"What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God."
Everything done in a church service should have a purpose. The overarching purpose, not explicitly mentioned here, is the glory of God. However, the purpose drawn attention to in this chapter is for building up, the growth of the church—numerical growth of the church body through the conversion of unbelievers and the personal growth of individual believers as they understand more truth and walk more and more consistently with God.
In order for growth to occur, the various parts of a service must be orderly. That is not to say that churches should rigidly eradicate all vestiges of flexibility, as if flexibility were a problem. We are not directed to embrace rigid structure verses flexibility. However, Paul makes it clear that activities focused through the lens of church growth will be much more effective than a chaotic service.
The specific example is the exercise of the gift of tongues. The first century church was instructed to take turns in speaking in tongues—one speaker at a time. They were also limited to one to three people exercising the gift in a church service. This may have required some preferring of others and intentional restraint on the part of some church members. Also clearly all tongues speaking had to be interpreted. There is no instruction for how long or as to when in the service people should present "a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation." This lack of specifics probably indicates that there was room for flexibility here. But the flexibility existed within the confines of a spiritually beneficial, organized service.
Sadly, almost no Pentecostal or Charismatic groups today operate within these guidelines. Personally, I don’t believe that the gift is in operation at all. But if God were to give someone the gift of tongues, it would have to be exercised within the confines of biblical revelation so that the church would be built up and God glorified. And if this were clearly happening, I could not argue with a fellow believer.
Showing posts with label growth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label growth. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Monday, July 7, 2008
1 Corinthians 14:21-22
"In the Law it is written, 'By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.' Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers."
The gift of tongues is a sign for unbelievers that works two ways. In Acts, the gift helped lead many to salvation (see Acts 2). However, tongues is not a sign that universally leads unbelievers to repentance. Sadly, it is most often a sign of judgment. Despite the privilege of seeing this miraculous sign from God, most still chose to not believe.
The primary intent of the gift of tongues was never to encourage believers or to help them pray to God in a secret prayer language. The gift of tongues is a gift for the merciful condemnation of unbelievers. I say merciful because the sign ought to have lead to their conversion (and sometimes did), but it was a condemnation because most rejected the sign.
The sign of prophecy (forth-telling and foretelling), on the other hand, was a gift for believers. Believers are called to maturity of understanding. To gain that maturity, God has ordained the sharing of His truth. In the first century, prophecy (the sharing of truth from God) involved the expositing (thoroughly explaining the text in light of itself) of the Old Testament, the expositing of the ever growing New Testament, and direct revelation from God. Today, now that the Bible is complete, direct revelation is no longer necessary for our growth and maturity, but the gift of prophecy continues to be a sign for believers as they continue to learn from the exposition of the Old and New Testaments.
The gift of tongues is a sign for unbelievers that works two ways. In Acts, the gift helped lead many to salvation (see Acts 2). However, tongues is not a sign that universally leads unbelievers to repentance. Sadly, it is most often a sign of judgment. Despite the privilege of seeing this miraculous sign from God, most still chose to not believe.
The primary intent of the gift of tongues was never to encourage believers or to help them pray to God in a secret prayer language. The gift of tongues is a gift for the merciful condemnation of unbelievers. I say merciful because the sign ought to have lead to their conversion (and sometimes did), but it was a condemnation because most rejected the sign.
The sign of prophecy (forth-telling and foretelling), on the other hand, was a gift for believers. Believers are called to maturity of understanding. To gain that maturity, God has ordained the sharing of His truth. In the first century, prophecy (the sharing of truth from God) involved the expositing (thoroughly explaining the text in light of itself) of the Old Testament, the expositing of the ever growing New Testament, and direct revelation from God. Today, now that the Bible is complete, direct revelation is no longer necessary for our growth and maturity, but the gift of prophecy continues to be a sign for believers as they continue to learn from the exposition of the Old and New Testaments.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
1 Corinthians 10:23
"'All things are lawful,' but not all things are helpful. 'All things are lawful,' but not all things build up."
All things are lawful? What!? The statement seems completely preposterous following the stern warning of the previous verses not to commit idolatry. Does this mean then that idolatry is lawful? Absolutely not! The prohibition in the previous verses was for the Christian not to participate in the pagan ceremonies, which often involved eating meat. That is idolatrous demon worship.
This verse begins a clarification that the meat itself is not the issue. The meat is nothing. In fact, that same meat offered to idols (that was wrong for the Christian to eat in the ceremony) can be resold in the meat market, and Christian can eat it without shame. There are no mystical powers that Satan has on meat or any other object. If you are not involved in the idolatry, it is lawful to eat.
