Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Corinthians 14:20-33.  Here is a link to this Scripture –

 

 

We will focus on the following verses 26 through 33. 

 

“²⁶ What is the outcome then, brethren?  When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation.  Let all things be done for edification.  ²⁷ If anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be by two or at the most three, and each in turn, and one must interpret;  ²⁸ but if there is no interpreter, he must keep silent in the church;  and let him speak to himself and to God.  ²⁹ Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others pass judgment.  ³⁰ But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, the first one must keep silent.  ³¹ For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted;  ³² and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets;  ³³ for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.”  1 Corinthians 14:26-33.

 

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Edification, which is the building up of the church, continues to be the theme of 1 Corinthians Chapter 14.  Today’s Scripture contrasts disorganized speaking in tongues with organized clear teaching.

 

Although we may not be tempted in Reformed and Presbyterian churches to allow such disorganized speaking in tongues in our services (or any speaking in tongues, whatsoever, for that matter), we can learn from a more general principle taught here that all things should be done for edification.  “Let all things be done for edification.”:  “so that all may learn and all may be exhorted”.

 

Thus, even though there may not be the temptation for a minister or teacher to allow such speaking in tongues, I do see the temptation for a minister or teacher to get carried away by his own “cuteness” or “cleverness”.  He may inappropriately try to be funny.  He may inappropriately try to show off his own knowledge or otherwise focus on himself. 

 

“Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.”  Ephesians 4:29

 

And, I also can see that today’s Scripture may wrongly be used by some to argue for a “free for all” that everyone should be allowed to teach in a worship service.  Although we can give more opportunity for teaching and other participation in Sunday School classes, today’s Scripture needs to be considered with other Scripture which would limit such teaching.  As just one example, even in the very next verse after today’s Scripture, we read:  “The women are to keep silent in the churches;  for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says.”  1 Corinthians 14:34.

 

But, even more generally, we should consider Scripture such as the following Ephesians 4:11-16.  We can clearly see that this following Scripture also focuses on the common goal of edification of the church, but we also clearly see that apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers are given for “the building up of the body of Christ”.  We should trust their leadership and not use Scripture such as today’s Scripture to force our way into teaching in the worship service.

 

“¹¹ And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, ¹² for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;  ¹³ until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.  ¹⁴ As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;  ¹⁵ but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, ¹⁶ from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.”  Ephesians 4:11-16. 

 

In summary, let us be careful that all things be done for edification.  Whether we are a minister considering our choice of words in a sermon, let not our goal to be funny or clever or cute.  Or, whether we are a lay person in a Sunday School class, let us not be eager to just blurt something out.  For all of us, let our words be only those which are “good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.”   Ephesians 4:29.