[410 words]
Let me start off by saying that 20th century classical music is, by and large, “weird.” John Cage, a late 20th century composer, wrote an 8-page organ piece called “Organ2/ASLSP.” The “ASLSP” means “play it as slow as possible.” Usually this organ piece takes more than an hour to complete. Yet, in 2009, an organist played the piece for 14 hours and 56 minutes. In 2022, the piece was played for over 16 hours. Not to be outdone, a custom organ was built in Halberstadt, Germany to play this piece. The performance on this custom organ began in 2001 and will not end until the year 2640 (an estimated 639 years). This is notable because on February 5th of this year, the organ piece changed chords for the first time in two years! How exciting for the listeners, I think.
I wonder if we treat our spiritual life and disciplines like this organ piece—“as slow as possible.” When knowing that we need to change behaviors and habits, we want to hold on to the old just a little longer and try to milk the patience of God in not changing right now (cf. 2 Peter 3:9).
I wonder if we don’t look at the end of our faith and move with urgency and diligence to get to that end of being spiritually mature, thus we move “as slow as possible” (cf. Ephesians 4:11-16; 2 Peter 1:3-8).
I wonder if we treat church work as elders, deacons, preachers, and members as if it is not imperative to move with purpose and so churches end up moving “as slow as possible.” One preacher described the church work where he was as, “waiting on snails” (cf. Romans 12:10-13).
I wonder if we treat the church’s obligation to reach the lost as something that can happen tomorrow and so we end up moving “as slow as possible.” We treat our friends and neighbors, family, and coworkers as an “I’ll-get-around-to-sharing-the-gospel-with-them-sometime” prospect and therefore we procrastinate until it’s too late (cf. 2 Cor. 6:1-2).
The God of Heaven is, of course, not John Cage. What He tells us to do, He tells us to do “diligently, urgently, fervently, zealously” because there IS an end coming. The hour is late. What we spend so much time lazily approaching, God counsels us, compels us, and implores us to get busy doing, growing, and maturing (2 Peter 3:18; Revelation 22:20).
Andy Baker
Graeber Road church of Christ
Rosenberg, TX