But there is another consideration beyond lawfulness. The next verses will further develop the concept that we are to engage in lawful practices that help others by making them better, stronger Christians. When determining whether or not engage in a certain activity, I should not merely ask myself if it is alright for me to do the activity. I must consider if engaging in the lawful activity will be good for others. Far from granting the Christian a license to do whatever he wants, this verse calls us to greater accountability for our actions.
All things are lawful? What!? The statement seems completely preposterous following the stern warning of the previous verses not to commit idolatry. Does this mean then that idolatry is lawful? Absolutely not! The prohibition in the previous verses was for the Christian not to participate in the pagan ceremonies, which often involved eating meat. That is idolatrous demon worship.
This verse begins a clarification that the meat itself is not the issue. The meat is nothing. In fact, that same meat offered to idols (that was wrong for the Christian to eat in the ceremony) can be resold in the meat market, and Christian can eat it without shame. There are no mystical powers that Satan has on meat or any other object. If you are not involved in the idolatry, it is lawful to eat.
But there is another consideration beyond lawfulness. The next verses will further develop the concept that we are to engage in lawful practices that help others by making them better, stronger Christians. When determining whether or not engage in a certain activity, I should not merely ask myself if it is alright for me to do the activity. I must consider if engaging in the lawful activity will be good for others. Far from granting the Christian a license to do whatever he wants, this verse calls us to greater accountability for our actions.
Friday, July 27, 2007
1 Corinthians 3:1-4
"But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? For when one says, 'I follow Paul,' and another, 'I follow Apollos,' are you not being merely human?"
Although all believers have the Spirit, some do not act like spiritual people and cannot be interacted with on a spiritual level. Though they are in Christ, they still behave as if they are in the flesh.
When Paul was teaching the Corinthian believers, he could not deal with weighty, spiritual matters. Instead, he was restricted to the most basic of spiritual concepts, almost dealing with them as if they were not Christians. After teaching and giving them opportunities to grow, they had failed to develop as they ought to have developed. They lacked the spiritual discernment that comes from God through His word. They still saw things through an earthly, sinful, human perspective.
How was this deficiency displayed in their lives? Was it seen though moral failures like adultery or idolatry? Those problems did exist in the church, but that is not here identified as the problem. The reason for their inchoate spiritual state was "jealousy and strife." They were identifying themselves with personalities and creating divisions over them. This is human behavior and does not reflect any spirituality.
I might be prone to think, I am following this very spiritual person. He is better than these other Christian leaders. Therefore, I am spiritual, and they are not. I probably wouldn't think these words exactly, but I might identify myself with someone and follow him to the unnecessary separation of others. If a person does such a thing, he would probably think himself spiritual for it. But really, there is nothing spiritual about those kind of actions. That person is "behaving only in a human way." Truly spiritual people follow Christ and love His word.
Although all believers have the Spirit, some do not act like spiritual people and cannot be interacted with on a spiritual level. Though they are in Christ, they still behave as if they are in the flesh.
When Paul was teaching the Corinthian believers, he could not deal with weighty, spiritual matters. Instead, he was restricted to the most basic of spiritual concepts, almost dealing with them as if they were not Christians. After teaching and giving them opportunities to grow, they had failed to develop as they ought to have developed. They lacked the spiritual discernment that comes from God through His word. They still saw things through an earthly, sinful, human perspective.
How was this deficiency displayed in their lives? Was it seen though moral failures like adultery or idolatry? Those problems did exist in the church, but that is not here identified as the problem. The reason for their inchoate spiritual state was "jealousy and strife." They were identifying themselves with personalities and creating divisions over them. This is human behavior and does not reflect any spirituality.
I might be prone to think, I am following this very spiritual person. He is better than these other Christian leaders. Therefore, I am spiritual, and they are not. I probably wouldn't think these words exactly, but I might identify myself with someone and follow him to the unnecessary separation of others. If a person does such a thing, he would probably think himself spiritual for it. But really, there is nothing spiritual about those kind of actions. That person is "behaving only in a human way." Truly spiritual people follow Christ and love His word.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
1 Peter 2:4-5
"As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."
Christ is a living stone. That is a strange title. But it likens a building's need for a solid foundation to our need for a spiritual foundation. Our foundation is Christ, a living stone. Christ was rejected by men. When Jesus came to earth, He was not truly accepted by the masses nor is He accepted by most people today. The Father, however, has not rejected the Son. The Son is the chosen, precious one.
