All or Nothing

DEVOTION

1 CORINTHIANS

ALL OR NOTHING

1 Cor 14:26-28

26 What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church. 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, two — or at the most three — should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. 28 If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God.

NIV

We have to notice that all of these must be done for the strengthening of the church. That means all, not some, not a few for a while and then some for the rest of time, but all. Which ones do we say are no longer for today and which ones do we say are? The point being is it appears we pick and choose which portions of scripture we want to believe and which we do not. It is truly easy for us today to sing a hymn, and maybe even have a word of instruction when we all come together, although we usually leave the instruction part to just one person we have hired to do that. The other word we should pay close attention to is everyone. It would seem that everyone should sing a hymn, and everyone should have a word of instruction for the church as well as have a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. We can make no mistake that we are commanded by the Word of God that all five of those most be done for if the church is going to be strengthened. Yes it should not be chaos, but in an orderly way, but nevertheless is surely appears it must be done. That would mean, if we read this correctly and understand this correctly, we cannot just come to church on Sunday morning and sit there like a bunch of bumps on a log listening to our hired help preach a sermon. It would appear the truth here is that we must participate in the strengthening of the church. We need to ask ourselves when was the last time we had a word of instruction for others, or when was the last time we shared a revelation from God. Of course we sing along with the hymns, but have we ever offered a hymn? Then there is the matter of tongues and interpretation, how do we handle that? Is this the part we simply say stopped with the New Testament church? But wait, we are the New Testament church, so then this is the part we say stopped with the disciples? But wait we are disciples, as well as we are supposed to go into all the world making disciples. Maybe this is the part we say stopped with the early church, but how to we know we are not still the early church? Do we presume to conclude we are the late church, as those who call themselves latter day saints? How do we know what is early and what is late? Is that not up to God? So then it is concluded that the truth is eternal, it was written for the whole church, for all of time, until Jesus returns and so we must be about doing, being the church God desires, no commands us to be. If we believe it has to be all, or simply be unbelievers. So all or nothing, which is it?