Making Sense of 1st Corinthians CH 14

When we first started NewChurch, back in 2015, people would always say, “that’s a clever name for a brand new church but what happens when you’ve been around for a few years and your not a new church anymore?” But the name doesn’t mean we’re the newest church. 

Whenever we run a social media campaign, people see us for the first time and there’s always some angry person who says something like, “the last thing we need is some new kind of church, I’ll take the old church every time!” But the name doesn’t mean we’re a new kind of church.

When we come together to worship. Jesus is constantly making the church new. Every generation. Every time we get together in His name. New creation. New life. New hope. New beginning. A new start. That’s what I had in mind when we named NewChurch—that we would be renewed as a congregation and that we would reach new people who would become part of the church.

But church has kinda fallen out of favor these days. For most people, it’s not a priority. They don’t see it as a primary part of their identity. People tend to look at picking a church the way they would choose which college to attend—or buy into a vacation timeshare—or think about season tickets. Cost-benefit analysis, what’s in it for me? Who has the best features and amenities? 

We’ve been doing a deep dive on 1st Corinthians since Easter, going verse by verse, chapter by chapter, looking at what the Apostle Paul had to say to this jacked-up new church he started in the early days of Christianity. In chapter 12 he talked about spiritual gifts and how obsessed they were with supernatural signs and wonders. He explained how all the gifts of the Holy Spirit are given to the members of the church for the benefit of the other people in the church—not for themselves. Then he spent chapter 13 explaining the most important gift of the Spirit—love. What love is and what it’s not. Now in chapter 14, he’s going to bring all this home.

What’s supposed to happen when we come together to worship? What’s the point of all this? This chapter has a lot of clues for what these Sunday meetings should be like—or at least a whole bunch of examples of what it’s not supposed to be like.

Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. 1Corinthians 14:1

Transitioning from his epic explanation about how love is all those sacrificial things we do for other people—he reminds us one more time that everything he’s about to say is a continuation of that thought. Pursue love. Earnestly desire the powers, abilities, and roles that the Holy Spirit will give you—but only so you can use them to serve others. Especially prophecy.

When we hear the word “prophecy” or “prophet” we tend to think in pagan terms. We think of Nastodamaus—fortune-tellers—people who foretell the future. That’s not really what the Bible means by prophecy. 

In the Bible, a prophet is someone who says what God says. They speak to the people for God. It might be about the future, or it might be about the past or present. A prophet speaks God’s Word—proclaims God’s Word. Paul says this is the gift we should most desire. This is why the primary thing we do when we come together as the church is gather around God’s Word and promises. Preaching through the Bible line by line seems to be the best way to not make a mess out of this whole thing.

We’ve seen a lot of ways that the church in Corinth was a mess—sexual weirdness out in the open, getting drunk at Communion, hoarding all the food, setting themselves into little cliques against each other. They were also making a mess out of the way they conducted themselves during worship. It was chaos. People yelling words of prophecy over the top of each other, singing and chanting and speaking in tongues like they were out of their mind, people jib-jabbering and having side conversations. Paul thought it sounded like a mess. They were especially obsessed with speaking in tongues.

For 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. On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. 1 Corinthians 14:2-3

Paul’s like, “I know you guys really love your speaking in tongues but come on! It might be fun but it’s not serving the church—no one can understand you.”

The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. 1 Corinthians 14:4

Speaking God’s Word builds up the whole church, speaking in tongues only builds up yourself. Since all the Holy Spirit’s gifts are meant to build up the church, I can’t help but hear that as a rebuke.

But Paul doesn’t forbid tongues. He just wants it to be in its proper place—and he wants to be clear that speaking God’s Word in a way that is understood by everyone is far more important. 

Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up. Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? 

If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played? And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? 1 Corinthians 14:5-8

He compares speaking in tongues to somebody trying to play a musical instrument when they don’t know what they’re doing—like a three-year-old with one of those plastic recorders, just blasting the same note over and over until everyone’s ears bleed. The kid’s like, “Do you like my song mommy?” And mommy’s like, “no, sweetie, that’s not a song, that’s an abomination.” 

There’s actually not much said about musical instruments being used in the early church. We know they were used in the Temple worship, and the Psalms talk about all kinds of instruments. But the Pharisees and the synagogues didn’t allow the playing of musical instruments on the Sabbath so that kinda killed it for most people. A lot of the early churches first started meeting in the synagogues, so that might have had something to do with it. The pagan temples had all kinds of music though, and half the church in Corinth were Gentiles who wouldn’t have been influenced by the Pharisees. I think this reference to musical instruments shows they did in fact use them in worship but it was going to take about 300 years for the whole church to embrace using musical instruments in worship again.

So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air. 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. So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church. 1 Corinthians 14:9-12

How about that? If you’re really serious about being spiritual—how about doing something the Spirit God actually wants you to do? Build up the whole church.

