The Modern Way of Church Meeting

[Spiritus Naturae]

26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.
27 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.
28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.
29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.
30 If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.
31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.
32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law.
35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
36 What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?
37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.
38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.
39 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
40 Let all things be done decently and in order.


How is it then, brethren? When ye come together the pastor hath a doctrine and the minister of music hath psalms. Let all things be done unto worship.
If anyone besides the pastor hath a doctrine, let him not speak; let him hold his peace. Let him sit in the pew and face the back of the neck of the person which sitteth ahead of him.
Let the people keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith church tradition. But if they will learn anything, let them ask their pastor after the service, for it is a shame for a layman to speak in the church. For the pastor, he hath a seminary degree, and the layman, he hath not so lofty a degree.
If any man desire to remain a church member in good standing let him acknowledge that what I write to you is the command of the denominational headquarters. But if any man ignore this, he shall be promptly escorted out the door by the ushers.
Wherefore brothers, covet not to speak in the church. Let all things be done decently and in the order in which it hath been written in the church bulletin.

[Solly]

Nice SN.

But...:teeth: I am not sure the Paul is commending the individualist self-seeking that is going on in Corinth, were everyone thinks they are 'spiritual' when actually they are 'carnal' and morals are shot to h***, disorder reigns among the sexes, leaders vie for each other, and everyone thinks they have something to say.
George Gardiner, in his The Corinthian Catastrophe points out that Paul may we be using irony here, as he does elsewhere in the letter, since the whole letter is a corrective, not just the early parts. Remember, he writes for them to regulate the prophets, and the tongues speekers, etc. 26 How is it then, brethren? ... But all things should be done decently and in order.

just a thought.

sllly

[Spiritus Naturae]

Nice SN.

But...:teeth: I am not sure the Paul is commending the individualist self-seeking that is going on in Corinth, were everyone thinks they are 'spiritual' when actually they are 'carnal' and morals are shot to h***, disorder reigns among the sexes, leaders vie for each other, and everyone thinks they have something to say.
George Gardiner, in his The Corinthian Catastrophe points out that Paul may we be using irony here, as he does elsewhere in the letter, since the whole letter is a corrective, not just the early parts. Remember, he writes for them to regulate the prophets, and the tongues speekers, etc. 26 How is it then, brethren? ... But all things should be done decently and in order.

just a thought.



:hehe:

This was of course all very tongue in cheek on Mr. Entrekin's part. But I will check out that book you mention.

I like the points that he alludes to, modern, traditional church has lost something along the way. :yes: The crux of understanding what Paul is addressing is perhaps in how one takes verse 26. Is it irony? Or perhaps Paul is stating how it should be? Laying out correction instead of allowing the free for all setting that one reads of. His wanting them to understand that all that they do must be for mutual edification, not the individuals ego. He doesnt say, "Dont do this anymore, people!" They are being 'chastised towards correction. Its like my argument with the Lords Supper and how it is presented today. The church at Corinth of course, like today, was heavily influenced in the secular, pagan culture in which it was birthed and unfortunately, like today, was influenced by the culture surrounding it rather than being the influence on the culture they should have been.

And I ramble as usual...

Jonathan

[Solly]

:hehe:

This was of course all very tongue in cheek on Mr. Entrekin's part. But I will check out that book you mention.

I like the points that he alludes to, modern, traditional church has lost something along the way. :yes: The crux of understanding what Paul is addressing is perhaps in how one takes verse 26. Is it irony? Or perhaps Paul is stating how it should be? Laying out correction instead of allowing the free for all setting that one reads of. His wanting them to understand that all that they do must be for mutual edification, not the individuals ego. He doesnt say, "Dont do this anymore, people!" They are being 'chastised towards correction. Its like my argument with the Lords Supper and how it is presented today. The church at Corinth of course, like today, was heavily influenced in the secular, pagan culture in which it was birthed and unfortunately, like today, was influenced by the culture surrounding it rather than being the influence on the culture they should have been.

And I ramble as usual...

Jonathan

I think the path is to be found somewhere betwen the free for all that can characterise Charismatics, Quakers, and some Baptists (historically), and the rigidly formalised setting of establishment churches were 'we have always done it this way.'
Take preaching. Notes, typescript or extempore? If one believes in the Spirit enabling a man to preach then it seems almost blasphemy to use any notes. In my old denomination it was a standing joke about the minister who was asked by the deacon in the vestry before the service what he was going to preach on. I don't know, i haven't even got my text yet, was the reply. Too often it was obvious the man 'got his text' on the pulpit steps.
OTOH, Jonathan Edwards wrote his sermons out longhand and read them. And revival started!!
The same goes for services. Do we wait on the Spirit to let rip? Yet how often do we find the same people saying the same things, choosing the same songs, giving the same prophecies?
My modus operandi in preaching was to study hard, write out as much as I felt I needed, then condense it into headings and cross references, and then preach it extempore, trusting to my leadings in the subject matter, and the impulses of the spirit to go another way if necessary - since I assumed he had given me the matter in the first place.
Churches should be the same. Decently and in order: hymns chosen, tunes chosen, readings chosen, sermon prepared, all in prayer and dependance on the Spirit. Yet ever open to the Spirit.