December is always a busy time for my men’s chorus, and for vocal musicians in general. No holiday time is more closely associated with music than the Christmas season, and opportunities abound for singers with a ready repertoire of holiday carols. It’s no surprise, then, then, that lately I’ve been singing even more than usual. (My wife might say it isn’t possible for me to sing more than I usually do!)

It occurs to me that many parallels exist between an effective choral singer and an effective Christian. That’s not to say one is the same as the other — there’s a world of difference between technical proficiency in any secular realm and the things of spiritual life — but one can find some common patterns.

Like the choral singer, the Christian can only be as competent as his or her knowledge of the source material. It’s impossible for an ensemble to perform a song well if every singer doesn’t learn all the notes and lyrics completely. (Trust me on this — our director removed a song from our holiday repertoire this season because not enough of the chorus had mastered it.)

The same is true for disciples of Christ. Unless we learn His word thoroughly, how can we apply it correctly? That’s what James meant by “receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:21). We have to implant the word of God deeply in our hearts and minds in order for it to accomplish our salvation. That can’t happen if we develop only a superficial knowledge of the word. Every Christian must “be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).

Second, in a chorus, all the singers must sing in tune for the music to sound pleasant. A group of people all singing in different keys is about as enjoyable to listen to as cats yowling in an alley. That’s why a chorus can’t rely on its members’ individual ears to get the pitch — we use a pitch pipe so that everyone harmonizes in the same key.

Likewise, each Christian must always remain attuned to Jesus. You may have your ideas about how things ought to be done, and I may have mine. But if we govern our practice of faith by our individual opinions, no one will be able to recognize what the true faith is. And more importantly, we will not please God, because our thoughts and His will not agree (Isaiah 55:8-9).

Moses could not build the tabernacle any way he saw fit. God commanded him, “You shall raise up the tabernacle according to its pattern which you were shown on the mountain” (Exodus 26:30; cf. Acts 7:44; Hebrews 8:5). David, when he gave his son Solomon the blueprints for constructing a permanent temple, did not give him liberty to do as he pleased: “All this the LORD made me understand in writing, by His hand upon me, all the works of these plans” (1 Chronicles 28:19). The plans were God’s, not David’s or Solomon’s, and they could not deviate from them. We too must always “sing in tune” with the Lord’s music, following His pattern: “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Colossians 3:17).

Third, a chorus is interdependent. Every singer contributes to the sound, and is at the same time supported and reinforced by the others. That’s why it’s possible to assemble a very good choral ensemble out of individuals who are merely average solo singers — the sum is greater than the discrete parts. And the music needs the balance created by all participants. No one would want to listen to a chorus made up entirely of bass singers, or of baritones, or tenors. It’s the synergy of parts in correct proportion that generates harmony.

The body of Christ is not one member, but many (1 Corinthians 12:14). Each member contributes different talents, but each is essential (1 Corinthians 12:4-11; Romans 12:6-8; 1 Peter 4:10-11). When we all know the song, and we all sing together according to God’s arrangement — we make beautiful music to His name’s glory.