If You Are Going To Do It, This Is The Way TO Do It

No Church is without its problems. Some have more problems than others. Some rarely have problems while some churches are always having problems. Recently someone told me about a fellow marooned on a deserted island. After several years of living alone on the island he was rescued. When his rescuers came ashore they noticed that there were three huts on the island. He was asked, "What is that hut?" He said, "Oh, that is my house." He was asked about the second hut. "That is where I go to church." Then he was asked about the third hut and he said, "That is where I used to go to church."

Some people can't get along with themselves, much less a group of people. It is no wonder that churches often have problems. As we have seen, the church of Corinth was no exception. It had more than its share of problems. For several weeks we have been looking at one of their problems and it was a problem concerning spiritual gifts. There was much confusion about spiritual gifts so Paul devotes three chapters to the subject. They were especially confused when it came to the matter of speaking in tongues. They were confused about the purpose of speaking in tongues, the practice of speaking in tongues, and as we shall see in this study, the procedure for speaking in tongues.

In the passage before us Paul ends his discussion of spiritual gifts and does so by giving the Corinthian's certain regulations to be observed in their churches when it came to spiritual gifts and in particular, speaking in tongues. We read in verse 40, "Let all things be done decently and in order." In other words, things were to be done right and according to Biblical truth. As we look at the final verses of chapter 14 we see that Paul dealt with order in the Church and had orders for the Church.

1. THE ORDER IN THE CHURCH PAUL DEMANDED

We read in verse 26, "How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying." Paul takes us on a visit to the services at the Church of Corinth. Paul uses a series of words to describe several practices in their services. The word "Psalms" speaks of reading or singing a Psalm. No doubt the Psalms were the hymnbook of the Corinthian Church. Most of the Psalms were actually songs that were sung by the Jewish people. It is possible that the Corinthians sang the Psalms in their services or read when the people gathered for worship.

The word "doctrine" no doubt indicates that in the service some Bible doctrine or Biblical subject was discussed and declared. Doctrine should always be a part of our worship. The preaching of God's Word and the teaching of God's Word should always be a part of our services.

The words "tongues, revelation, interpretation" all speak of the common practice of spiritual gifts in their services. In every service people used their gifts to minister to those present.

But the unusual thing about the services at Corinth is that all of this was being done by several people and all at the same time. Paul usage of the phrase "every one of you" indicates that all these things were being done at the same time. Can you imagine going to Church everyone in the choir were singing one song, and at the same time all our special singers were singing, each their own song, all the preacher boys were preaching, all the teachers were teaching, along with everyone else shouting and praising the Lord. That would be interesting to say the least. Well, that is about what was going on in the Corinthian Church.

You had some singing, others preaching, and still others speaking in tongues and all of it at the same time. No wonder some that visited the church that they were mad (Vs.23). To say the least it was utter chaos and confusion. It would be impossible for anyone to really get anything out of the services so Paul declares, "Let all things be done unto edifying." It was this confusion and chaos that Paul addresses and it largely had to do with speaking in tongues (the false practice of speaking on tongues). Twice we find that Paul encourages "silence" (Vs.28,34). The word is very strong meaning absolute silence. As you look at what Paul said it is clear there were a couple of things Paul wanted stopped in their services.

A. A SILENCE THAT RELATED TO GIFTS

Notice verses 27-28, "If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. [28] But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God." Paul first speaks to the matter of speaking in tongues. In the Corinthian Church, as is often the case today, many were speaking in tongues at the same time. As we have seen, it was to the Corinthian's, a exercise of worship. I can see the congregation standing to their feet with their hands lifted, their eyes closed, praying and praising in tongues.

First, Paul declares such a practice is out of order. He tells us in verse 27 that the most that could speak in tongues in a service was three, preferably two. Even then, it was not to be at the same time but in "course." The word describes speaking in turn, one following another.

I have seen many services and programs on TV where people were speaking in tongues but I have never seen this procedure observed. It is usually the majority speaking in tongues. It is never one, then the second, and at the most three. It is usually hundreds and all at the same time. If such a practice were followed it would drastically alter how modern day charismatics do things. Yet, it is very clear that this is the order that was demanded.

Furthermore, there was to be the interpretation of what was said by those speaking in tongues. It is interesting that Paul says, "let one interpret." His statement suggests that there was only one interpreter. At the most there could be three people who spoke in tongues but only one that interpreted what the three said.

In services that I have observed where people spoke in tongues, I have not only noticed a violation of how many could speak in tongues in a service, but I have yet to see a service where what people were saying in tongues was interpreted as Paul described. I have yet to see a service where one spoke in tongues and it was then interpreted, and the procedure followed each time someone spoke in tongues. Again, the lack of this procedure is a violation of the Biblical procedure of speaking in tongues.

Paul adds in verse 28 that if there is no interpreter there was to be no speaking in tongues. Again I point out the word "silence" is very strong, meaning absolute silence. Paul was saying, "If the interpreter doesn't show up or can't make the service, under no circumstances is anyone to speak in tongues. The regulation was simple. An interpreter could not exercise his gift unless there was a speaker, and a speaker should not exercise his gift without an interpreter. Paul says if no interpreter is present that the person should be silent and meditate and talk to God.

Notice carefully that in verse 27 the phrase "unknown tongue" is used. We have seen in our past studies that this is the key in chapter 14 to distinguishing between the false and real gift. Many believe that verse 27 is the only exception to the rule in the chapter, but in my opinion it is an attempt by Paul to put a stop to the Corinthian practice of speaking in tongues for he knew that what they were doing could not be interpreted, therefore an interpreter was of little value. I do not think he was condoning what they were doing by toning it down, but approaching it a way that he knew would stop it all together.

