symphony vs. cacophony

... if two of you are in harmony on earth concerning any matter for which they ask, it will be done for them from My Father who is in the heavens. (Matthew 18:19)

The word "harmony (or accord)" in Matthew 18:19 means "symphony". The opposite of a symphony is a cacophony, meaning a harsh, meaningless discordance of sound. This is what we find before a symphony is played, when the musicians are warming up. Each musician is playing a different piece, a different key. But when the concertmaster stands and gives them the E to tune to, the cacophony disappears. This, however, is not yet the "one accord" or "symphony." The conductor must come out, the musicians must watch the conductor intently to play in the intended tempo and dynamic, and they must listen to each other to blend together. They all must also look at the same music, the same page, and play in the same key.

The tuning to E is for us a tuning to the same mind and opinion according to Christ through the unique teaching of the apostles. The music we are playing is God's eternal economy. The requirement of playing a symphony properly is to have unbroken vertical fellowship with the conductor (Christ, the Head), but at the same time, also be attuned to the fellow musicians in sweet horizontal fellowship. Though the musicians may play different instruments (which are the allotted portions given to us), through the vertical and horizontal fellowship, their different allotted portions are not used individualistically, but for the one accord in the Body.

No soloist. No loners in the Body of Christ.

This heavenly symphony is music to our Father's ear. He will be so pleased that our requests will be answered by Him. In fact, our requests are what are on His mind as well.
( a little overflow from the 2008 winter training)