Aug25 Written by:Nathan Williams
Monday, August 25, 2008
There are those who teach churches to grow by making their services "visitor-friendly." Techniques are offered such as 1) make sure visitors are greeted warmly, 2) make sure they receive a visitor's card, 3) make sure someone follows up with the visitor the VERY NEXT DAY with a phone call or letter thanking them for coming, 4) have specially reserved seating for visitors, 5) make the building look nice and inviting, and the list goes on.
Here in 1 Corinthians 14, we do see instructions on how to treat visitors to our assemblies. The Corinthian brethren thought speaking in tongues was the best spiritual gift to have, probably because they thought it was just cool. Speaking in tongues was the great spiritual gift given them apostles on the day of Pentecost. Perhaps they thought they were stronger Christians if they had the gift of tongues. Paul set them straight in this chapter by telling them PROPHECY was really the best spiritual gift. The reason was prophecy edified and built-up the hearer. Tongue speaking was meant for a sign to unbelievers, but prophecy was meant for believers (1 Cor. 14:22). So, Paul said, you should desire earnestly the ability to prophesy.
In 14:23-25, we read, "Therefore if the whole church assembles together and all speak in tongues, and ungifted men or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are mad? But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all; the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you." Paul was interested in OTHERS. Whether it was an ungifted brother or an unbeliever in the audience, he wanted that person to be edified and convicted by the content of the services. Some guy could jabber on endlessly in some other language and some might be impressed. But at the end, if the word of God had penetrated a heart, it was pointless. I have to say, there are plenty of sermons today which fall into that category...
We DO want to edifiy. How? By speaking CLEARLY the word of God! Some of those other techniques listed above may be helpful, but they are not at the heart of edification. True edification (building-up) comes from speaking words of truth which can be understood by the hearer.
God bless you today in the word,
Nathan
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