dissonance: god’s uncomfortable teaching method
Do you remember the beginning of the Jaws movie theme song? Who doesn’t?! It starts with two sinister notes and continues into a crescendo of minor dissonant notes and chords. We don’t even need to see the movie to feel the peril the music portrays. We’re now a couple of generations away from the movie’s release, yet most young people could identify these ominous notes.
Why is this piece of music so memorable and influential?
The answer is that the theme of Jaws employs a standard musical method that creates discomfort in our ears. It is called “harmonic dissonance.” Harmonic dissonance uses notes and chords with uneven pitches and often leaves the listener feeling the song is left “up in the air” or uneasy. That is how a piece of music can feel sinister.
The method is used for music in horror or intense drama films.
Music often follows a progression of chords containing a root chord and then enhanced by several additional chords. These combinations are called chord progressions. Progressions often use a series of chords that finally includes one variety that feels like it needs to be resolved. If the song ends on that chord, it feels like you’ve been left “up in the air.” Usually, a progression will work its way back to the root chord, making us feel like the process is complete and resolved.
In its simplest terms, chord resolution brings a chord journey (the chord progression) "home," usually back to where you began the process. This conclusion is often referred to as a cadence.
Resolution is one function that gives songs a sense of purpose and meaning. You can often hear when a chord sounds "unresolved” because it holds a lot of tension.
Resolve is used not only in most music but also in public speaking or movies. For example: Have you ever been to a film that set up the conflict – every good story must have conflict - but instead of solving the discord at the movie's end, it ends with a question. Often, we say, “That dumb thing left me hanging, and I don’t like it!” Usually, the main character, or characters, are presented with the problem from several angles throughout the movie, leaving several possible solutions, but instead of solving the situation at the end, the film just ends up in the air, which is uncomfortable. This technique means the writer or producer wants us to devise our own solution based on the facts we gathered in the movie. Most movies or stories don’t end this way because they can tick off the viewer or reader.
We want solutions, don’t we? And we want them to be given to us in the most straightforward, most logical manner.
The same method can be employed in public speaking, especially a sermon. The speaker introduces the conflict of some sort, presents the characters and the story, and shows evidence of how the conflict could be solved but doesn’t solve it for you. You can leave the auditorium thinking, “They showed us the problem and made us start thinking about solutions, but then that darn preacher didn’t solve the issue, and she just left the whole thing up in the air.” Sometimes this is an excellent teaching method because it causes one to think and ruminate upon solutions. In other words, it makes us find our own way.
Guess what? God constantly uses dissonance in His relationship with us. Instead of fixing every problem or answering every question, our Teacher presents us with principles, examples, relationships, and prayer to guide us; then, He lets us decide. God doesn’t hand us a pat, simple answers on a silver platter. He presents us with possibilities and says, “Now you figure it out. Just remember, I’m with you no matter what you choose.”
He relates to our lives like a chord progression that moves forward and leaves a note up in the air that feels like it needs to be resolved. This formula causes discomfort, but that mental state is crucial in our growth process.
Jesus constantly used this method with the twelve when He talked of how the Kingdom of God works, and he explained that Kingdom principles are often counterintuitive. For instance, the greatest is the servant; the least is the greatest; to produce fruit, the seed must first die; to attain eternal life, there must first be death. The conquering hero does so through suffering and death.
When the Rabbi taught the masses, He often left them wondering what in the world He just said, even though they knew it was a lesson. He wanted the audience to think and meditate on the teaching and how they would apply it to their daily lives.
Half the time, He didn’t explain Himself, and even when He did, they did not understand until later. With God, the chord progression doesn’t always resolve.
So, why would God operate in this manner?
The answer is simple. To grow, we must be able to choose our path, make decisions and deal with the consequences. This routine is how we learn and gain wisdom. We must be allowed to try untested solutions and make mistakes. And this formula is a lifelong journey; it never ends for as long as you live.
Let’s face it; if the Father solved all of our issues and conundrums for us, we would remain selfish, self-centered, immature brats. It’s okay to give lots of solutions to a child, but as they grow and develop, we must say, “No, you solve it, you choose, and you live with the consequences.”
In music, harmonic dissonance is helpful; it creates interest, even mystery. But dissonance begs to be resolved, which means one returns to the root. The root is always there; one just needs to choose how they will return to it.
For Christ's followers, God is always our root, and he lies there below the surface, deeply embedded in our souls. He is always there for us, providing resources and nutrients, but He allows us to grow in whatever manner we wish.
Sometimes when significant life decisions confront us, we turn to God begging for a “fleece” that presents a sure-fire right choice. Remember, the “fleece” incident occurred only once in history! I am not proposing that God never gives us clear direction, but even when He does, the wise and loving Father often lets us struggle a while before the clear answer comes. God knows how vital dissonance is to growth, and he’s not so interested in your comfort as He is in your growth and development.
For instance, you may be ready to purchase a new car and would really like a luxury vehicle, perhaps a Caddy or Mercedes. But you know that if you make that purchase, it will be more than you’ve ever spent on transportation. You’ve been more of a Malibu person to date. What does God want you to do? Hmmmm??
I’m not sure that God cares what kind of car you drive, but He does care about your financial well-being and stewardship. So, He wants you to ask root questions. If I spend money on this luxury vehicle, will it screw up my financial picture? Will it impede how well I care for my family? Will this decision put me in a position where I cannot be as generous? And how will I use this vehicle? Will I drive it to church? When called upon, will I use it for good purposes? These are root questions, those of a mature person who knows where their bearings lie.
Perhaps you finally conclude, “I’ve run the car question through all the right filters and determined that I can rightfully purchase the Mercedes.” There you go! Or, perhaps, you’ve gone through the mature process and determined, “Nope, the Mercedes will have to wait for another time, and right now, the Malibu will do just fine.” There you go!
The process of Godly dissonance helped you arrive at a wise solution, one that found its guidance in the root.
God may not be so opinionated about what job you perform. He is more interested in how you conduct yourself at work, who you are and what you do. Do co-workers see traces of Jesus in you? The Almighty might not be so concerned about where you live as He is with how good of a neighbor you are and whether your home is a place of peace, righteousness, and hospitality. God may not be so worried about what college you attend or the career you choose, as He is how you conduct yourself as a student who claims to follow Jesus.
Or the biggest question of all, “God, should I eat that second helping of mashed potatoes? Please tell me.” God says, “Nope, you figure it out.”
Dissonance is a gift from your Father, don’t get upset because He doesn’t answer all your questions and solve all your problems. He wants you to grow up like Him, so you must have the ability to make your own choices.
Live Inspired!
Don Mark
