Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. Colossians 3:16
“In their wars, therefore, the Etruscans use the trumpet, the Arcadians the pipe, the Sicilians the pectides, the Cretans the lyre, the Lacedaemonians the flute, the Thracians the horn, the Egyptians the drum, and the Arabians the cymbal. The one instrument of peace, the Word alone by which we honour God, is what we employ. We no longer employ the ancient psaltery, and trumpet, and timbrel, and flute, which those expert in war and contemners of the fear of God were wont to make use of also in the choruses at their festive assemblies; that by such strains they might raise their dejected minds. But let our genial feeling in drinking be twofold, in accordance with the law. For “if thou shalt love the Lord try God,” and then “thy neighbor,” let its first manifestation be towards God in thanksgiving and psalmody, and the second toward our neighbor in decorous fellowship. For says the apostle, “Let the Word of the Lord dwell in you richly.” And this Word suits and conforms Himself to seasons, to persons, to places.”
Clement of Alexandria (c.150-c.215) in The Instructor Book 2 Chapter 9 on “How to Conduct Ourselves at Feasts” (Roberts-Donaldson English Translation).
Check out the connection between today’s Scripture. When we enjoy let God’s Word dwell in us, when we teach and admonish each other, and when we sing to God with gratitude, we practice “decorous fellowship” toward our neighbor with the Word as our instrument.
Taken together, our instrument of peace, that is, the Word of God, and “decorous fellowship” foster a culture of generosity. When we sing to God with gratitude together with others we nurture corporate and collective generosity.
Is the Word of God your instrument of peace? This means that when people see you, they think you march to a different drum beat. That is, one that keeps in step with the Spirit, who has peace in a world filled with troubles, and demonstrates the Word of God in their life.
And what would it look like for you to engage in “decorous fellowship” with your neighbors? This might be having a family over for dinner, hosting a neighborhood social to create community, inviting them to a church function, or doing something generous toward them.
Clement eloquently names the people groups of his day and shows how Christians need to think and act differently. The music of our lives coupled with our behavior when feasting points our neighbors closer to God or away from Him. What do your neighbors see when they look at you?