By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher
Text: 1
Corinthians 14:1-25
1
Corinthians 14:1
Pursue
love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you
may prophesy.
(ESV)
I often wonder if Jesus
or the Apostles would have used technology like mass media or social media to
spread the Gospel. Since these technologies were not available during the lives
of Jesus and the Apostles, we will never know. What we do know is that they
used the technological innovations of their time, like roads, the written word,
and sailing ships to deliver the Gospel to the known world at their time. We
can, therefore, safely assume they would have used whatever technology was available
to assist in spreading the Gospel. However, they would have never compromised the
principles of God’s word to spread the Gospel.
This passage begins with
a comparison between the Spiritual gifts of tongues and prophesy (1
Corinthians 14:1-5). Paul then asks the Corinthians to imagine if he had
come to them speaking in tongues instead of bringing them some revelation, knowledge,
prophecy, or teaching that benefits them (1
Corinthians 14:6). Paul likens coming to the Corinthians speaking in
tongues to a musical instrument like a flute, harp, or bugle playing indistinct
notes, with the listener unable to determine the tune played (1
Corinthians 14:7-8). Such is one speaking in tongues whose words are unintelligible
to the listener for the speaker is speaking a foreign language to them (1
Corinthians 14:9-11). Since the Corinthians have an eagerness for the
manifestations of the Spirit, Paul urges them to strive for the gifts that
excel in building up the Church (1
Corinthians 14:12).
One speaking in a tongue
must pray for interpretation so that the mind can become fruitful,
understanding what the speaker says (1
Corinthians 14:13-14). This leads to Paul wondering what he should do,
answering with praying and praising God with both his spirit and mind (1
Corinthians 14:15). If one gives thanks in their spirit in another tongue,
an outsider listening cannot join in the thanksgiving because they do not know
what the speaker says and are not built up (1
Corinthians 14:16-17). While Paul speaks in tongues more than any of the
Corinthians, he would rather speak five words with his mind than ten thousand
words in a tongue (1
Corinthians 14:18-19).
Paul urges the
Corinthians to not be childish in their thinking and instead be infants in evil
and mature in their thinking (1
Corinthians 14:20). In the Law it says that people of strange tongues will
speak to God’s people but that they will not listen, says the Lord (1
Corinthians 14:21). Tongues are a sign for unbelievers and not believers with
prophecy a sign for believers and not unbelievers (1
Corinthians 14:22). For example, tongues in Acts 2 were so the unbelievers
present in Jerusalem heard believers praise God in their own language, leading
to three thousand receiving Christ as their Savior. If the whole Church comes
together speaking in tongues, unbelievers present will say they are out of
their minds, another indication tongues are not for use in public assembly (1
Corinthians 14:23). However, if all in the Church prophesy, unbelievers or
outsiders entering the congregation are convicted by all and called to account
(1
Corinthians 14:24). The prophecies disclose the secrets of an unbeliever’s
heart leading to him or her falling on their face in worship to God, declaring
that God is really present
in the Church (1
Corinthians 14:25).
This passage begins with
Paul telling the Corinthians to pursue love and desire Spiritual gifts,
especially prophecy (1
Corinthians 14:1). However, the gift of prophecy spoken of in this passage
is not a foretelling of future events, but words offered to build up,
encourage, and offer consolation (1
Corinthians 14:3). Paul, one familiar with persecution (2
Corinthians 11:16-33) knew the Church would need building up,
encouragement, and consolation wanting the gift of prophecy to have the
position of a higher gift administered with love (1
Corinthians 12:31). This does not mean the gift of tongues is no longer
useful in the Church for even the Apostle Paul professes to speaking in tongues
more than the Corinthians (1
Corinthians 14:18). The issue is the proper application of the Spiritual
gifts with tongues beneficial in private unless there is an interpretation in
public, and prophesy beneficial in the public assembly.
The Church today has
tools at its disposal not present in the Church of Paul’s time such as mass media,
social media, and marketing using these media. While these media are valuable
tools the Church has at its disposal, they should not replace the tools given
to the Church by God (1
Corinthians 12:1-11). Since the gift of tongues applies privately, the use
of media and social media are not applicable in the administration of this
gift. It is different from the gift of prophecy because it is not private and benefits
from using mass media and social media in speaking words building up,
encouraging, and offering consolation. However, the words spoken must still be
in accordance with the Word of God because the gift of prophecy is a gift of
the Spirit, speaking words from God no matter what media is used to speak the
words (1
Corinthians 12:3-7). Leadership in the Church must make sure the
administration of the gift of the Spirit is for the glory of God and not used
as some slick marketing tool to increase church membership, attendance, and contributions
to the Church.
Using this media of a blog on the internet, I now want to
extend an invitation to anyone reading this post who has not prayed to receive
forgiveness of sins and the restoration of their relationship with God. In Romans 10:9,
Scripture states that if we confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord with belief
in our heart, a genuine belief, that God raised Jesus from the dead, we shall
be saved. I invite you to do this by praying with me and replying to this blog
post that you believe, a confession with your mouth through the keyboard.
Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans
3:23)
and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans
6:23). I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse
me as you promise in your Word (1
John 1:9). I believe
you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now
declare you Lord of my life.
May God challenge,
convict, and bless everyone reading this post.
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