Charismatic Confusion1 Corinthians 14:1-40

Adapted from a David Owens sermonhttp://www.sermoncentral.com/print_friendly.asp?SermonID=126636

“Overcoming Obstacles That Obstruct Obedience”

1 Corinthians 14:1 ESV Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially

that you may prophesy. 2 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. 3 On the other hand,

the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. 4 The one who speaks in a

tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.

5 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. 6 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? 7 If

even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will

anyone know what is played?

8 And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? 9 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. 10 There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning, 11 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.

12 So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in

building up the church. 13 Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may

interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. 15 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.

16 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? 17 For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up. 18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19 Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in

a tongue.

20 Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking

be mature. 21 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." 22 Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign

not for unbelievers but for believers.

23 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? 24 But if all

prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to

account by all, 25 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.

26 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. 27 If any

speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. 28 But if there is no one to interpret,

let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God.

29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. 30 If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be

silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged, 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, 34 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. 35 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. 36 Or was it from you that the word of God came? Or are

you the only ones it has reached?

37 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. 38 If anyone does not recognize this,

he is not recognized. 39 So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But all things should

be done decently and in order.

One Sunday, a Sunday school teacher asked the children a question just before she

dismissed them to go into the worship service, “And why is it necessary to be quiet in

church?” Little Johnny replied, “Because people are sleeping.”

I think it is ironic and humorous that parents cannot wait until their babies can talk, but then once they can talk, their biggest challenge is keeping them from talking through worship.

Many a child has been “shushed” during church.

Many a child’s first memory of worship is being told to be quiet.

Some preachers have jokingly said the reason they became a preacher was so that they

could talk during worship.

Although I have begun with a humorous take on the need to be quiet in worship, it is actually

a serious matter.Do you realize that it was such a problem at Corinth that Paul had to give them rules for

talking in church?Having laid the groundwork in chapters 12 and

13, Paul now addresses the problem of the Corinthian’s worship in more specific terms

here in chapter 14.

It appears that some of the Corinthians considered themselves gifted with wisdom and

knowledge, and were placing inordinate emphasis on the gift of tongues.

They believed that their ability to speak in tongues was the ultimate sign of spiritual

power and authority.

The Chaos at Corinth

Worship in the Corinthian church had fallen into disorderly confusion as various members

were speaking simultaneously and unintelligibly, and were perhaps even

competitively seeking to outdo one another.Additionally, there was some kind of confusion that was being brought about by some of the women who were somehow calling out in the middle of the service to question either their

husbands, or the leader of the worship.

Perhaps they were even trying to direct the proceedings.

All in all, it wasn’t a pretty sight and it wasn’t doing anyone any good – not the members or

the visitors.

So Paul tackles the problem with the instructions he lays out in this chapter.

If you think about it, the situation did pose a difficult problem for Paul.

Paul, obviously, firmly believed in the gifts of the Spirit.

He, himself, had a number of the gifts, and believed that God wanted those gifts

employed in the worship of the first century church.

But the challenge was how to create order in the church’s worship without squelching the

Spirit.

His inspired solution set forth in this chapter insists love requires the gifts be used for

building up the community.

Consequently, intelligible speech is necessary in the assembly for the common good.

Unintelligible tongues must be either interpreted or reserved for evangelism and/or

private prayer.

Ultimately, Paul was not trying to put down tongues, but he was trying to counteract the

excessive valuation and undisciplined practice of tongue-speaking in worship at Corinth.

At the same time, Paul urged his readers to desire the gift of prophecy.

19 Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to

instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

It is important that we understand what tongues and prophesy are as spiritual gifts.

The gift of tongues referred to the supernatural

ability to speak a language not native to the speaker and not learned through normal

educational processes.

It, therefore, was speaking, praying or singing in an unlearned language.

When manifest, it’s meaning would not be known unless someone was present who naturally knew the language or who had a

corresponding supernatural gift of interpretation.

22 Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign

not for unbelievers but for believers.

When Paul says this I think he is saying that the gift of tongues was given primarily for the

purpose of evangelism.

The gift of tongues allowed one person to tell others about Jesus in their own language.

That’s what happened in Acts 2 on the day of Pentecost.

Imagine how your attention would be drawn and faith would be established if someone who

did not know your language was able to tell you the gospel in your own language.

The gift of prophesy is not necessarily future telling, as our English word tends to imply.

Prophesy was primarily speaking or proclaiming a message from God.

This could have meant relaying a vision or dream or some other special revelation from

God, or just a particular insight into the teachings of Christ.

