Scripture… As We Live It #1
This will be (I think) a new regular feature hear at The Assembling of the Church. The purpose of this feature is to get us to think about what Scripture says compared to how we actually live and what our traditions teach. Since I’m very interested in ecclesiology, many of these passages will deal with the church. But I will also include other Scriptures as well. I would love to see alot of interaction on these short posts.
So, without further ado, here is the first “Scripture… As We Live It“:
What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation find a place to sit, sing along with the band or choir, and listen to the preacher. Let all things be done for building up as prescribed by your leaders. (1 Corinthians 14:26 remix)
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I am a PhD student in biblical theology and a web developer. My interests include PHP and ecclesiology. My dissertation topic is the purpose of the gathering of the church in the New Testament. By God's grace, I try to live what I am learning about the church.
I’m sure all leaders would say that what they are doing is “for building up”. That’s kind of the sad thing about it all. There’s a denial of what is actually going on.
I actually was in a service one time where one person had sung, one had prayed, etc. and one of the leaders got up, and quoted this verse. He said, “When you come together, each one has a hymn — we had that…” etc. through the list. As if it were a checklist and one of each had to be done.
I wanted to laugh out loud — except I was at the piano playing and had to bite my tongue!
1Anyone who’s had the experience of being in Leadership knows what a blessing it is to be actively used by God. The one who contributes is the one who most often feels their faith come alive by the very act of being used by the Lord! By doing it all we “leaders” are robbing others of the same experience of being used by God that we get.
I think the best thing that could happen in the Church is if the “leaders” had to sit for a good extended period of time among all the others in the pews. They would quickly see why so many Christians are tired of their Church experience.
This tiny little scripture (1 Corinthians 14.26),if followed, has the power to revive the Church! Suddenly everyone has a part to play; they really are a Body in practice and not just principle, and things come alive! I’ve seen it many times!
But to live this requires leaders of a different sort. Are we willing to lay down our pride and
2have others be noticed rather than ourselves?
Alan,
I love the way you resemble a truffle dog, sniffing out the valuable nuggets.
It’s amazing that the crossed out version of 1 Corinthians 14:26, which you quote, seems to come from the same version used in this country.
As a result, through the official teaching institutions of the denominations, “trained” leaders have a mindset which causes them to equate faithfulness to Scripture with faithfulness to the peculiar teachings of the denomination, or institution in which they were trained.
In turn, the leadership of the denominations have come to be regarded as “the experts”(popes, bishops, etc.)who delineate what is the acceptable way to function, as well as which Scriptures have a line drawn through them.
The membership in the denominational churches, and some independent ones, have irresponsibly (in regard to what Scripture declares)allowed themselves to be convinced that “the leadership” are the magisterium (the ONLY ones who speak authentically, and infallibly in Christ’s name) and whom, alone, “know” what is good for them.
The priesthood of all believers has all but been smothered by the above, as leaders avoid discipling the congregations to be independent students of Scripture,and as result, sound, wise Bereans (Acts 17:11), who, in turn are individually equipped to make disciples.
As a result of this taught naivete and ignorance, the congregations have allowed appointments to leadership, local, state and national, to be based upon every humanistic reason conceivable, rather than Biblical criteria.
The sequence continues to repeat itself, and as a consequence, that little passage of Scripture becomes a threat to the authority and self-perceived high standing of those who are in leadership and will lead to a bloodied nose for those who would be faithful to it. Believe me ,I know!
3Steve,
I think in context, the “each ones” are controlled by the work of the Spirit through individuals. I wonder why leaders especially often feel that they can program these kinds of things…
Mike,
I agree… it is a great blessing to be used by God. And, it is a tempting thought to always put myself in the position of being seen as the one who is used by God. I’ve also found – as it seems that you’ve found – it is also a great blessing to see God using others, especially when God uses them to impact my life and the lives of my family and friends. I agree it takes humility, and its not always easy to trust God to do something that I know that I can do. Of course, what I know that I can do is not always what God wants to do…
Aussie John,
The “crossed out version” of 1 Corinthians 14:26 is how I’ve always been taught to understand that passage, and how I’ve always seen it lived out. I’m trying to relearn what this Scripture is teaching, and also trying to apply it. I’m glad that there are others who have come to the same conclusions.
-Alan
4It’s so funny, but so true. Sadly so. I don’t think we very often pay attention to what the Word actually says.
5Oh, Mark Galli, in “Jesus Wild and Mean” points out that when we read “love your neighbor as yourself,” we interpret that to mean “be nice to your neighbor as yourself.” Love isn’t always nice, is the point.
6Dan,
Thanks for the comment. I agree that we generally don’t pay attention to what Scripture actually says. Your example of “love your neighbor” is a great instance of Scripture as we live it.
-Alan
7Wow, I really haven’t been blogging enough lately. Busy! I love this series and hadn’t seen it – you’ve been at it for 2 weeks!
I will likely imitate this. It’s a great teaching tool.
8Bryan,
I hope you post some of them on your blog. I’d love to link to them.
-Alan
9Thanks for this Alan.
I read the latest blog entry number 13 in the series and looking at this first entry I can see so many similarities between this and how churches do church. I hope to get back to you on possible ways to do things differently.
I was thinking that even worse than following the leaders, the issue could be a church culture set by a denomination in a similar way that Jesus critiqued the Pharisees for placing traditions at the neglect of God’s commands. Some traditions and formats are so embedded in the church life that it’s actually easy to read what a verse actually says and not be convicted of the need for us to change in the light of it.
10Christopher (UR Man CD),
Thanks for the comment. You’re right. “Leaders” could mean those within a local congregation. Or “leaders” could mean denominational leaders.
-Alan
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