So we’ve established that people are different from each other. How then can we focus on each individual person and still have unity in the church? Have you heard the joke about how every group of two people, whether they be Jews or lawyers, has at least three different opinions? If this is true, how can a whole church full of people ever have unity?
Well, orchestras and choirs are full of many unique and varied sounds, but yet they come together to play beautiful symphonies. How do they do it?
Musicians aren’t known for being humble. I could get into examples and cliches about this, but I’d probably offend quite a few people. But it is important for musicians to recognize that sometimes, the rehearsal isn’t for us. When I practice the cello by myself, I just practice the parts that I, personally, need to improve. I don’t practice measures of rest while other instruments are supposed to be playing. I could sit there and count silently, but I don’t. I just work on the parts where I’m playing. But in a full orchestra rehearsal, I sometimes have to sit there and wait while the other instruments practice their parts. It would be easy to want to just practice the pieces or parts where I play a lot, or where I need more work, but rehearsals are for the whole group. If we want to perfect our performance, we need to let go of our individual egos during rehearsal.
In the same way, if we, as a church, want to make beautiful music together, many times we need to put the interests of others ahead of our own. It’s not all about us!
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
Philippians 2:1-4