing the parts that aren’t always very visible in the scheme of things.
Lowliness (tapeinophrosune) means to have a humbleness of mind or true humility. This can only relate to our old friend, “dying to self.” We are to truly have a very humble opinion of ourselves and put our mind in subjection to our spirit; Phil 2:3; Col 2:18; 2:23; 3:12; 1Pet 1:5
Meekness (prautes) is mildness or the opposite of anger or irritability. This relates to how we take things from others such as personal attacks or other injuries to our flesh. Do we handle them with love and patience or do we immediately attempt to retaliate? When we allow the Spirit of Grace to operate through us in these moments then we are truly operating as a fit member of the body; 2Cor 10:1; Gal 5:23; 6:1; 2Tim 2:25; Titus 3:2
Longsuffering (makrothumia) is our old friend patience. This means that we patiently bear the faults of others, and I can’t think of another virtue that is more important or more often lacking. We are not going to walk very far in fellowship without it. Do you remember your first roommate? How long did it take for the excitement of being on your own in your own place to be forgotten in the face of some petty fault? We face the same thing in the body today and it is even more divisive here because it affects the harmony of the unit as a whole. How much sweeter it is to see a brother or sister extend patience in gentleness. Husbands and wives who have a good relationship have mastered this virtue, but the opposite can be divisive. Patience is a wonderful virtue; ask my wife! Rom 2:4; 9:22; 2Cor 6:6; Gal 5:22; Col 3:12; 1Tim 1:16
Forbearance (anechomai) means to hold oneself erect and be firm, to sustain or endure. In our everyday interaction with others as we make this walk through life we need to bear with the things that upset our flesh along the way. Something that is important to another may very well be of little consequence to us, but that shouldn’t keep us from indulging that person in love. In fact, at the end of the day our life may be the richer for it if not only in the encouragement we gave our brother or sister. Especially if we forbear in love as the verse tells us. That means we are not just acquiescing but are truly bearing their infirmities, miseries and trials in love; Mark 9:19; Rom 15:1; 1Cor 13:7; Gal 6:2.
Now that we have talked about 3 of our 4 parts, let’s move on to what might be called the foundation of our quartet, the bass. His job is to under gird the other 3 voices and provide substance.
4. Unity
Ps 133:1-3 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity 2 It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; 3 As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.
I really believe that David captured the essence of unity as opposed to agreement. Agreement means to be in harmony regarding an opinion or action while unity (gam) refers to the state of not being multiple, but being one; being alike all at once. It is very possible to be in agreement but not in unity and so the distinction here is very important. Here the setting for the psalm is the fellowship surrounding the restoration of the Ark of the Covenant and the restoration of the people (Ps 122).
When we are in unity David tells us that it is good (towb; beautiful, loving or the best) and pleasant (naiym; sweet), but the key words preceding unity are dwell together; to abide or endure. This dwelling together refers to the Hebrew custom that families stayed together and the married sons and daughters continued to live with their parents. The literal Hebrew translation is the dwelling of the brethren also together. The application for the bride of Christ today is represented in our being one family in our bridegroom (Gal 3:26) and sharing the same hope in Him. It follows then that our unity as the bride or body of Christ will have an impact on the world in transmitting the Gospel.
John 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
David goes on in Ps 133:2 to say that to dwell in unity is like precious ointment (anointing oil; Ex 30:23), which is like the dew of the mountains, a fresh and pure covering. Both Mount Hermon and Mount Zion represent the high places of God and he is talking about unity being the same as the dew that covered these holy places of God. The anointing oil was also commonly used at feasts and festivals and therefore represents things beautiful, joyful and happy (Isa 61:3). There was so much oil that it flowed over Aaron’s head and onto his beard and clothing. The dew is therefore a type of the Holy Spirit, the same Spirit who desires to flow out today into the world through believers in love. Just like the anointing oil released a sweet fragrance to all those present, so the bride of Christ needs to overflow in abundant love for one another.
Now lastly, reread 3(b) and note the words following “there.” It is there where God commands His blessing; even eternal life. When read in context, “there” is the place where unity is. It is through Zion (today the bride) that He brings forth eternal life; the gospel. It is His desire that His bride walk in unity, thereby showing the world the love that finds itself the central theme of the gospel: the One with whom we walk … a truly precious ointment.
If the bride of Christ can learn to sing in “four part harmony” the world will hear the 5th voice loud and clear!