This subject is as unfortunate to address as the last. If we desire to evaluate things more accurately, we may ask, “Have our common methods again ruined God’s simple plan?”
I’m not really sure what I used to think about healthy body-function within a church, but it certainly didn’t come close to lining up with Scripture:
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. (1 Corinthians 14:26)
This question and answer comes directly from the middle of the “church chapter”, 1 Corinthians 14. Paul starts a discourse on proper church gatherings in 1 Corinthians 11, “Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse” (1 Corinthians 11:17).
Paul then begins teaching on communion, since the body and blood of the Lord is what unites believers. After explaining how to properly observe and remember the body and blood of the Lord, Paul moves into the “spiritual gift chapter”, 1 Corinthians 12. Then, nestled perfectly between the “spiritual gift chapter” and the “church chapter” we find the “love chapter”. This is not coincidence, but instead a very crucial Divine revelation about the function of a gathering of believers.
Simply put, in order to use spiritual gifts within the church, much love is needed.
When Paul poses the question, “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”, an answer is given. In light of our modern manner of meeting, we would be inclined to assume that “God forbid!” or “Such things should not be!” would be the appropriate response to such a question. However, we find the opposite, “Let all things be done unto edifying” is the conclusion.
How is it possible that God, through Paul, would ever reveal that every man has a part to play within the local gathering?
The goal of God is mature disciples. In order to mature, one must be strengthened, built up, and developed. Such is the meaning of the term “edify”. In regard to this edification, Ephesians 4:16 tells us, “From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”
Here we are told that the body edifies itself by that which every joint supplieth. Just as our physical bodies must have all the parts working together in order to properly function, so is the body of Christ. Each part must not simply show up! If the heart didn’t beat, and the liver didn’t filter, and the lungs didn’t breathe, and the stomach didn’t digest; we would have to conclude that the body was dead, even if it were assembled. Also, in like manner to our physical bodies which contain no vestigial organs, neither does the spiritual body of Christ. Pertaining to this body of Christ, we read the following:
For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, (Romans 12:4-6a)
For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For the body is not one member, but many. (1 Corinthians 12:12 & 14)
Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. (1 Corinthians 12:27)
For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. (Ephesians 5:30)
All believers are members of the body of Christ. Believers within a city are the body of Christ within that city. As a group of believers meets, the body of Christ is assembled. The individual members of that collective body must be edified so that they can develop into mature disciples.
God has a simple way of doing this: each body part is supposed to function.
Each man within the gathering of believers has something to offer, and he should be allowed to share. “But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him” (1 Corinthians 12:18). God chooses the members, and gives them each a specific role in the gathering. We see in the “church chapter” that when the whole church is gathered (see 1 Corinthians 14:23) all may encourage obedience to the Word of God (prophesying), “But if all prophesy”, and “For ye may all prophesy one by one” (1 Corinthians 14:24 & 31). Each man can share a psalm, or a teaching, or a revelation or anything that may edify the body. This ability to share, think, and speak is supposed to go so far that, “If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace” (1 Corinthians 14:30).
Can you imagine what would happen if a man stood up in church and interrupted the “pastor” in order to share something?
Technically, according to God’s simple way, every man should be free to both speak and to be interrupted. What a large amount of love we would truly need! The “church chapter” even closes with the following, “Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40).
That is twice in this chapter that we are commanded to “Let all things be done” (1 Corinthians 14:26 & 40). Paul even makes sure that we all will receive this instruction by writing, “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” (1 Corinthians 14:37). This is truly what the Lord has commanded, yet why do we not see it practiced?
I believe that with the transition from the Old to the New Covenants, the temple and priesthood were done away with. Yet, when pagan Rome was confronted with Christianity, Christianity became paganized as Rome attempted a monopoly of faith and government through the Roman Catholic Church. Both the building and the priesthood remained, and the “ignorant” attendees were reduced to silent cash cows within the gathering. Though this erroneous establishment may have been “reformed”, it certainly wasn’t done away with.
Rather than a living, functioning body, church meetings are still reduced to quiet pew-warming and passive sermon-listening. It has been well said that all spiritual gifts have been sacrificed on the altar of preaching. The purpose of an assembled body is not for the functioning of one member, but all.
And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. (1 Corinthians 12:19-21)
Indeed, no part should ever think that it has no need of the other members. Yet, in our current manner of meeting, no part is really needed. One member can quietly listen just as easily as 10,000. Have you ever sought a substitute or replacement to cover for you when you happen to be out of town on a certain Sunday? No, we are only concerned with whether or not there will be a pastor to preach. No other part matters, for no other part has any real purpose in the modern meeting, except perhaps the pianist. Again, our tradition has made the Word of God of none effect.
Every “one another” passage in the Bible speaks of interacting with other believers as well. The best time to interact with “one another” is when you are together, hence, the gathering of the saints. Why does everyone have a role to play? “That all may learn, and all may be comforted” (1 Corinthians 14:31). “All” can only be learning and comforted when “all” are together.
The following conveys the same message, “Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church” (1 Corinthians 14:12). If we remember that “edifying” means “building up” and “church” means “gathering”, then we know that spiritual gifting is for the purpose of building up believers when they are gathered.
These are the clear teachings of the Word of God, called “commandments of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 14:37) by Paul.
Indeed, no part can claim that they have no need of the other members, and we must allow the body to function. If the Holy Spirit so desired to share an exhortation through a specific member who was indeed a dear brother, but yet not the “pastor”, could he do so in an average Sunday morning meeting? Most often, no. By operating as such, we have quenched the Spirit; this is in direct opposition to the Word of God, “Quench not the Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 5:19). Remember, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24).
We must leave room for Him to operate, and pre-scripted church meetings with pre-written sermons, where no one else is allowed to share, do not allow room for the Spirit’s leading, or body function. “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” (James 2:26). A body, without the Spirit, is dead, just like a body without functioning body parts is dead.
If we are to be the body of Christ, then He must be the Head and have the freedom to do as He sees fit. Whatever we may have (or may have not) been exposed to in relation to gatherings of believers, we must remember that the Bible contains the truth, and it lays forth God’s simple ways.
Are we really developing into mature disciples of Christ under the current means of operation and function?
Haven’t you ever thought that perhaps there was something more that you were supposed to be doing when the believers gather? Seek God’s guidance as to exactly what He means when He commands, “Let all things be done”, and be willing to obey.
I must strongly recommend that you turn first to God in this, because many a commentary has choked the Word.
Too often I find lengthy attempts to explain away what God said very clearly, and this certainly restrains the faith and obedience of many. If you do look to the commentary, you may find some that claim the following verse pertains only to the “primitive, apostolic church”. If that is the case, why is there no command ever given that “trumps” this teaching? God never retracted what He said here, though we certainly have allowed tradition to replace it. It must mean something, and I choose to believe that it means what it says.
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. (1 Corinthians 14:26)