As we come to Him, we too become living stones. Or at least we become "like living stones." We are being built up as a house is built. And houses are built with a purpose. We are being built up to be priests, offering spiritual sacrifices. These sacrifices are accepted by God because of Christ.
I want to think about the spiritual sacrifices some more. There is more to be understood there, but I need to pray and think some more.
Christ is a living stone. That is a strange title. But it likens a building's need for a solid foundation to our need for a spiritual foundation. Our foundation is Christ, a living stone. Christ was rejected by men. When Jesus came to earth, He was not truly accepted by the masses nor is He accepted by most people today. The Father, however, has not rejected the Son. The Son is the chosen, precious one.
As we come to Him, we too become living stones. Or at least we become "like living stones." We are being built up as a house is built. And houses are built with a purpose. We are being built up to be priests, offering spiritual sacrifices. These sacrifices are accepted by God because of Christ.
I want to think about the spiritual sacrifices some more. There is more to be understood there, but I need to pray and think some more.
Monday, February 19, 2007
1 Peter 2:1-3
"So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good."
I wasn't sure what the exact meaning of malice was, so I looked it up in the American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000. It defines the word as "1. A desire to harm others or to see others suffer; extreme ill will or spite. 2. Law The intent, without just cause or reason, to commit a wrongful act that will result in harm to another."
I think of this as a mean streak in someone. But it most likely goes beyond mere cruelty. Selfishness is involved in the malice. When someone wants to damage another because of envy, he can accomplish his goal through deceit. Lies are spread about people to damage their reputation. Often times the one spreading the lies maintains a friendly facade with the person he is spreading lies about. This adds hypocrisy to the sins of malice and deceit.
Christians are not to manifest this kind of behavior. In order to put avoid that bad behavior, we need to delight in something other than selfish gain. We need to delight in God's Word. We need to desire the word like newborns desire milk. I spent some time yesterday with a family that had a month old baby. The baby's schedule consisted of eating, being changed, sleeping, and crying. But it was driven mostly by it's desire to feed.
I am distracted by many things. But in my distraction, I rarely forget to eat. I am driven by hunger to consume physical food. I need to have the same desire for spiritual milk and meat. I need physical food to maintain my health. I no longer am growing, except to replace old cells, therefore, I don't need as much food as I did as a teenager. But spiritually, I am not to stop growing. I should seek nourishment ravenously, so that I might grow.
Growing and seeking the word is the natural response to salvation. If I've found the Lord to be good, I must seek more of Him. When I taste something delightful, I often want more right then. If not then, I'll want more of it later. What about God's word? I've tasted that the Lord is good, better than any culinary delight I could imagine. I must desire more. I do, but I must desire more all of the time. Everyday, not three days a week, not five. Food is less important. I must desire the word.
I wasn't sure what the exact meaning of malice was, so I looked it up in the American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000. It defines the word as "1. A desire to harm others or to see others suffer; extreme ill will or spite. 2. Law The intent, without just cause or reason, to commit a wrongful act that will result in harm to another."
I think of this as a mean streak in someone. But it most likely goes beyond mere cruelty. Selfishness is involved in the malice. When someone wants to damage another because of envy, he can accomplish his goal through deceit. Lies are spread about people to damage their reputation. Often times the one spreading the lies maintains a friendly facade with the person he is spreading lies about. This adds hypocrisy to the sins of malice and deceit.
Christians are not to manifest this kind of behavior. In order to put avoid that bad behavior, we need to delight in something other than selfish gain. We need to delight in God's Word. We need to desire the word like newborns desire milk. I spent some time yesterday with a family that had a month old baby. The baby's schedule consisted of eating, being changed, sleeping, and crying. But it was driven mostly by it's desire to feed.
I am distracted by many things. But in my distraction, I rarely forget to eat. I am driven by hunger to consume physical food. I need to have the same desire for spiritual milk and meat. I need physical food to maintain my health. I no longer am growing, except to replace old cells, therefore, I don't need as much food as I did as a teenager. But spiritually, I am not to stop growing. I should seek nourishment ravenously, so that I might grow.
Growing and seeking the word is the natural response to salvation. If I've found the Lord to be good, I must seek more of Him. When I taste something delightful, I often want more right then. If not then, I'll want more of it later. What about God's word? I've tasted that the Lord is good, better than any culinary delight I could imagine. I must desire more. I do, but I must desire more all of the time. Everyday, not three days a week, not five. Food is less important. I must desire the word.
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