Why One Person Orchestras Aren't Popular

REFLECTIONS
January 24, 2010

Years ago, when playing little league baseball, a team I played on was pretty good but we could have been better. We never really played as a team in a cohesive sense because we had one player (actually our best player) who endeavored to play all nine positions at once. We won games, and even qualified for the playoffs, however, this one person team kept us individually and collectively from reaching our full potential. This happens in life and is certainly an element of Church life. Sometimes we become so involved in doing everything that we leave no room for others to be a part also.

What does it mean to belong to something greater than oneself? In his letter to the people of Corinth this is the central question Paul seeks to answer. After the church was established, the people began to break into groups, arguing over who was more spiritual. The Apostle spent a great deal of time addressing these issues in chapters eleven and twelve, culminating with his argument and instruction in chapter thirteen about the power of love to transform life.

In chapter 12:12-31a Paul uses the analogy of the human body to deflect dissension and create a sense of belonging within the community. He explores the understanding by stating that we cannot individually be the entire body, but only the part we have been created to be. Even the consideration of spiritual gifts limits our ability because spiritual gifts are different.

Paul insists that we have need of one another so that working together we become ‘the body of Christ’. A living symbol of God’s love lived in and through community. What makes this possible in faith communities is the knowledge that we are not called to compare gifts, or compete to see who is best among us. Rather, we are called to claim our gifts and work together that love might be known in ever new and mysterious ways.

Dr. Joey K. McDonald
First United Methodist Church
4832 Tujunga Avenue, North Hollywood, CA 91601