A Changing Voice

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When we moved to a new city, one of our top priorities was finding a church home. Even when we left a church fellowship, we knew we needed to find another one where we fit in. We had to change the local congregation we belonged to, but our membership in the Church did not change. Our roles and how we used our voices changed, but not the fact that we had a unique voice that was needed in the choir.

When we follow Jesus, we become part of his Body, and that means we need to participate in the well-being of the Body. While it's true that we can enjoy a lot of good preaching, teaching, and music via TV and internet, that's a very limited participation and usually doesn't include much accountability or reciprocity. During the past couple of years, government restrictions and public fears have contributed to the rise of livestreamed church services and virtual Bible studies and in many cases that was all that was available. Those experiences are valuable and are a blessing to those who cannot meet in person for whatever reason. But in general, it cannot take the place of the Body of Christ coming together.

And we each are a part of the Body and have our own unique gifts and voice to contribute. 

Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. ~I Corinthians 12:27

Each believer receives spiritual gifts, and they are given so that we can work together and make each other better as we advance the Kingdom. We each have something to offer, and should be adding our own voice to the choir.

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.

~I Corinthians 12:4-7~

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 

~Ephesians 4:11-13~

Personally, I like using the choir analogy because I'm a singer and musician so it's something that makes sense to me. Since I was a child, one of the ways I've been involved in the life of the church has been music. My whole family has been involved in worship music at our church for many years. This is the area where our voices are needed. We are one of the two worship teams at our church, and while each team has a unique voice, both teams have the same purpose - to glorify God and encourage the church by leading corporate worship. We have three pastors, each with their own unique areas of ministry and with their own styles, but all three have the same purpose - to glorify God and encourage the church by preaching and teaching the Word and ministering to others. We have church members who teach Sunday School, who lead Bible studies, who do outreach in the community, who donate money to support the church's ministry, who clean the church, who maintain the buildings, who visit in hospitals, who pray . . . all with the same purpose. To glorify God and encourage the church by using their unique voice.

I expect that my role in the music ministry at our church will change. I don't know exactly when or how, but obviously I won't be doing it forever. I will have to transition into some new role at some point, and I'll have to let someone else take my position and make it their own. And I'll have to be okay with that. That's a change that is sometimes harder than we like to admit - relinquishing a ministry area or role that we feel is "ours" as the needs of the church body change. I hope I'll be ready and will be able to see the new opportunity for my unique voice that God will provide when the time is right. Because God gives the gifts, he knows how each unique one fits into the whole that he is building.

How does God want you to use your unique voice in his Kingdom? How has that role changed over time?

For by the grace give me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

~Romans 12:3-8~

For the Write 28 Days Blogging Challenge, I've decided to explore the theme of living well and with purpose during times of change. A few years ago, as I neared the end of my years as a homeschool mom, I realized my world would change when my youngest graduated. My roles in the homeschool community and in my social circles were affected. Things changed in the workplace. Things are ever changing at church. And as my children grew up and the nest has begun to empty, family dynamics are changing. To our surprise, my husband's job ended at the very beginning of 2022, and that has brought another round of changes to consider! I know very well that writing about coping with change is not the same as having all the answers. I'll do my best to share what I'm learning and experiencing, and I'd love to hear from others in the comments.

This post is part of the Write 28 Days Blogging Challenge hosted by Anita Ojeda. Find all my posts for the 2022 challenge here: 28 Days of Coping With Change

This post will also be linked at Remember Me Monday hosted by Blue Cotton Memory. 

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