HOW IS A CONGREGATION LIKE AN ORCHESTRA ?
1. You can't do it alone.
2. You have to have other committed people.
If you never know if or when members are going to show up for rehearsals and performances, you have no orchestra.
"I will declare Your name to my brothers. In the midst of the congregation will I praise You...My praise shall be of You in the great congregation. I will pay my vows before them that fear Him." Psalm 22:22 ,25
3. You have to have a leader.
Without any conductor, there would be no orchestra. He is essential to the equation. Great musicians can fill in temporarily, but overall, you need a director. In a congregation, we need leadership. The congregation can go on for a while functioning without a leader, but eventually that position needs to be filled.
"And He gave some to be sent out, and some prophets, and some to tell the good news to those who have never heard, and some shepherds and teachers, for the perfecting of the holy ones, for the work of the ministry, for the building up of the Body of Messiah." Ephesians 4:11-12
4. Without the conductor there can be disharmony and disunity.
It's true, an orchestra could practice alone. All someone has to do is count the first measure and they could be off and running. A congregation could run alone too, to a certain extent. But if one group starts moving too fast and another starts moving too slowly, everyone taking off with their own interpretation, eventually the lack of leadership will be felt, and everyone will be grateful for a restoration of order.
"Smite the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered." Zechariah 13:7
5. Everyone needs to take their direction and timing from the conductor.
You could well imagine the chaos in an orchestra if someone in one section decides the conductor is choosing the wrong music or not directing well, and is verbally critical, constantly challenging, or decides to take one section and do his own thing with that group.
Compare that with peaceful sectional rehearsals, for the purpose of working out difficult passages so that when the whole orchestra comes together again, it can be harmonious. In the same way in a congregational setting, there are times when individual problems need to be looked at, dealt with, and worked out, for the purpose of restoration to the larger Body. It is not helpful to speak negatively against the leadership or form antagonistic factions. It takes a lot of work, dedication, and commitment to form an orchestra or a congregation. If someone disagrees irreconcilably with the vision and goals of an existing group, they should not seek to tear away at it, but rather to find a group they can be at peace with.
"Remember the leaders who have taught you the word of G-d, and follow their faith, considering the good things they have accomplished." Hebrews 13:7 , paraphrased
6. The conductor may only be good at one or two instruments, but he has to understand all of them.
No leader is perfect. No conductor could put on the performance alone. No leader knows everything. He relies on each member's competence in their area of expertise. Yet for all of it to come together in a harmonious blend, he has to be able to lead people who know more than he does about their own instrument. And everyone accepts that. They don't respect him less because of his lack of mastery in other areas. They appreciate him for the way he directs them so they all sound their very best. And he considers every instrumentalist important and valuable.
"If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the smelling be?" 1 Corinthians 12:17
7. You have to have something interesting that people will want to hear.
A conductor chooses music that the members would enjoy working on and that an audience would like to hear. If he's not making good choices, it may show up in lagging attendance. This is where the feedback of members is essential. When you particularly enjoy something in a congregation, it's very helpful to tell the leader. Positive input reinforces positive direction.
"And even things without life-giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? ...So in your case, unless you speak words easily understandable, how will they know what you're saying? You'll be talking into the air...Try to excel in building up the congregation." 1 Corinthians 14:7 , 9, 12
8. You all have to agree to work on the same music.
In a congregational setting, G-d anoints the leader for the direction of the congregation. Ultimately, he has to make the programming choices, and the members need to give their full cooperation to his direction.
"To the chief musician. A Psalm of David," is the title of 55 (over one third) of the Psalms.
9. Everyone's not playing the same note, the same instrument, or playing at the same time, but if they tune together and watch signals the harmony sounds great.
In a congregation we submit our ideas and contributions to the leadership, and as each one comes forward in G-d's timing, at just the right intensity and duration, it comes out beautifully.
"Let all things be done decently and in order." 1 Corinthians 14:40
10. A passionate conductor makes for an interesting and enjoyable performance.
In the same way, if the leader of the congregation has passion for G-d and has conviction and love for G-d's message, his enthusiasm is catching.
"And it came to pass, when Yeshua had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes." Matthew 7:28-29 "Zeal for your house has consumed me." John 2:17
11. You don't have to have an audience (visitors to a congregation, seekers) in order to do a performance, but it makes no sense to keep performing endlessly without them.
A congregation doesn't exist only for itself. Sheep beget sheep. We all need to be in our places doing our job, but part of our work is to be inviting others to come, and some of them will also eventually be born again and become part of the congregation. Some people are especially good at recruiting and inviting. In the Body, we call them "evangelists". If each one brings in just one new person into the Kingdom every six months, the growth of the congregation would be staggering!
"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that brings good news, that announces peace, that brings good news, that announces salvation, that says to Zion, Your G-d reigns!" Isaiah 52:7 "The Spirit of the L-rd G-d is upon me; because the L-rd has anointed me to preach good news to the humble. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound." Isaiah 61:1
12. Timely solos enhance a performance.
At times in a congregation each one makes a separate contribution, whether it's a special song, a testimony, a word from the scripture, a food prepared...Bringing your gifts forward in a tasteful, individual way enhances the worship experience for everyone.
"How is it then, brothers? When you come together, every one of you has a song, has a teaching, has a message from G-d, has a revelation, has an explanation. Let all things be done to build up the Body." 1 Corinthians 14:26 , paraphrased
13. If one instrument is out of tune, it sets everyone's teeth on edge.
In a congregation, if one person is not in tune with the rest, or not in cooperation with the leadership, it makes for a very unpleasant, grating experience. That person would be better off waiting silently for an opportunity to "tune up" again, and then rejoin the performance, and not loudly blaring off key.
"Do all things without murmurings and disputing, that you may be blameless and harmless, the sons of G-d, without rebuke, in the middle of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding forth the word of life, that I may rejoice in the day of Messiah, that I have not run in vain, nor labored in vain." Philippians 2:14-16
14. You have to advertise.
You can have the best music in the world, and present it skillfully, but if no one knows you're doing it, you could play to an empty auditorium. The best advertising is word of mouth, friend to friend. Additional use of the media will also result in increased attendance. Let's fill G-d's house with seeking people.
"The L-rd your G-d in the midst of you is mighty. He will save and rejoice over you with joy. He will rest in His love. He will joy over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17
"I was glad when they said to me, 'Let us go into the house of the L-rd.'"
Psalm 122:1 WELCOME TO BETH T'FILAH!!!