Remember, “tongues” is just another word for “languages.” This has actually been a recurring problem in the church since the beginning. The liturgies in the Temple and in the Synagogues were spoken in Hebrew. It was considered God’s language—perhaps the language of angels. Problem was, most people didn’t speak Hebrew anymore. They spoke Greek, Aramaic, Latin or some other language. Very few people could understand Hebrew. If people wanted to sound super-spiritual, they would pray in Hebrew. Everyone might get goosebumps but hardly anyone would know what was being said. The same thing happened all over again once the church formalized all of its liturgies in Latin—people who didn’t know Latin had no idea what was being said in worship. The Roman Catholic Church continued to do its services in Latin until the 1960s! Even though Latin had officially been a dead language since the 6th century. The German Lutherans did the same thing when they came to America. People like their spiritual traditions. We like things to sound spiritual to us. Paul says no, “when Christians gather for worship, make sure everyone can understand what’s being said.”

Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret. 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 Corinthians 14:13-15

This always reminds me of those worship songs that have “na na na na” or “la la la la” verses. Or even “Hallelujah” sections. We are praising with our spirit, musically, emotionally—but if we don’t know what we’re saying, our mind is kinda left on the sidelines.

Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say “Amen” to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying? 1 Corinthians 14:16

If I asked Valentin to lead us in a prayer, and he busted out in Romanian—it might sound really cool. But before we all say AMEN, we should probably ask him to repeat it again in English.

For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up. 1 Corinthians 14:17

Now Paul’s going to do that thing he does when he wants to drop the mic. He’s going to take the thing they think is so special about themselves and make it look common. “You think you’re so super-spiritual because you speak in tongues, well…”)

I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue. 1 Corinthians 14:18-19

Listen to what he’s saying: When we come together to worship God, it’s not supposed to be about getting our spiritual jollies. It’s supposed to be for the mutual building up of the rest of the congregation.

Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. (Stop being childish.) Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature. (I think Paul is accusing them of the opposite—being infantile in their thinking and really, really accomplished in the fine art of sinning.) 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.” (By the Law, he means the Old Testament, and he quotes from Isaiah talking about how the Gentiles would end up being the ones telling the Jews what God wants them to know. Which was already happening in Paul’s day for sure. The Gentiles were receiving the message of the Gospel and running with it.) Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers. (Tongues always has the connotation of Acts chapter two and Pentecost where people spoke the Gospel in all the languages of the nations—so tongues was for unbelievers. But apparently, the way they were doing it wasn’t working like that. They were speaking ecstatically in unknown tongues making a big chaotic mess. So he goes on...) If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds? (They were missing the whole point.) 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 Corinthians 14:20-25

Sometimes people get hung up on whether the gathering of the church for worship is just for glorifying God, or primarily for the building up of the congregation, or is it supposed to be for the purpose of sharing the Gospel with the lost. Let me read that last line again…

But if all prophesy, (speak the Word of God) and an unbeliever or outsider enters, (so yes, we are to take into consideration that unbelievers might be present) he is convicted by all, (the unbeliever hears the Word of God and is convicted by it. Cut to the heart. Challenged.) he is called to account by all, the secrets of his heart are disclosed, (God calls the unbeliever to repentance—no manipulation tricks needed, the Word of God is Alive and Powerful) and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you. (This is all a work of the Spirit. God’s Word is spoken, and the dead are brought to life. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of Christ. Right where they are. In their seat. No altar calls or sinner’s prayers necessary. So yes, we glorify God, we build each other up, and we proclaim the Word of God so that unbelievers can understand it.)

What then, brothers? (He’s talking to the leaders now. So what are they supposed to do with all this information?) 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. (He’s not forbidding them from speaking in tongues but he’s drastically slowing their roll.) Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. (Let two or three at the most people speak the Word of the Lord. This sounds a lot like a Bible study to me. Guided by the Holy Spirit, driven by love and building each other up. This next part sounds like Paul had been to some Bible studies where people liked to hear themselves talk...) If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged, and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. (Don’t talk over each other.) For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. 1 Corinthians 14:26-33

I continue to get the idea that the church in Corinth was all gas and no brakes. All fire and no fireplace. We’re excited! Just burn down the house! Paul says, “no.” Control yourself. Be kind to one another. Be considerate to one another. You know, love one another. 

And then there’s this next verse. I’m going line by line so I have to cover it—but you’re not going to like it...

As in all the churches of the saints, 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. ! Corinthians 14:34-35

What do we do when we come across something in the Bible that we don’t like? Do we ignore it? Take a Sharpie and redact it? Do we assume we’re more enlightened with our modern sensibilities and the poor ancient Neanderthals who wrote Scripture were blinded by their cultural presuppositions? Do we stand above God’s Word and choose what parts to keep and what parts to toss out?

We believe the Bible is God’s inspired Word. Infallible. Without error. That it’s alive and powerful. If we find ourselves struggling with a chunk of text, we need to keep struggling. It might not be obvious to us but when we disagree with God, He’s the one who is right and we are the one who is wrong. Every time. We have to let the Bible jack with us.

