The language of Christianity is the language of relationships: Father, Son, Daughter, Child, Brother, Sister, Friend. We know that the Christian life is not intended to be lived in a vacuum. We need each other in order to be fully whole in Christian community. Why is it, then, that someone might say, “I love everything about the ministry except for the people!”? While this is a rather outlandish statement, it reveals a stark truth. People being together, working together, “doing life” together is not always easy. Personalities clash; agendas conflict; pride and ego get in the way…and the enemy exploits it all in every way possible in order to be disruptive and to cause disunity.
But Jesus prayed that we might be one even as He and the Father are one (John 17). How is that to be achieved? Paul exhorts the Ephesians to endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:2-3 NKJV). Why endeavor? Because it does not come naturally…We have to work at it by the grace of God.
"why endeavor?"
It begins by recognizing the importance of our relationships and being willing to take the necessary steps to be the answer to Jesus’ prayer. How important is it? Consider that the state of our human relationships can affect our worship relationship with God. For example, Jesus said “… if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” (Matthew 5:23-24 ESV) His instruction is that before we offer worship, we should be in right relationship with our brother. Then we can enter worship in a spirit of unity.
My father is a piano tuner. I’ve heard the “plunk and thunk” of 4ths and 5ths being straightened out all my life. There is truly a sense of peace and calm that occurs when the intervals are true and the unisons are pure. With that in mind, note these words from A.W. Tozer:
Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same [tuning] fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow. So one hundred worshippers met together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be were they to become "unity" conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship.[1]
It is Christ Who ultimately enables us to speak a common language; a new language of love for each other rooted in our relationship with Him. We can ask the Lord to tune the unisons of our hearts together. That would surely be beautiful music to His ears.
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace – Robert Robinson
[1] A. W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God (Harrisburg, PA: Christian Publications, 1948), 97.
Dr. Wes Tuttle is an accomplished worship leader, musician, and songwriter. Dr. Tuttle’s songs have been recorded by influential worship leaders like Don Moen, Paul Wilbur, Bob Fitts, John Chisum, Aline Barros, Robin Mark, Juanita Bynum and Judy Jacobs. Wes is an ordained minister and holds an A.A. in Music and a B.A. in Religion from Emmanuel College. He holds an M.A. in Counseling from Liberty University and a M.A.R. with a concentration in Cross-cultural studies from Liberty Theological Seminary. He received his Doctor of Ministry degree from Liberty Theological Seminary.