In verse 29 he deals with a real gift and that of the prophets, the one's who delivered God's revealed word to them. Basically the same regulations applied. Two or three, no more, could speak in a service. The implication is that they spoke by course as described in verse 27. In the case of speaking in tongues there was an interpreter, and when it came to the prophets there was a judge. This was the divine gift of discernment that enabled one to know if the word was really from God or not. You could not just get up and say, "God told me to tell you this." If God had told a person to say something, the one with the gift of discernment would know it. If not, he would know it. It was gift that provided a divine system of checks and balances in day when there was no written Word of God. We no longer need prophets to give us God's Word for we have God's Word in written form. We judge what a person says by what is written in the Bible.

We read in verse 30, "If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace." In most cases, a prophet spoke to the people about what God had revealed in the past. But if God gave new revelation to what was being said, then the person to whom the new revelation was given was to be given the floor. His word was the priority for the moment.

Notice verse 31, "For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted." Paul gives a reason for the regulations he has just described. When everyone was singing, preaching, talking at the same time no one was able to learn and be helped. But when there was only one speaking at a time, then people were able to hear, thus learn and be helped by what was said.

We read in verse 32, "And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets." The Corinthian practice of speaking in tongues was nothing more than being out of control emotionally. Paul speaking of the prophets indicates that they were to have control of their spirits. There was to be none of the out-of-mind experiences such as was going on. They were to be in control of what they were doing and saying. Why? We read in verse 33, "For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints." God was not behind the kind of confusion going on their services, neither does He approve of it nor is He the One responsible for it. He is a God of peace and order.

B. A SILENCE THAT RELATED TO GENDER

Paul not only addressed the matter concerning how tongues should be used in the church but also as to who could actually speak in tongues. The second time he tells someone to be silent involved women. Notice verse 34, "Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law."

Considering the context, Paul is saying that when it comes to speaking in tongues and prophesying, such gifts did not belong to women for they were gifts that did not fall into their role. Paul is not prohibiting women from speaking in church, but prohibiting them from speaking in a certain capacity that had been established by the law. From as early as Genesis the role of the woman was one of submission that is implied in the statement "under obedience." Paul is speaking directly to a woman usurping authority over man in spiritual things. Both the gift of speaking in tongues and prophecy involved the proclaiming of God's revelation of truth, therefore gifts limited to men, for if given to women, they would involve them exercising authority over men in spiritual matters.

Paul is not saying that a woman cannot teach or be a gifted leader but such gifts and abilities are not to be exercised over men in the services. It is not a matter of equality but a matter of God assigned roles. Apparently in Corinthian church many of those involved in prophesying or speaking in tongues were women (much like today). Paul is clear that when it came to prophesying or speaking in tongues the women were not permitted to practice such gifts, thus were to be absolutely silent in these areas.

We read in verse 35, "And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church." It would seem that in the Corinthian church there were some women that were not only abuser of these gifts but also blatant in their questioning of those who prophesied and what they were teaching. Paul says that if they have a question they should ask their husbands at home. Why? It was disgraceful (shame) for them to behave in such a matter.

Again, it was a matter of roles. We have seen what Paul said about the different roles in chapter 11. God has given men certain roles and women certain roles. One is not superior and the other inferior. It is a simple matter of how God established things. When it came to certain gifts and certain behavior in the church, Paul simply and plainly states that women are omitted.

Considering all that we have seen in this section that deals with spiritual gifts, if all we had was what we have in these 10 verses (Vs.26-35) it would make me look at many of the practices we see and hear about with great skepticism. If the procedures of verses 26-33 were followed most of what we see in charismatics circles would be stopped. Furthermore, if the instructions of verses 34-35 were followed it would practically bring most charismatic groups to a halt for the majority of those who practice speaking in tongues are women.

2. THE ORDERS FOR THE CHURCH PAUL DECLARED

As Paul concludes his discussion of spiritual gifts he gives them some firm instructions.

A. OBEY GOD'S WORD

We read in verses 36-38, "What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only? [37] If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. [38] But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant." It is almost like Paul recognizes that some are going to object to what he has said. He says in effect, "What? I can't believe that you would rebel against what I have told you." He then asks, "Did God's Word come from you or did it come to you?" The answer is obvious. They were not the author of God's Word. God was! God's word had come to them. Therefore, it was not a word for them to argue with but to obey.

In verse 37 Paul tells them that if they think they are a prophet or a spiritual person then realize that what he has said it more than his opinion. It is "the commandments of the Lord." What Paul has declared is what God commanded. Settled! Final! No argument! Obey it!

In verse 38 Paul speaks to them that were refusing to hear and learn from what he has said. In effect he says, "If you choose to remain ignorant, then remain ignorant." The implication is that the church should not recognize such a person as a spiritual leader to be listened to or followed. God's Word is our final authority. It is to be obeyed.

B. OBSERVE GOD'S WAYS

Then in verse 39 we read, "Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues." After speaking to a false practice and false gifts, simply concludes by saying, "Stop the false, practice the real." There was a true gift of speaking in tongues and that Paul is not condemning. The real gift should be recognized and allowed. But when it came to the other, there was no place for it in the church.

As a church, we should never be tolerate of anything that is not of God. If it is God's way for the church it should not be ignored or absent from the church. If it is not of God, then there is no place for it in the church under any conditions. If we are going to do it, this is the way it should be done. God's way and God's way only.