Nashville Musings

             After frequently passing through Nashville to visit family, my husband and I recently spent a couple days in this country music capitol.  Attending the Grand Ole Opry topped our list, so we purchased tickets to see a show.  To our surprise, the Thursday night performance was in what used to be the Grand Ole Opry, first called Union Tabernacle Church.  In 1892, Thomas Ryman, a riverboat captain, built it for an influential revivalist.  After Ryman’s death, the church was renamed to honor Ryman.

            From 1943 to 1974, the Ryman Auditorium hosted the Grand Ole Opry broadcasts, which then continued in a new, larger building.  The old church came back into use after renewed interest led to a renovation, much like that of the Fox Theater here.  The church pews in the round remain as the seats for the shows, giving it an interesting atmosphere.

            I would say the evening in the Ryman was one of the most enjoyable, live performances we have ever seen.  Some musicians and songs were expected and familiar; others were not.  However, I soon became aware of what was so special about this particular night.

1.      These people were talented, skilled, young and old performers, and they recognized and counted on the talents of one another to “make the music happen.” 

2.     The artists clearly appreciated all the country music history that had its start in this very place.  They talked about their personal connections to the Ryman and the artists who had performed there and influenced them over the years. 

3.     The joy they found in singing and playing together was obvious.  Even though many of them had recorded songs that became hits, coming together for a live experience had a dynamic quality that recordings couldn’t fully capture.

4.      At several points, there was audience participation.  Bringing people up on the stage was part of the show as a regular feature.  However, one song brought Texans on stage making it relevant to the recent destruction in that state.

As I took all this in, I thought what I was observing had some similarity to the Biblical picture of the early church.  Paul writes about the body of Christ having various gifts and talents, each person in some way playing a part in bringing God’s presence among them in powerful ways.  The writer of Hebrews speaks of a “cloud of witnesses” and describes some of the amazing results of the power of faith going back as far as Abraham and Sarah.  Joy is very definitely presented as central in their thanks and praise to God.  Overall, coming together seems to have a “live” component, a spontaneity as the Holy Spirit moves among them.

Jesus taught people, at times, by taking something familiar in their culture and illustrating its  similarity to something spiritual.   He spoke of Himself as the “good shepherd,” the “living water” and the “bread of life” among other things.  I wouldn’t have expected to “see” a model for Christian worship and fellowship at a concert, but after all, we were sitting in some very old church pews.