Order in worship
Day 603, Monday, April 6
1 Corinthians 14:26-40
Paul isn’t quite through with his discussion of speaking in tongues yet, but shifts the emphasis here to orderly worship in general. “But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way”
The model for worship he describes here is very different from what our worship services look like. There’s no indication that Paul envisions a role like our modern priest (who presides over the sacrament) or preacher (who presides over the teaching). Instead he describes a participatory model where multiple people take turns sharing the word of God in different ways. “When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation.”
He insists, though, that this is not an excuse for chaos. “For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.”
Speaking in tongues, if any, must be done only if there is someone to interpret, and then by no more than three people. Prophesy, too, is limited to two or three people unless there is exceptional revelation to someone. It is easy to read between the lines and suspect that disorder was a problem in the Corinthian church, and that some sought to call undue attention to themselves.
Verses 33-35 are one of the places that Paul limits the role of women in the church. Those who support women in church leadership often suggest that this particular church had a problem with women being disruptive and that Paul thought silencing them completely was the best solution to bring peace. Others point to this teaching being based on common practice (“as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people”) rather than command.
In any case we are left with the challenge that Paul’s teachings on women in leadership is not consistent across his writings. In trying to reconcile this we might consider his instruction that, “Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.”
-Rev. Mark Fleming
Monday meditation
Psalms 106:6-18
We have sinned, even as our ancestors did; we have done wrong and acted wickedly. When our ancestors were in Egypt, they gave no thought to your miracles; they did not remember your many kindnesses, and they rebelled by the sea, the Red Sea. Yet he saved them for his name’s sake, to make his mighty power known. He rebuked the Red Sea, and it dried up; he led them through the depths as through a desert. He saved them from the hand of the foe; from the hand of the enemy he redeemed them. The waters covered their adversaries; not one of them survived. Then they believed his promises and sang his praise.
But they soon forgot what he had done and did not wait for his plan to unfold. In the desert they gave in to their craving; in the wilderness they put God to the test. So he gave them what they asked for, but sent a wasting disease among them.
In the camp they grew envious of Moses and of Aaron, who was consecrated to the Lord. The earth opened up and swallowed Dathan; it buried the company of Abiram. Fire blazed among their followers; a flame consumed the wicked.
Prayer focus
Order our hearts and minds to that our worship—and our lives—may glorify you.