It is not simply composing and preaching a sermon, it’s inspired speaking.

I think you can see why Paul says that prophesy is for believers.

It provides the ongoing instruction needed for the church.

We have to keep in mind the New Testament Scriptures had not been completed and are

therefore not available for the church to study and learn from.

That’s why I believe that the miraculous gifts were present in the first century but are no

longer active.

Throughout the entire chapter looms the theme of building up the church.

The Greek noun and verb that mean “to build up” or “up-building” occur 7 times in this

chapter.One of the guiding principles in Christian

worship must be what verse 26 says.26 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.

Chapter 14 falls into two major parts.In verses 1 – 25, Paul argues for prophesy over tongues as the means for edification in

the church.

Then in the second part, verses 26-40, Paul gives specific guidelines for orderly worship.

Paul argues that the possessors of charismatic gifts are able to control their gifts.

They don’t all have to speak at once; they can take turns.

And, if there is no one to interpret, then the tongues speakers shouldn’t speak.

What would be the purpose if no one present can be built up by it?

Let me say something about verses 34 and 35, where Paul says something about women

speaking in the church.

First of all, these have been very controversial verses for many, many years.

I wish we could invite Paul to come and do a seminar and explain what he meant when he

wrote these verses, as well as the verses back in chapter 11, and in 1 Timothy 2.

I won’t pretend to think that I can be the one to say the definitive word about what Paul meant.

Certainly, this is a tough word to hear in the age in which we live.

Some have tried to suggest that Paul was a male chauvinist and a women hater.

Others have defended him by saying that he didn’t write this, rather it was inserted later by

uninspired others, whomever they were.Others have taken it at face value and have

sought to implement it as literally as possible.

I do believe that it was written by Paul, and that it had both something to say specifically to

the issue at hand, and something to say in principle for all time.

Certainly, Paul didn’t see it as the only and final statement he would make on the question

of a woman’s role in worship.

If so, I’m sure he would have addressed the question much more thoroughly.

Let me give you a brief description of three of the more employed interpretations of this

passage.

1 Corinthians 11:3 ESV But I want you to understand that the head of every man is

Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.

Some maintain that in light of 1 Corinthians 11:3, there is a God-ordained order that is to

be the basis for administration and authority in the church and in the home.

Women are to be in submission to their husbands both at home and in the church

regardless of their particular culture. According to this view, a timeless order was established at creation that specifies specific roles for men and women in the home and in

the church.

A second view maintains that Paul’s concern is that the church be strengthened by believers

showing respect for others and for God as they exercise their spiritual gifts.

Such respect must necessarily take account of accepted social practices.

If within a particular social order, it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in church, then she shows disrespect by doing so and

should remain silent.

According to this view, there were occasions even in Paul’s culture for women to speak in church – for example in 1 Corinthians 11:5 , her praying and prophesying must be done with her head

covered.

1 Corinthians 11:5 ESV but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were

shaven.

So Paul’s purpose, therefore, was not to define the role of women, but to establish a fitting and

orderly way for them to worship.

A final view says that in this context Paul was discussing primarily the disruption of worship

by women who become involved in noisy discussions or clamoring for explanations.

Therefore, Paul was not forbidding women to speak in church, he was just forbidding the

disorderly speaking they were doing there at Corinth.

Instead of interrupting the worship, the women were to ask their husbands at home.

Although I believe that here in chapter 14 Paul is addressing a specific problem of disorder

with regard to women at Corinth, it is interesting to me that he begins with the statement, 33 For God is not a God of

confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints, 34 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.

So whatever the principle is, in Paul’s mind it applies across the board in all the churches –

Gentile and Jewish, in Judah and in Asia Minor.

Overall I personally believe that the roles of men and women are to be different.

As Paul addressed the issues of women’s roles in both 1 Corinthians 11 and in 1 Timothy 2, he did not mention the concern of culture,

but only the concern of creation.Therefore, I believe God reserves the roles of leadership and instruction in worship for men.

That may be a more conservative interpretation than you are comfortable with.

I do not claim to understand all of God’s reasons, but consider the OT priests – the only men in Israel who could be priests were from the tribe of Levi, descendants of Aaron, that meant only a very small portion of Israelite

men could be priests. That may not seem fair, but that was God’s

will.I may be wrong, and I wish Paul could come

an explain himself, but that is a brief explanation of my present, personal

understanding.

I would like to leave you with five words that emerge from this chapter of Scripture that will

help us apply these truths to our lives.Word One – Intentionality

Worship is not something that happens by accident.

