Whose Glory?

As a bass player, I sometimes think of songs as playgrounds. I know what I must play to keep the song on track, but what else could I play? Where else in the song can I do something fun? It's a game.

When I get feedback (whether self criticism or from others), it's more likely to be "do less" than "do more". The role of the bass is to fill out the low end of the sound. Trying to do more than that and fulfill a different purpose isn't always beneficial. This can be really frustrating, but it reminds me of a section of the bible.

1 Corinthians 12:12-26:

12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty,24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.


It's all about how the church of Christ is made up of different parts. All the parts are just as important though they may not be as glorified. We all have different means of serving and honoring God. Through whatever ministries we have in our life we can honor God. Sometimes it isn't glamorous, or something that will get a lot of recognition, but it's just as great.

All of this was a reminder to me that I need no glorification in my ministry. If I seek to glorify myself through me deeds that are supposed to honor God, then how much am I really honoring Him? Therefore I will gladly play bass and the other instrument that get little notice (the sound board). I will gladly serve God with that which brings me no glory. After all, I'm not the one worthy of glory and praise.

What to Say

I originally posted this as a blog to CTI's website, ctimusic.org. It can be found here:
http://ctimusic.org/teams/fulltime-2012-2013/cti-1421/1389-what-to-say

On Sunday, we played at a traditional Lutheran church (much like the one I grew up in). We did an acoustic set, and I was sharing that day. As I was preparing what to say for the service, I occasionally would get frustrated because I would think of something great to say... but not for the demographic of the church I was sharing for. I knew I shouldn't have been getting frustrated with the idea of molding a set and testimony to fit an audience, but I couldn't figure out WHY it was a bad attitude to have. Later it all made sense.

We'd been doing acoustic sets the past few days, meaning I hadn't played my instruments in a while. It wasn't frustrating really, because I knew that the simple setups would accommodate the venue better. There are some concerts where doing a simple acoustic praise song will be far more appropriate and worshipful than that awesome electric guitar part to whatever song.

Then I began to realize that this principle applies to sharing testimonies as well; it's all about meeting people where they are. The set we did at that church was so simple, and yet I had never felt God’s presence more in a long time. Everyone was there to worship God, that's it. The communion, the liturgy, it all felt so purposeful this time. As if no one was doing it because it's what you're supposed to do on Sunday morning. But would all of that have happened if I hadn't planned the testimony and the songs to fit the setting?

Jesus met people where they were. He broke social barriers to reach sinners of the lowest kind. Paul even says in 1 Corinthians 9:20 that he became like those around him to share Christ with them. In the same way, we should all be willing to meet people where they are. Those who are hurting, lost, broken, etc. We should love them as Jesus loved us: by meeting us where we are.

Westward Travels!

We’ve been putting many miles on our van heading west. We started in Minnesota, then headed through South Dakota, then through Wyoming and into Montana. We just arrived in Idaho and will be heading towards Washington soon. It’s been really cool to see new areas on the country.

We spent the last few days at Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch. It’s a place for kids/teens who’ve had issues or troubled circumstances. We got to spend time with some of them during their music class, just playing songs and singing together. We also got to talk with them during meals.

It was clear that they need the love and redemption of Jesus, and it made our ministry feel very important. Our contact told us several times of how grateful he is that we came, and how he’ll be “reaping the benefits” of our visit for months to come. This was very encouraging for us.

To me being there really illuminated our need for Christ, not just their need for Christ. We may look at that group of kids and think, “man I’m glad I’m not that messed up” or any number of other shortsighted thoughts. But are we not just as messed up in God’s eyes? Does the Bible say that you can go to heaven if you are polite, donate money occasionally, and try and raise some good kids? Not quite. Regardless of who sins more or less, it doesn’t change our position with Christ. Our redemption through Christ is accomplished not by acknowledging the things we do good, but by acknowledging that we still screw up. Then, by acknowledging our inability to redeem ourselves in God’s eyes without Jesus.

Realizing all this has given me a different perspective on our ministry. It was awesome being at that boys and girls ranch, but most of our ministry is to the Church, where our brokenness isn’t as readily apparent. But we all need Jesus just the same. And I don’t think it should stop at “Jesus died for me, yay”. I believe that’s enough, but also that we should seek to understand God’s character and his will. And hopefully, that’s something my team and I can learn to convey through our concerts.