The Orchestra

I think if you told me 10 years ago I would enjoy an orchestra concert, I would have asked you what you are smoking. 3 years ago my son started playing the violin, and it has changed me somewhat. I am not sure if I enjoy listening to the orchestra play because I have come to enjoy it or because I love him so much, I love what he loves. Either way, we went to his first concert of the school year last night. Here were some observations I made at the concert:
-Every student had a role to play
-Some were more skilled, had more natural ability than others
-Each student was positioned in a place that took advantage of their skill level and allowed them to contribute in the best possible way
-Each student took their cues from the teacher who was conducting the orchestra.
-After each song, the students were recognized and applauded
-The 7th grade students were poured into in such a way that they played music that their teacher was playing in high school and college
-At certain times between songs, a student would realize that their instrument was out of tune and he/she would hand it to the teacher to be retuned or fine tuned in a way that the student couldn’t accomplish on their own.

I walked out of there and and I thought that is how the Church should work. Each person has a part to play. Every single person has gifts and abilities to contribute and to make an eternal difference. Some have more natural ability, some have more visible gifts than others…but it is the responsibility of pastors and leaders to position every single person within the “orchestra” in a way to leverage and maximize their gifts and their abilities to make the most of what God has given them.

Those who serve should be applauded and recognized as well. Sometimes the work and the investment is huge, sometimes it is hard and sacrificial…and people need a pat on the back and a thank you before you move onto the next “song”. Sometimes people get out of tune. They lose their passion, they lose their purpose, they forget how to hear the voice of God, they have a hard time seeing how they fit into the big picture and the role of the leader is to come along side and help them tune their instrument, realign their picture of the contribution they were designed by God to make.

How much more could the Church accomplish if we functioned like an orchestra. Most churches function like an All Star Team. The people with the most obvious gifts are recognized and the people who give the most money are catered to and ministry is reserved for the elite, the few, the super-talented. Maybe the reason a 7th grade orchestra could play college level music is because their teacher sees greatness in each student, not just the most talented or the most gifted. How much more of an impact could we as the Church have in our neighborhoods, in our schools, in our cities if we were to function like my son’s 7th Grade Orchestra?