Church harmony doesn’t need to enforce bland uniformity or cause the stifling of genders, spiritual gifts, or voices. Was Paul telling the church of Corinth to stifle it and settle down? I don’t think so. Let’s read 1 Cor 14:33 in context!
Video Transcript (Video below)
[00:00:00] Welcome to Daily Bible promises with a Twist. If you’re wondering what the twist is, follow the arrow. It’ll lead you to an ‘I’. That ‘I’ will lead you to a playlist, and the very first video in the playlist explains this all.
[00:00:14] But we’re going to be reading today from First Corinthians 14:33. And the Bible card that I’m reading today only gives half the verse so I’m going to read the whole verse in another translation.
[00:00:29] “God is not a God of disorder, but of peace.” That’s First Corinthians 14:33a. I’m not going to be using the NASB today, because the NASB basically says the same thing. But I am going to reading from the Passion translation today.
[00:00:52] So, let’s go to First Corinthians 14 Verse 13. “For God is a God of harmony, not confusion as is a pattern in all the churches of God’s holy believers.” So why does Paul tack on that second clause Part B, so to speak. The Church of Corinth obviously was in the city of Corinth. Corinth was known across the Roman Empire as being a city where everything goes. There were gods and statues everywhere. Even the Jewish converts were heavily influenced by the culture of their city and they had incorporated some of that type of worship into their Jewish faith. So, Paul is addressing a specific issue in the Corinthian church that we can learn from today, but we need to remember where this was being written from, who was written to, and why it was being written.
[00:02:05] I strongly encourage you if you’re reading chapter 14, first read chapter 12 and 13, and have a full grasp of those three chapters because they need to be studied together as one. Paul was basically addressing this Church, this particular church, because of the fact that they were coming from a culture of anything goes. Whatever floats your boat. It’s OK to worship this person and that god. You know, “All roads meet to Heaven.” Does that sound familiar?
[00:02:38] So, Paul is addressing that Anything Goes issue. He’s talking in chapter 14 about order. Is he doing this because he wants to stop the flow of the Holy Spirit? No! He is saying this because he wants a container where the Holy Spirit can move. And in one way that that container needs to be built is to have harmony and honor and respect. That no gender, no person, no particular spiritual gift has a right to overpower and dominate and stop others from receiving and others from giving from the gifts that God has given them.
[00:03:24] It doesn’t seem to be an issue in the other churches because Paul doesn’t address this issue in the other churches. So, the next time that you are amongst a bunch of other Christians. Whether you’re out for lunch with friends, whether it’s a church meeting discussing an issue the whole church needs to interact in, or if you’re on social media, remember this passage. So, take your time, speak in order, listen to what other people have to say. Value their input, value their gift, and let go of any pride and arrogance. Be loving, be patient, and listen well.
Go to YouTube and subscribe to my channel so you’ll be notified whenever I upload a new video.
Subscribe today – it’s free to do so. No strings attached. You’ll receive a notification I posted!
Don’t forget. Follow me on my personal timeline on Facebook. I no longer will be using my Facebook Ministry Page as I cannot afford an advertising budget that is required for you to see what I post there. You do not need to send me a friend request to follow me! Here is the Facebook link.
©2018 Katherine Walden
Sign up to receive a weekly emailed devotional by Katherine by using the following form.