Too often the orchestra of the body of Christ, called to make spiritual music under His direction, is turned into an audience. However, both orchestra members and members of Christ’s body have active roles to play. They were never intended to be a passive audience. The risen Jesus needs to be the only Head of His body — the active Conductor of His spiritual orchestra.

Always preaching to Christians is like lecturing an orchestra. Both need to be making God’s music, not just hearing talks on it. Preaching tells people what to do. Ekklesia establishes an atmosphere where the Holy Spirit can create the desire to do it. Once people have heard the living Jesus proclaimed and have received Him, they need to be trained to listen to and obey His voice. Ekklesia is a collaborative interaction between members of the body of Christ and the risen Jesus.

One musician and an audience doesn’t make an orchestra. One preacher and an audience doesn’t make the body of Christ. One person can’t fully express Christ’s presence when Christians gather. Christ’s body needs to work together like an orchestra. Maybe God composed His word to be fully expressed by the full orchestra of the body of Christ, not by one individual.

New Testament Christianity is to let the risen Jesus live in you and personally direct you day by day. It creates continual companionship with Christ. Christians need to have the freedom to play their own instruments in response to Christ, as He directs His body.

Jesus’ first disciples didn’t follow programs. They followed Him. If Jesus is “the same yesterday, today, and forever,” we should follow Him today (not programs) like His first followers did.