What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God. Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged, and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.

1 Corinthians 14: 26-33

A psychiatrist I know has a very specific piece of artwork on display in her office –  a piece of metal fashioned to represent the serotonin molecule.  We create symbols in an attempt to demonstrate the complexity of God’s creation. It is just one example of the exquisite detail and orderly fashion of God’s creation which leads me to another thought where the psalmist exclaimed, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made!”

The final verse in the passage above reminds us that God is not the author of confusion and so our worship services should have the same kind of sense of order as that of God’s creation.  This is not to say that Paul prohibited the supernatural, but placed what I heard described as guardrails on the road. “Let all things be done for building up.”

Can you imagine the scene described by Paul as the typical worship service in Corinth? The worst case scenario was “if, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds?” (1 Corinthians 14: 23).

Over the weekend, Patrina and I encountered that kind of person. She referred to the believers who visited a local Christian business as “strange people.” The truth is that there are many strange people and we should do our best to avoid creating confusion with those on the outside.