A Case For Worship

 

DEVOTION

THE 1^ST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

A CASE FOR WORSHIP

1 Cor 14:26-33

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. 29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. 30 And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. 31 For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. 32 The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. 33 For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.

NIV

This is the New Testament Church working in concert with the Spirit. Paul is giving them the basis for this listening to the Spirit who is not coming from a place of disorder but of peace. It is fair to say that this Corinthian Church had gotten out of control and it might well be described as mass confusion. However, what also may be fair to say is that the New Testament church of today has gone entirely in the other direction leaving the Spirit wandering around outside somewhere. Of course, this may be due to the idea that the Spirit has stopped manifesting His gifts as they were only needed for those early New Testament churches. It seems today we are putting all the burden on the pastor to do all the speaking and being the only one who gets any revelation. True even back then, an order would have been preferred, giving way to the leading of the Spirit and people within the congregation would participate in worship by praying in tongues, lifting God up, with an interpretation so that all can join in rejoicing in worship and be encouraged. This too would be the reason for prophecy, as we have already seen, to strengthen, encourage and comfort those who hear such words. Again, all these verbal gifts are under the control or should be under the control of the Spirit, so the purpose is to edify the church, to build it up, strengthen it, encourage it, and comfort it. If this is not happening, it would also seem right to think the church is asleep, weak, unencouraged, and without comfort, thus in some form of turmoil or pain, sick, crippled, and wandering aimlessly about without direction. Why does the church today not want to Spirit to have His way? Why must we refuse Him access to His church? It seems we simply come to sort of worship, but most likely just put in our time sitting in our designated spot long enough to hear the pastor’s sermon. Are all these instructions ignored, or have we simply reasoned them away as instructions only for that early church in Corinth? If that is the case, then why is this letter even part of the Canon? What purpose does it serve, other than the only short segment about love that is quoted at many weddings? If we quote then part, why not the rest? If we believe that short part of this letter about love, then why do we not believe all this major part about the gifts? Because God is a God of order, and of peace, it would seem right that we, being His creation, should be subject to His order and peace. This is not a judgment of any church, but just thoughts as to why the way we are today versus the way they were back in the early days of the church. Maybe we might need to reconsider how we worship. Do we worship under our control or under the control of the Spirit? This instruction may well simply be a case for worship.