“Women should keep silent in the churches. They are not permitted to speak.” 1 Corinthians 14:34

I don’t know what to do with this verse. It’s a hard one. I mean, it’s not hard to understand—it seems pretty dang clear. Too clear. That’s the problem.

We also have to let Scripture interpret Scripture. This is the only place in the whole Bible that says this—so, it would be unwise to build a big theological deal out of it. Like we’re not going to put muzzles on all the ladies to keep their mouths shut in church. Some have probably tried. That would be stupid.

In other passages, we find the women in the church singing, praying, prophesying, taking part in discussions, encouraging the men—you see what I’m saying? All the worship moments led by women like Miriam, Hannah, and Deborah. Think about all the conversations Jesus had with various women in the Gospels. The roles they played in His ministry. 

So I don’t know what to do with this passage. Maybe the ladies in Corinth were so out of control Paul had to really put his foot down. Maybe this is about pastoral leadership and the different roles that men and women play in the church. God did create us male and female for a reason—and they are His reasons, not ours. We might not get it. 

The way we honor this verse in our church body is by limiting the role of preacher to men—we don’t have female pastors. We let other Scriptures about the roles of men and women in church leadership inform how we read this one. Maybe that’s an overstep in interpretation. Maybe it’s not going far enough. Maybe one day we’ll have to repent one way or the other. God’s kindness will lead us to repentance and we will be shown mercy because of Jesus. 

But to anyone who sees a chunk of Scripture and thinks, “Meh. I don’t like that and I don’t believe it. I don’t think God would be so… whatever.” Funny how people always expect God to agree with their personal opinions. Well, I got a verse for them, too...

Or was it from you that the word of God came? Or are you the only ones it has reached? (I think Paul was anticipating some pushback, he continues in his most sarcastic tone...) 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. If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized. 1 Corinthians 14:36-38

Anyone who thinks they can pick and choose the parts of the Bible they’re going to recognize or not recognize—what commands of the Lord they’re going to obey or not—well, Paul says he’s not going to recognize them. A prophet says what God says, they don’t make up their own Scriptures. 

So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But all things should be done decently and in order.  1 Corinthians 14:39-40

They were making a mess of their little church during worship. They thought they were so spiritual. A bunch of them speaking in tongues, sounding like lunatics. A bunch of them yelling prophesies at each other, over each other. Some of the women sitting in a corner picking everything apart. They were all doing whatever they wanted. Getting their spiritual kicks. Riding an emotional wave.

We would never do any of those things, right? Go to church to build ourselves up. Sing our favorite songs, the way we like to sing them. Look for a church where we like the preacher or teacher because of how insightful they are, or funny, or how they make us feel. It’s all about us, really. We show up when we want to. We don’t when we don’t. We also keep our eyes peeled for the next new shiny church—where we don’t have any baggage and we can start over. Maybe they’ll have a bigger, better children’s ministry, or softball team, or more people like me. Maybe they have a prettier sanctuary with stained glass, or impressive AV productions and lights. Maybe their band is cuter and plays more hits from KSBJ—maybe they have a massive pipe organ and rock the classic hymns. Maybe they ignore the same Scriptures we like to ignore. 

We could summarize what Paul said in these last few chapters like this: When you come together to worship God, let His Word jack with you, convict and comfort you, do whatever you can to build each other up, love one another, serve one another. Don’t just show up to get your Jesus groove on.

Sometimes people say NewChurch isn’t enough this or enough that. We’re not smiley, plastic churchtopia for some. Smile more, Frank! We’re not liturgical enough for some people, not spontaneous enough for others. We do too many hymns and written prayers for some and not enough popular worship music and extemporaneous prayer for others. 

How about this. How about if we all just show up and worship God and love people. A lot of people need to know about the love and grace of God that’s only found in Jesus Christ. So, how about if we come here on Sunday, gather around God’s Word and promises, sing about His Holiness and mercy—and hold each other up as best we can while we’re doing it. And pray that He uses NewChurch to constantly renew us as a congregation—that you are reminded every week that He really loves you and wants you in His family—and that we’ll be able to reach new people with that same Gospel. As we do things decently and in order, that unbelievers will join us, fall on their face, worship God and declare that God is really among you. AMEN

Prayer: 

Father in heaven, we are living in anxious times; some of us are very tired and worn thin. Give us strength, Lord. Help us to not give up! Fill us with the steadfast love and inexhaustible consolation of Jesus. His resources are never depleted. His care for us only increases as times become dire and as the end of this age draws near. May the Word of Christ dwell in us richly. Encourage us, and help us to encourage each other. Help us bear each other’s burdens. Love each other. Help us bring the light of Jesus to all the people in our community who are struggling in the darkness of this fallen world. Lord, You have given us NewChurch, each other, for exactly such a time as this. AMEN