By the Grace of God I Am What I Am

Reading:  1 Corinthians 15:1-11
    
    Paul shifts gears here to address a teaching problem in Corinth regarding the resurrection.  He retreats to their common understanding of the basic facts of the gospel (v. 1-2).  “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received:  that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised the third day in accordance with the Scriptures”(1 Cor 15:3-4).  There are certain facts and historical events at the core of the Christian faith:  Jesus’ atoning death (prophesied in Scripture), his burial (proving that he actually died), and his resurrection on the third day (also prophesied).  Denying the resurrection of Jesus means that Christians serve, follow, and hope in a dead man.

    Paul then recounts several witnesses who testify that they saw Jesus resurrected.  He appears to Peter and the other apostles (v. 5) as several gospel writers mention.  “Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep”(1 Cor 15:6).  Paul’s words imply that these people were still living witnesses bearing their testimony, a direct link to the heart of our faith.   Jesus appears to James and the other apostles (v. 7).  And there is one more:  “Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.  For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.  But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain”(1 Cor 15:8-910).  Paul is given the special gift of witnessing the resurrected Jesus.  He is deeply thankful and humbled.  He knows the tremendous honor of being in this prestigious list—and how disqualified he should be.  It is “by the grace of God.”

    These verses drip with Paul’s gratitude for an undeserved gift.  Sometimes we mistakenly conclude that because God gives grace, there is nothing for us to do but receive it.  Yet Paul says “I worked harder than any of them”(1 Cor 15:10).  And as soon as we start to think that this is about his work, he adds, “though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me”(1 Cor 15:10).  God grants us rich gifts.  He changes how we think, work, and love.  We act in response to him, yet “by the grace of God I am what I am.”

-----------
One Thing to Think About:  Do I attribute my spiritual successes to God or myself?

One Thing to Pray For:  The humility to see God’s work in me for what it is
 

Jesus 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.

-----------
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
 

God Is Not a God of Confusion

Reading:  1 Corinthians 14:26-33
    
    Paul begins to reach some conclusions and practicalities about worship in this section.  Since there is a focus on understanding and edification, some things follow.  “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”(1 Cor 14:26).  All the brothers have a unique gift to bring to worship and all should be celebrated and given audience.  Yet because the focus remains on “building up,” certain practical rules are in order.

     “If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at the 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”(1 Cor 14:27-28).  Too many tongues would create confusion.  Tongues without interpretation would create confusion.  Paul regulates this with each person speaking, one at a time, and only if there is an interpreter.  “Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said.  If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent”(1 Cor 14:29-30).  There is respect here for those who would speak for God and also respect for the Spirit revealing something during the service.  Paul has no difficulty telling them that there are times to speak and times to be silent.

     “For God is not a God of confusion but of peace”(1 Cor 14:33).  Paul summarizes worship rules by reminding us about God.  God’s will does not contradict itself.  God does not tell us things in order to confuse us.  Our worship services should reflect this:  orderly, thoughtful, geared toward building up through proper understanding of God’s message.  We should leave our worship service with deeper understanding—rather than confused—because this is the will of God. 

-----------
One Thing to Think About:  Does it bother me to think that there are times I should be silent and listen rather than speaking?

One Thing to Pray For:  The peace that comes from understanding God’s will
 

Worship with Spirit and Mind

Reading:  1 Corinthians 14:13-25
    
    As he discusses the superiority of prophecy to tongues, Paul distinguishes between our minds and our spirits.  “For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful.  What am I to do?  I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also”(1 Cor 14:14-15).  My spirit is my inner man, which aspires to worship God.  My mind, meanwhile, is my intelligence and understanding.  Tongues were evidently a remarkable spiritual experience, but not always understood by self and others.  Paul wants us to worship with spirit and mind.

    The implications are important.   “Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of outsider say ‘Amen’ to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying?”(1 Cor 14:16).  Others cannot benefit when neither we nor they understand.  Paul also pictures a time when “outsiders or unbelievers” join our worship service.  If all they hear is unintelligible tongues, “will they not say that you are out of your minds?”(1 Cor 14:23).  “But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you”(1 Cor 14:24-25).  Such a person can be transformed by words from God and confirm God’s reality and presence—but only if he understands the message.

    Proper worship does involve our feelings—our spirit—but it also involves thoughtful, intelligent understanding of spiritual truth.  As we gather together to worship, it is important that we take time to articulate God’s message clearly so that others may benefit.  Perhaps that means that we use less flowery language, jargon, or complicated arguments.  Perhaps it means updating our songs or Bible versions so that outsiders come face to face with biblical truth.  However we achieve it, the goal is for us—and others—to worship with both spirit and mind.

-----------
One Thing to Think About:  How can I be childlike in evil while mature in my thinking (v. 20)?

One Thing to Pray For:  The conviction that comes from hearing God’s word (v. 24-25)
 

Build Up the Church

Reading:  1 Corinthians 14:1-12
    
    For some reason, the Corinthians seem inordinately focused on the gift of speaking in tongues.  “Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy”(1 Cor 14:1).  Prophecy is superior to tongues because “one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit” while “the one who prophesies speaks o people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation”(1 Cor 14:2, 3).  The whole issue here is understanding; when someone speaks in a tongue, they are speaking a foreign language.  As interesting as that phenomenon would be, it does little good.  Prophecy, meanwhile, speaks directly to people in intelligible ways and draws them closer to God by their understanding.  

    Paul then tries several metaphors to reinforce the point—musical instruments giving indistinct notes (v. 7), or an indistinct bugler attempting to summon an army (v. 8).  “There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning, but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me”(1 Cor 14:10-11).  We gain some insight into the nature of the gift of tongues here.  It appears to have been actual human languages that the speaker had not learned (see Acts 2:4-11).  All of these languages have meaning, but if I speak Vietnamese to a group of English speakers, there is little benefit.  “So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church”(1 Cor 14:12).  Here is the principle that guides our worship and interaction:  am I actually helping Christ’s church to be built up?

    Worship is a confusing topic for many in our world.  American churches strive to make worship appealing and exciting.  Did you enjoy the service?  Did it move you?  Did you “get anything out of it”?  Paul’s perspective is jarringly different.  His questions:  Did you understand what was said?  Do you leave encouraged and built up by hearing from God?  Rather than focusing on cool experiences and fleeting emotions, our goal in worship should be to clearly hear God’s word so that his people are built up.

-----------
One Thing to Think About:  What is my focus when I gather to worship God with others?

One Thing to Pray For:  A deeper understanding of God’s word