A Sense of Dissonance

Once in a while, things just don’t sound right together. Two sounds merge that sound like the audio version of oil and water. They don’t mix, and it’s messy. It’s called dissonance.

The idea of dissonance applies more broadly than just sound, however. It extends to things like emotions, ideas and practices. Sometimes we feel conflicting things, have conflicting ideas, and even do conflicting things.

There are times in our lives where our inner man is marked by a sense of dissonance. Two or more things are going on, and they seem to be at war with one another.

We need resolve.

The church of Pergamum, located in what is now Turkey, was a church marked by dissonance. In Revelation 2, a letter is dictated to them that points to different elements at war within them that creates a dissonance that must be addressed, and a prescription for resolve is issued.

Maybe you feel it - even the Apostle Paul did. He spoke frankly to the church in Rome, writing, “For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.” He recognized the dissonance in his won life.

This Sunday, we’re going to examine the letter to the church in Pergamum as part 4 of our series, The Letters, and try and find some resolve for our own lives. Join us at 10:30am at The Culture House!