The Beauty of Salsa: A Reflection on Oneness in the Body of Christ
Reflection
A few years ago, I had the pleasure of attending a Marc Anthony concert at the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York City. The atmosphere was vibrant, and the stadium quickly became rich with colour and style as people from all over Latin America and beyond poured in and took their seats. People representing Puerto Rico, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Argentina, you name it; they proudly waved their national flags as symbols of their cultural and national heritage. Though each represented their unique history, culture and national identity, all were united under the banner of salsa music.
The beauty of salsa music is that it is the result of the combination of individual sounds and beats that combine to make something greater than the individual parts of the whole. Guitars, trombones, drums, pianos, cowbells and bongos are just a few of the instruments drafted to service that combine to create something magnificent and adventurous under the skillful command of talented musicians like Marc Anthony. I left that concert that evening buzzing, electrified, and eager to display my own individual cultural identity while at the same time leaning into the beautiful oneness of this genre of music.
Application
In the twelfth chapter of the Book of Corinthians, the Apostle Paul reminded the church that they were one body with many members in Christ. He wrote,
“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.” (1 Corinthians 12:12)
The reminder to the Corinthians came within the broader context of Spiritual Gifts. In verses 4-6, Paul reminds them that though there are a variety of gifts, they are the product of the same Spirit. He wrote,
“4. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same spirit, 5. And there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6. And there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.” (1 Corinthians 12:4-6)
Every other week, a group of dedicated men come together in what we at Wisdom in a Whisper Ministries call “Well Groups.” Together, we study the Word of God, worship our Saviour, lift each other and others up in prayer, discuss life and have fellowship as brothers in Christ. What I have grown to appreciate about our time together at the Well is the diversity of perspectives and backgrounds, personal testimonies and spiritual gifts that enrich our conversations. Though each of us has taken our own unique path to the Well, the Lord uses each of us according to the gifts He has given us. As Paul reminded the church at Corinth, though we are made up of many members, we are one in the body of Christ.
What an amazing Creator we have!
Like a skillful salsa artist, our Lord and Saviour has created us uniquely to serve His kingdom under His banner: love. He has chosen us, as imperfect as we are, and given each of us our unique story and song. Never mind if much of your life story resembles an old, broken-down tuba, or your song sounds like an out-of-tune piano. Our God is a God of restoration. You would be amazed by what He can do with broken things. He can shape your story into a wonderful song of redemption, ready to add to the overall chorus of praise.
Yours in Christ,
Brad
bradbrown@wisdominawhisper.com
I encourage you to find your place in the body of Christ and add your unique voice to the song. Our Men’s Well Groups currently meet every other Thursday via Zoom at 7:30 pm. Please feel free to contact me if you would like to learn more. We are currently working to launch our women’s servant leadership and mentoring program. Stay tuned for updates over the next few months.
