Twin City church of Christ Blog
“May 14, 2024 - Jesus Orders His Worship”
Categories: 2024 Reading DevotionalsJesus Orders His Worship
Reading: 1 Corinthians 14:34-40
Paul has addressed several issues of order in worship by instructing certain people to be silent at certain times in the interest of edification (1 Cor 14:28, 30). “The women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says. If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church”(1 Cor 14:34-35). Women are taught to be silent as a sign of their submission. Their questions are to be addressed at another time lest they interrupt the edifying focus of the worship. While this seems harsh in our time, it is the same principle by which some tongue-speakers and prophets must be silent. Not everyone is allowed to speak in Christian worship, and not everyone is allowed to speak at the time they would like. This is not a statement on anyone’s relative worth, but simply an effort at order.
Almost as if anticipating objections to these teachings, Paul challenges his audience: “Or was it from you that the word of God came? Or are you the only ones it has reached? If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord”(1 Cor 14:36-37). Jesus is the one behind the ordering of his worship and Paul insists that we acknowledge that. The word does not originate with us or only involve us. Jesus orders his worship and we must submit.
Order is a priority for Jesus because only orderly, understandable worship promotes edification. “But all things should be done decently and in order”(1 Cor 14:40). This order is no substitute for passionate, sincere worship—yet passionate, sincere worship that is disorderly violates Jesus’ will here. Jesus orders his worship and we must submit to his order.
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One Thing to Think About: Do I find orderly worship restrictive and dull? How might I change that?
One Thing to Pray For: Worship that honors Jesus by submitting to his wishes
