A Sanctified Sound System

by Tim Keller, Lead Pastor

The new sound system at CAC has been paid for, delivered, installed and a noticeable change has become detectable to the ears of our congregation. Hallelujah!

Wait; there’s more.

After utilizing the system for a week those working the sound board have given indication there’s even better sound coming in the future. How can this be? Are we going to see “Snap, Crackle, and Pop part II?”

Nope. Relax. The sound system we now possess is more than adequate to meet our audio needs for many years.

So how can it get better?

It will improve because when working with a new system there’s so much to be learned and adaptations to be made. Our sound people at CAC are the best and they’ve already received extensive training in our new setup. Yet, they will be the first to tell you that with all the new things to learn and adjust to, it will take weeks and months to fully get a handle on the new system.

Each week will bring a fuller understanding and a more comfortable level of mastery over what, in my opinion, is an amazing system of buttons, knobs and dials. A year from now the sound quality will be better than it was today. The same system with the same people operating it; yet a better experience overall.

It kind of reminds me of what happens when we come to receive eternal life though Jesus Christ. The change is instant and noticeable. At the same time it is just the beginning of an experience called sanctification. This is where we who have been changed by grace begin a process of becoming more and more like Christ. With each passing day we learn and grow, stumble and fall, and hit the wrong button and forget to mute someone.

Yet, slowly we are changed by Holy Spirit to look and react more and more like Jesus Christ. Some days are dreadful with anger and expressed words we wish we could get back. Over a period of time, though, we grow more comfortable with being filled with the Spirit and learn to trust His instincts over our own.

A year after our salvation experience we look back and are amazed at how much we’ve learned and come to understand. This is the sanctifying work of Holy Spirit in our lives. When we blow it, it isn’t that we need a new system; it’s just that we need to grow and learn a little bit more.

The process for learning to run a new sound system might take months or years. The process of growing to be more like Jesus will take us to the point where we die or He returns for us.

In the meantime, what do those who run the sound system ask of us while they learn? Patience, kindness, and grace for when the mistakes come.  When one of them fails to record the sermon, falls asleep and misses a cue, turns the volume too loud on the sub-woofer (yes, we have one of those now), or just flat out forgets to hit the right button, they would love it if the rest of us would say, “That’s okay. I know you’re still learning.” 

As a matter of fact it’s the same thing we should be offering one another as we are changed by God’s Spirit over time. When someone spouts off without thinking, loses their temper, falls prey to a bad habit, or just forgets to respond in a Christ honoring way, the best response is to offer patience, kindness and grace.

Let’s just say that’s sound advice.