Unity/Harmony

Music History/Theory

Over the years there have been different perspectives/opinions about music.

Gregorian chant was metrically free - but also unison

Folk music throughout the ages has had a simplicity and even a sing ability to it.

The the Baroque era (Bach and his contemporaries) - music became more technically complex and challenging - but the harmony that was used to fill out the musical patters was clear and delineated - composers didn’t try to stretch the boundaries of music theory

The classical era (Mozart, Hayden, Handel, Beethoven) - generally followed similar rules - but began to stretch the boundaries of music theory

Romantic era - (Debussy, Ralph Vaughn Williams, etc.) - pushed the boundaries even more - they blurred the lines.

In the 20th century - some composers erased the lines of theory almost all together - there was a-tonal music - songs where the melody and the accompaniment were non-complimentary, almost fighting against one another.

Popular music - has largely followed simple chording structures (which is why many songs on the radio begin to sound the same) - the biggest differences become the instrumentation and not the harmony.

Jazz, blues, contemporary - all play with harmonies some

Basic chord

Seventh chord

7, 9, 11

2, 4, sus

Harmony is something that can add beauty to music. It adds color, complexity, and texture to what we hear.

I think the same is true in the church.

In one of the prayers that we’re praying for PBC, we get to see a prayer that Paul prayed for the people in the church of Rome. He doesn’t want them to be “one note” wonders - but he also doesn’t want them to be dissident with each other. His prayer is for harmony.

Romans 15:5–6 ESV

May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

It’s not uncommon for people to call on God by certain of his attributes. It seems like a way for people to make God seem a bit more tangible.

Here, Paul seems to pray for God’s attributes of endurance and encouragement to be manifest in how we live so that harmony might result.

How is endurance (in Greek - also steadfastness) related to harmony?

see the long picture rather than the short term

be willing to patiently bear with one another

How is encouragement related to harmony?

In a sense we are fulfilling the command to Hebrews 10:24 “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,”

like the squaking of Geese when flying in formation - we’re encouraging each other to keep the faith - to keep strong.

Notice that this harmon/unity is “in accord with Christ Jesus” - This is not a harmony that is manufactured - but spiritual, even “supernatural” as Mark Dever and Jamie Dunlop might say.

Does this harmony require uniformity? Does it require all of us to think think/act exactly the same way?

How does our harmony help us fulfill Paul’s request in Romans 15:6 “that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” ?

I find it interesting that in response to this prayer, Paul urges them to “welcome one another” (v.7) - How do harmony and welcome relate to one another?

In light of this prayer - how should we respond? What should we change/adjust in our own lives?

As we pray tonight, let’s include this prayer for PBC.