By Stuart Powell
We are fortunate to have access to the writings of Christians who walked the path of faith in the generations before us. They offer a glimpse of how earlier believers through the centuries lived, worshipped, and died. Ignatius of Antioch, who died in the first half of the second century, wrote this encouragement to the ancient Ephesian church:
Wherefore your accord and harmonious love is a hymn of Jesus Christ. Yes, one and all, you should form yourselves into a choir, so that, in perfect harmony and taking your pitch from God, you may sing in unison and with one voice to the Father through Jesus Christ.
His encouragement echoed words that Paul penned in his letter to the Ephesians:
Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ (Ephesians 5:18-21).
The image of a choir fits the life of the church of Christ so well. Many different parts, blending a variety of tones to produce a melody that a single voice cannot mimic. More voices bring greater volume and deeper range to a song. What a quartet sings in harmony a choir thunders in celebration.
When believers gather to share in the loaf and the cup of the Lord’s Supper, we too come together in harmony. Like a pitch pipe, the elements sound the starting note of the song of redemption . . . the sacrifice of Christ. Whenever we gather, we should sing the song of Jesus’ love that led him to the cross. After all, it is his death that draws all of our hearts together into one symphony, producing a song that will echo through eternity’s halls.
Stuart Powell lives outside of Terre Haute, Indiana, where he serves with the North Side Christian Church.
Author: Christian Standard
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