Is it orderly, balanced
and appropriate?
We have seen that 1 Corinthians
14v26 is addressed to the leaders of the church, requiring them to be ordered
in their contributions to the worship service.
Four powerful words appear in
this chapter, laying down the Lord’s rules for harmonious worship, and
how those who are properly appointed to lead should put the service together.
The first of these words is
in 1 Corinthians 14v33 – ‘For God is not the author of confusion, but of
peace, as in all churches of the saints.’ In our English translation
it may appear that Paul is simply correcting clamour and commotion.
But that is not what he has in mind. The Greek word translated ‘confusion’
describes a situation in which people act on their own. It covers
uncoordinated individualism (even including anarchy).
The Greek word is the negative
form of the verb ‘to place down’, or to appoint. In other words,
God is not the author of uninhibited free expression. He is not the
author of anything which is not placed down, arranged, appointed.
He desires an ordered, thoughtful, led approach. He does not want
public worship which is not thought about and ordered. This verse,
therefore, condemns service-leaders who arrange things as they go along.
It also condemns a free-for-all service.
Obviously, there are exceptions.
A prayer meeting for the ‘inner circle’ of the church will be composed
of many contributions which have not been pre-arranged. But the prayer
meeting has a special warrant of its own in the New Testament. It
is different from a worship service. *
The second great worship word
in 1 Corinthians 14 is ‘peace’. Paul says – ‘For God is not the author
of confusion, but of peace.’ The Greek word does not refer to the
peace of the countryside, but peace as opposed to war or separation.
It is derived from the Greek verb ‘to join’. The component parts
of the service fit together. It is harmonious, not a collection of
unconnected fragments.
A ‘joined-together’ service
This does not necessarily mean
that we put together what is often called a thematic service of worship,
in which every hymn, reading and prayer tracks the theme soon to be covered
in the sermon. It means that all the biblical components of worship
are joined into a harmonious whole. Is there objective praise?
Is there confession? Is there subjective thanksgiving? Are
great doctrines extolled? Is there doctrine, instruction, teaching?
And is there also application, sifting of hearts, and devotion? Is
there a place for intercession? Are all these elements represented
in a ‘joined-together’ service? This, says Paul, is what the Lord
requires.
The third significant worship
word in 1 Corinthians 14 appears in verse 40 – ‘Let all things be done
decently.’ The Greek word literally means ‘well formed’. It
must first be well-shaped, and secondly it must be suitable (appropriate)
for its purpose.
This confirms and consolidates
the previous point. The service must be well formed. It must
be balanced and well proportioned.
We may imagine a potter working
on a lump of clay, shaping it with his hands as the table rotates.
He has a firm grasp of how to achieve a well formed item of pottery.
He does not make the top too big, or the base. It is properly balanced.
It is made ‘decently’, or well formed.
A service of worship should
not only contain all the right components, but these must be blended in
the right proportion. The service is not an entertainment, but a
balance of intelligent spiritual themes.
It must also be appropriate
for sacred things, not worldly and profane things. It must be reverent
in character. It is not appropriate for a minister or other worship
leader to project his personality, or behave as a master of ceremonies.
That is not fitting.
The fourth important worship
word also in verse 40. Paul says, ‘Let all things be done decently
and in order.’ This is a powerful term, speaking of the need for
a regular arrangement or specified order.
When the word is applied to
an army, if refers to the fixed arrangement of men into ranks, formations,
and battle dispositions, according to the plans of the generals.
In Luke 1v8 the word is used to describe how Zacharias carried out his
Temple duties in accordance with the prescribed sequence – the order.
Order in worship, means that
services are arranged according to the rules and pattern of the Bible.
Everything is conformed to these. Obviously the word must not be
pressed to the point of absurdity, for the apostles did not read manuscripted
sermons, or write liturgies. However, the word order tells us that
a congregation gladly embraces and submits to a style of worship given
by God. Innovation is out. Gimmickry is out. Exhibitionism
is out. Entertainment is out.
Reverence is in, along with
all the components of worship which our Heavenly General has commanded.
‘Order’ spells obedience to God.
To test the contents of a service
we should ask – Is it in the Bible? What would the Lord say?
Can we imaging Paul doing it?
Four words – four standards
These four terms prove that
a service of worship should be well planned, harmonious, well proportioned,
fitting, and in conformity with God’s rules. Open and informal worship
is not right. A service must be led by a responsible person, and
not be a celebration or performance of musical exhibitionism.
* See The
Power of Prayer Meetings, a Sword & Trowel booklet.
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