Out of Tune Clanging Cymbals

            "The people in the crowd rise to their feet as the first notes of the National Anthem ring across the stadium. Everyone opens his mouth to sing along, but a sound similar to nails scratching down a chalkboard permeates through the crowd causing the people to plug their ears in desperation to stop the noise. The vocalist keeps belting out lyrics of freedom, but the only thing the crowd wants is a power outage to silence this butchering of the National Anthem. The message of the lyrics is sweet, but the out of tune notes misconstrue the message."

            Most of us can relate to this make-believe scenario described above. The National Anthem (along with other beautiful songs) has been sung over and over and many times, terribly messed up by the band or vocalist. When this has happened to me, I’ve felt embarrassed for the performer, and I’ve wanted to stop hearing the song immediately. If it was a song I’d never heard before, I simply stopped listening to it, never to find out if the message was worthwhile.

            1 Corinthians 13:1-3 sums it up well, “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing” (NIV).

My dear brothers and sisters, please speak in love. We have enough people yelling in this world. As followers of Christ, we have the most beautiful, love filled, and important message for the entire world, but they will never hear it if we argue and fight with them. Jesus was able to love the sinners (while never supporting their sins), and that love changed their lives. We can love them, too. Love those who do not know Christ, and through that love they will know that we are His disciples and maybe, thirst for the same Living Water (John 4:10 & 13:34-35).

We can proclaim the truth from the mountain tops, go on a million mission trips, memorize the Bible, pray 24/7, and everything else, but if we have not love, we’re just like the out of tune singer and band playing the national anthem.

But if we have love, we’ll be like the first rain after a drought—soothing and refreshing, a much desired necessity. 

Living Life Together, 

Rebecca Thomas