1. One guitar, but many players and singers
No one need to be perfect to play and sing the music. But the music is perfect when it is sung in harmony by the people. Hence, the guitar, the music, and the singers must work together to produce the symphony. Otherwise, it is not music; it is noise.
2. One grace, but many preachers and sinners
We do not need to be perfect to practise and do the doctrine of Christ too. But the doctrine is perfect in shaping our lives when we do and teach one another to walk in harmony with Him in His footsteps; otherwise, it is not sound doctrine, it is false doctrine. Hence, grace, doctrine, and the sinners must all be there in the church to produce the fruit of salvation too.
Guitar is not a music. Guitar can never replace music too. Guitar and music are like bread and butter. They are not mutually exclusive.
Grace is not a doctrine, Grace is not a doctrine eraser too. Grace and doctrine are like guitar and music. They are inseparable. They compliment each other. The guitar cannot work without the music which comes from the songwriter. Neither can grace teach without the doctrine which comes from the lawgiver too.
Jas 4:12 KJV There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?
Joh7:14-18 KJV Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught. (15) And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned? (16) Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. (17) If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. (18) He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.
Tit 2:1-13 KJV But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: .. (7) In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, .. (11) For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, (12) Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; (13) Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
The music shows a MERRY CHRISTMAS; the doctrine shows a BLESSED HOPE! Hence, we love the music, but we love the doctrine even more !
However, carrying the guitar could still show a DEEPER MEANING
When I first saw the guitar and the five people who carried and played the same guitar, I immediately thought of Peter, James, John, Mary, and Paul. They were all the disciples of Jesus who carried the cross. Hence, we are reminded to think of ourselves as the church who carry the cross too.
Luk 9:20-24 KJV He said unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Peter answering said, The Christ of God. (21) And he straitly charged them, and commanded them to tell no man that thing; (22) Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day. (23) And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. (24) For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
We may carry our own cross individually, but at the church, we carry one big cross:
1Co 12:13-14 KJV For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (14) For the body is not one member, but many.
Eph2:18-20 KJV For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. (19) Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; (20) And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
Eph 4:4-25 KJV There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; (5) One Lord, one faith, one baptism, (6) One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. (7) But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ .. (11) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; (12) For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: (13) Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: (14) That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; (15) But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: .. (17) This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, (18) Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: (19) Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. (20) But ye have not so learned Christ; (21) If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: (22) That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; (23) And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; (24) And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. (25) Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
How do we carry the cross?
Have we read the Bible verses above? That is how we carry the cross. It is certainly not effortless. The musicians, guitarists, songwriter, and singers practised for months, days, or hours before they presented the Feliz Navidad song in 3 minutes; but we use our whole life time to bear the fruit of our salvation. How can it be effortless?
Why did I highlighted the 'speaking in truth' and 'putting away lying'? That responsibility is the greatest for those who are in front and are carrying the 'guitar' or the cross. If the preachers do not lead by speaking the truth, the preachers will turn the whole church into a 'noisy gang' or a 'lousy band' before God. There is no 'music' even if everyone is speaking, shouting, singing, or dancing before the Lord.
Sadly, many preachers today are still telling their believers to carry the cross like carrying a beautiful guitar and sing only the 'Merry Christmas' songs. Some preachers may even dress up like Hollywood actors and K-pop stars. Some can even act better than the stars. They always know how to appear happy, cool, sophisticated, elegant, wise, and at the same time, humble. I think it is ok if they still know the doctrine and teach the doctrine.
However, there is another type of New Age preachers who will just hold the 'guitar' and do nothing after they are purchased by the Lord (2Pe 2:1, Act20:28). They have no 'music' but they will tell the believers that their 'mime' performance is an 'effortless' gospel which they have 'heard' from the Lord (through quiet spirit's prompting, supernatural revelation, or dramatic lies). They are proud to tell you that they have no doctrine, no rules, no principles, no reproof, no commandments, no effort, no work, no do's and don'ts, except grace. They have no 'music'. They just hold the 'guitar' and stand still. Ironically, many believers below the 'stage' will just clap, scream, and yell to encourage them. Some believers will even dance and become hysterical. We may not understand how this is possible, but this is the 'picture' we are seeing in the last days:
Mat 24:4-25 LITV And answering, Jesus said to them, See that not any leads you astray. (5) For many will come in My name, saying, I am the Christ. And they will cause many to be led astray .. (11) And many false prophets will be raised and will cause many to err. (12) And because lawlessness shall have been multiplied, the love of the many will grow cold .. (23) Then if anyone says to you, Behold, here is the Christ! Or, Here! Do not believe. (24) For false christs and false prophets will rise up. And they will give great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. (25) Behold, I tell you beforehand.
When the church has no law, no doctrine, or no commandment, it is like a musical performance without the music. It means that the church has no fruit of obedience, no fruit of love, or no fruit of repentance too.
What type of cross Jesus would want us to carry?
We can select our own guitar, but can we select our own cross? I don't think so. There are many types of guitars or string instruments in the world. Many have six strings (guitar), four strings (like the ukulete), or ten strings (Psalm 144:9). The number of the strings in those musical instruments may not be the same but there is something similar in all of them. You must strum or plug the strings. Otherwise, they can never produce music. Similarly, the Lord is not concerned whether our 'guitar' or cross has six 'strings' or ten 'stings', or six commandments or ten commandments; but we must have God's commandments and we must do and teach His commandments. Otherwise, we have no 'music', no 'fruits', and no doctrine too.
Mat5:18-19 KJV For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. (19) Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Act 1:1-3 KJV The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, (2) Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: (3) To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
2Ti 4:1-5 KJV I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; (2) Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. (3) For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; (4) And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. (5) But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
If we have the guitar, we have the strings, and we are just holding them, we can never produce music. Similarly, it is meaningless too if we have grace (Jesus), we have His commandments but we just want to 'hold them in high regard' without doing them, we can never produce any fruit too.
The commandments of Jesus is no longer limited to the 'ten' strings'
I started to write about the comparisons between Moses and Jesus recently in 'K130. Are we under Moses or under Jesus? (1)'. However, today I realize that there is still more to what I have written after I read Act 1:1-3 above. I realize that Moses and Jesus had both stayed alone with God for forty days and forty nights. Moses had to spent two forty days and forty nights before he came down with two similar sets of the Ten Commandments (after he broke the first set of the Ten Commandments). Jesus had to spend forty days and forty nights too before He preached repentance to the people. However, during His second forty days period, Jesus spent forty days with the people, instead of with God. What's the implication of these incidents ?
Exo24:18 KJV And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights.
Exo34:28-29 KJV And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments. (29) And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him.
Mat 4:2-17 KJV And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. (3) And when the tempter came to him, .. (11) Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him .. (17) From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Act 1:3 KJV To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
I believe that both Moses and Jesus came down with God's commandments after the forty days period. But during second forty days period, Jesus came down completely and fully as God; not as weaker man. There is no necessity for Him to spent forty days and forty nights with God again. It also means that His commandments is more superior than the Ten Commandments in stones; His doctrine is still the same repentance He had preached in Mat 4:17 and His commandments are still the same as the Ten Commandments given to the Israelites. But His commandments have become invisible commandments given to all God's people now:
Heb 8:10 KJV For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
Heb 10:16-17 KJV This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; (17) And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
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