I teach music to a wide range of individuals. One of my very young students decided to challenge me in class the other day. She played a note on the piano and loudly declared that it was a B. As much as I loved the confidence and passion with which she put her finger down – as much as I honestly cared about keeping her engaged and not disillusioned – the fact is she was simply wrong. She was playing an F.
When it comes to faith and religion, many people think that their confidence determines whether what they believe is right. If, for a moment, you saw yourself behind the ‘keyboard of faith’ and were asked what you believed, what would you choose to do?
I’ve had some students so afraid of being wrong that they would rather wait for me to show them. Others couldn’t care less about what they are playing and randomly play everything until they hit the right one.
But without the direction and encouragement of their teacher, it wouldn’t matter what approach they took.
There are some very valid arguments when it comes to the subject of God. ‘Is it fair that people could go to hell?’ ‘It’s extremely inconsiderate to say there is only one right way to believe…’ ‘If my intentions are good, then how could I be punished?’
Noise or music?
For me there are two stark elements that people miss when they ask these questions.
1. Our own ignorance
2. The true goal of faith
My students can sit behind the keyboard and play whatever note comes to mind. They can use their hands, their arms, the feet and even bang their head on it – convinced that they are making music. I’ve encountered some stubborn singers who have the same problem. But the truth is, it is only when they realize that what they are doing does not line up with the inspiration that made them want to start that they begin to look for guidance from someone who has experience.
There are many ways to ‘play the piano’, just as there are many ways to ‘be spiritual’. But not all of it lines up with the construct of our soul for the pleasure of others that may be witnesses to it.
If the goal of the student was to make sound from an instrument, then I would be out of a job in the first three seconds of every lesson. In the same way, if the true goal of faith was to believe in something, then it would be great! There are countless studies on how spirituality does enrich your life.
Just like hitting notes with force on a piano might be an emotional release to a certain degree, it is only in the disciplined actions under the guidance of a set structure that you can uniquely express from your soul.
In the same way, our faith needs discipline and it needs structure. Not so that we can be controlled, but so that we can truly express the unique intentions of our soul.
Sweet sounds
One of the main structures we have in music is the concept of Key – it is a formula of combinations of intervals that set a context that is pleasing to the ear. If you start on a random white note and play all the white notes thereafter, you have six possibilities of not playing a major scale. It only works when you start on the note of C.
In the same way, when Jesus claims that he is the only way to God and eternal life He is giving us the most satisfactory, effective place to start – from which every part of our faith can be placed into context and please not only ourselves, but those around us as well.
Christians aren’t perfect. And some have done terrible things in the name of God. But I pity them all the more, because the result of their lives has lost the context from which everything began – the person and sacrifice of Jesus.
If you are frustrated – tired of trying every option, disillusioned by your choices or the judgement of others – then can I encourage you to try starting over with the origin of everything – a relationship with Jesus Christ. What sets Christianity apart is the belief that Jesus is alive and relevant to you. If you choose to believe he is the way, you can truly judge whether life is satisfactory and beneficial not only to yourself, but those around you as well.