1 Corinthians 14:1–17
Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.
Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played? And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air. There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning, but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me. So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.
Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also. Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say “Amen” to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying? For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up.
Love that builds up others in the church is demonstrated through the exercise of spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. Think about that for a moment. Everyone wants to be a good gift giver and a better lover of the people God has put around him or her. In our materialistic age, most think that they cannot love or give well unless they have or spend lots of money. That is because we have been manipulated by our culture to think that purchasing gifts is the only way to show love. The New Testament has some encouraging news. You have infinite resources by which to show love because you have been given at least one gift with which comes all of the power and influence of the three persons of the trinity. Furthermore, the New Testament makes it clear that there are only two things you need to do to become the most effective lover and gift giver you can be—speak and serve (1 Pt. 4:11).
Now Paul explains how we will love in this way. It will be by grace alone. One with the gift of tongues had to pray for God to provide interpretation that he might love with his words. Today, you and I must pray that God would enable us to speak his Word to others in a way that truly loves.
Prayer in Song: One primary way in which we lovingly minister God’s Word to one another is in worship. Elsewhere, Paul urges us to minister to each other while singing in worship (Co. 3:16,17). However, to be edifying, prayer in song must be intelligible to the worshiper as well as to those listening to him. Singing should engage the mind as well as the emotions. There is a crying need in the church today for new hymns that strengthen, encourage, and comfort as well as for tunes that carry those words appropriately. Much of our music in the culture and in the church is designed only to make us feel good, not to engage our minds.[1] But beyond that we must give our all to pronouncing each word, doing so loudly, and even improving our skills in order that our fellow worshipers will be lifted up. Some times those who are hurting simply listen to the congregation singing and experience healing grace.
Corporate Prayer: Furthermore, public prayers should be thoughtful. Indeed, the Lord Jesus, the Apostles, and the early church used form prayers in order to lead in public worship. Poorly worded extemporaneous prayers are not somehow more spiritual than those prepared ahead of time. Every corporate prayer should edify others so that they might make it their own as well. Paul alludes to the corporate “amen” in this text which we try to practice here. It was a common practice in the synagogue, the early church, and during the days of the church fathers (Justin Martyr Apology 1.65). Jerome said the corporate amen in the worship of the period was like “spiritual thunder.”[2]
Dietrich Bonhoeffer emphasized the importance of ministering the Word to each other in his book Life Together:
But God has put this Word into the mouth of men in order that it may be communicated to other men. When one person is struck by the Word, he speaks it to others. God has willed that we should seek and find His living Word in the witness of a brother, in the mouth of man. Therefore, the Christian needs another Christian who speaks God’s Word to him. He needs him again and again when he becomes uncertain and discouraged, for by himself he cannot help himself without belying the truth. He needs his brother man as a bearer and proclaimer of the divine word of salvation. He needs his brother solely because of Jesus Christ. The Christ in his own heart is weaker than the Christ in the word of his brother; his own heart is uncertain, his brother’s is sure.
And that also clarifies the goal of all Christian community: they meet one another as bringers of the message of salvation. As such, God permits them to meet together and gives them community. Their fellowship is founded solely upon Jesus Christ and this “alien righteousness.” All we can say, therefore, is: the community of Christians springs solely from the Biblical and Reformation message of the justification of man through grace alone; this alone is the basis of the longing of Christians for one another.[3]
When we show up to worship each week, not only to rehearse the gospel in our own hearts, but also to retell it to our brothers and sisters in our singing, prayer, and later in the week as the Word of Christ dwells richly in our hearts and God gives us opportunity to edify others by letting it overflow for their encouragement.
[1] My friend David Vila was once surrounded by a group of teenagers in Spain. They begged him to translate Lionel Richey’s popular song at the time, “Say You, Say Me.” They were convinced that the emotional music carried some deep message. When he translated it, they were disappointed that it was simply fluff.
[2] Preface to Book 2 of Commentary on Galatians. cf. McClintock and Strong, vol. 1, 194 and Tertullian, Public Shows, 25.
[3] Life Together (San Francisco: Harper, 1954), 22-23.