It’s intentional in nature.

The Application atLindley Christian Church

We are instructed to neglect not the assembling of ourselves together.

Hebrews 10:24 ESV And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing

near.Individualism in spiritual matters is a dead end.Spiritual growth comes by worshiping with the body and by being in relationship with brothers

and sisters in Christ.

Certainly our private devotions and private attention to spiritual disciplines are essential,

but they are not meant to replace what happens when the church comes together.

We must be intentional about coming together to worship, and we must be clear about whom we are worshiping and how we are worshiping.

I urge all of us to be intentional about our worship, and even when we are away from home, our intention should be to gather with

God’s people for worship.

Word Two – Participation

As we come together, each of us must have something to offer in worship.

It may not be our role to lead in the worship, but all of us are to participate in the worship.

All of us are called to be involved, none of us are to be just spectators.

Our minds and hearts are to be engaged in the worship whether we are listening to Scripture

and preaching, or whether we are participating in the prayer, singing, or Lord’s Supper.

Are there times when you notice people who are not singing or don’t seem to be engaged in

the worship?None of us can judge what is going on in

another person’s heart and mind, but it seems that they are not participating as God would

want and that’s not good.

Worship is an exercise that requires our attention and effort.

And even if we don’t consider ourselves to be good singers, we can sing and make music in

our hearts to the Lord.

Our presence with our brothers and sisters also offers numerous opportunities for

participation as we minister to one another.

Word Three - Edification

Edification is a word that has largely lost its meaning in our time.

It sounds a bit sanctimonious.All edification really means is the building up of

the church.As we gather with the body we should come

ready to give and to serve.

What we have to offer may be as simple as a smile or a hug, or may be as significant as a

prayer or a word of encouragement.

I would also challenge you to reach out of your circle of friends and be sure to welcome our

visitors and get to know other members of the church you are not as close to.

As someone who does most of the preaching here, let me say something about my concern

that my sermons are edifying.During the past several decades here in the United States, there has been a shift in the

expectations of people with regard to preaching.

Too often the expectation is that the preacher be funny.

How many times have you heard someone talking about a preacher they’ve heard say, “Isn’t he a great speaker? He is so funny!”

I struggle with this every week.

I want to minister to you in a way that edifies – meaning that you are built up constructively.

I certainly don’t want to be a bore!

I would love every Sunday to tell some emotional story that makes you feel good or

brings tears to your eyes.

But there is more to edification than just making people feel good or touching their

emotions.There are words of correction and challenge

that need to be spoken.And there is a need to teach about subjects

and passages that might not meet your specific need at this time.

What doesn’t meet your need, may very well meet someone else’s need.

As we come into this political season, let me say something about my responsibility and our responsibility as leaders and teachers, we are called by God to build up the church spiritually.

My job is to help you become more & more like Jesus by studying His Word. Knowing Him & His Word will direct your conscience at the

poll booth.

Although we can be modeling good citizenship, it is not our place to politicize the

church or the pulpit.

Each Christian must follow their conscience with regard to involvement in the political

process – for some that may mean running for office, for others it may mean not even voting.

None of us should attempt to dictate political positions in the church.

One final word about edification – we can’t be edified if things are not understandable.Whatever we do or teach should be as

understandable as possible to the largest number of people possible.

Even the songs we sing should be understandable and should be designed to teach the truth, worship God and build each

other up.

Word Four – Order

One of the key elements in chapter 14 is Paul’s appeal to order.

33a For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.

40 But all things should be done decently and in order.

This has been an age-old struggle in the church – how to find the right balance between

order and ardor (passion).There are some churches that stress ardor

over order, with visible expressions of emotions, even physical involvement in the

waving of arms, rolling in the aisles, and jumping in place.

Paul would say that worship that is chaotic and confusing is not edifying.

So to err on the side of order and understandability is better than to err on the

side of confusion and disorder.The worship gathering of God’s people is not

to be a free for all.The worship of God’s people should be

characterized by thoughtful preparation and thoughtful participation – our minds and our

spirits are to be engaged. Everything is to be done decently and in order.

Word Five – Love

All these words and all our actions are to be undergirded by love.

Paul begins the chapter, “Pursue love.”

If we really love God and love each other then we will only do what is best and up-building for

each other.

As we come together as a church, let us remember that our primary focus is to be on

God.As we come together as a church, let us

remember that we must desire to build one another up.

And as we come together as a church, let us be motivated and guided by love.

May God help us follow the way of love – the most excellent way!