Actual Food — 4 Part Unity. Sustenance for The Spirit
By: Xan Holub
Tags: Religion And Spirituality, Unity, Personal Development, Spiritual Growth

Sustenance for The Spirit

I will admit a bias upfront. I love acapella music. It is the spiritual tradition I was raised on, so I naturally connect it to many of the “old” hymns that are familiar to many of us who were fortunate to grow up attending a church meeting at every possible opportunity. The church building housed voices being lifted in praise, even when the sound might have been off-key or far less than operatic. The music produced was a lovely mixture of soprano, alto, tenor, bass, or some variation thereof, with an active, common goal. Hearts were connected through muscular movement stemming from the brain and vocal chords, to enact praise from the hearts of many to a singular purpose. I know this can be expressed through instruments in a band also, but as far as a personal worship experience that is simply a human heart to God through words felt and emotionally connected, I have to say that my experience with acapella music prejudices me to a strong preference.

I know that a beautiful rendition of an orchestral version of, say, “The Lord’s Prayer” can be a tremendous emotional and very worshipful experience, and that many who play instruments and are Christ-followers, enjoy expressing their talent in praise and worship by playing their instrument(s). I get it. I like listening to contemporary Christian music with beautiful combinations of both lyrics and instrumental composition. But, the point I want to make is at the heart of unity. Church is the gathering of humans with a connection to each other through the God they serve. As voices lift up, I believe it is the root of unification. The commonality overrides the contrasts, and even conflicts. The collective surpasses the individualities. The four parts involved in harmony are the only divergences, and the melding together to produce unique chords and emphasis to the words is what creates the unity. Harmony is unity.

I work part time in a flower shop, and am a definite learner when it comes to floral design. I recently learned about the “binding point.” This is the imagined point where the various floral material flows from and is vital to creating a beautiful design. After being made aware of the binding point, I have noticed how it gives a centered effect, and without it, the design is chaotic and definitely un-unified. In many aspects of life, unity keeps us sane. It helps us make sense of things, especially when the spinning out of our control begins. We need our binding points, our unifying points.

There is a principle called “collective effervescence” which bears out this concept of unity. A sociologist, Emile Durkheim, developed a theory that when a group of people, who may work independently, come together and engage in the same activity, a ritual dance for example, it creates a greater level of energy (Wikipedia). It is just a theory, but my takeaway is that coming together to engage with one another causes a spiritual connection, and it encourages us, as it unifies us, to leave the experience renewed once again with greater hope and strength. This is an intangible factor that is felt even when our brains don’t really acknowledge it. We don’t name it because we don’t understand it’s happening, but we feel the difference. We know that being with others in person helps us in ways we didn’t fully appreciate before the pandemic, but there is even more at work as we raise our voices in worship, standing among others with common belief.

The apostle Paul emphasizes the importance of unity in many, if not all, of his letters in the New Testament. In 1 Corinthians, chapter 12 we read, “But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other” (I Corinthians 12:24–25, NIV). Ephesians has several passages on unity, but in 4:3 we read, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3, NIV). And then in Colossians 3:13–14, Paul says, “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity” (Colossians 3:13–14, NIV). It’s interesting that just a couple of verses later Paul uses singing as a way to admonish (encourage) one another “with gratitude in your hearts to God” (Colossians 3:16, NIV) I believe the crucial point here is unity. However it can be achieved, through love, peace or gratitude, God is glorified. What better way than in lifting voices together, verbalizing words of praise and creating music pleasing, not necessarily in the human beautiful sound kind of way, but “from the heart” that is pleasing to God.

I heard a professional performer interviewed and she said one of the things she missed with her schedule, was the corporate singing together in church. When I was home worshipping during the pandemic, singing just wasn’t the same by myself on the couch. I love being with my fellow church members, standing together, singing praises, lifting words from our souls to God in worship. It is indeed energizing in an indescribable way. Even among imperfect voices. In fact, perhaps that is the real beauty. It is an imperfectly perfect union of spirits. Off-key and pitch perfect voices lifted. Both bitter and love-filled hearts harmonizing together. Unity achieved.

Have a wonderful day!