1 Corinthians 14:26 - "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."
"What is striking in this entire discussion is the absence of any mention of leadership or of anyone who would be responsible for seeing that these guidelines were generally adhered to. The community appears to be left to itself and the Holy Spirit. What is mandatory is that everything aim at edification."
Gordon Fee on 1 Corinthians 14:26 (NICNT, 691)
(For the record, I do believe that churches should appoint overseers and deacons, but Fee's point is striking.)
1 comment:
I agree. Many if not most of the issues addressed to the Corinthian church at large by Paul would not be handled congregationally in most American evangelical churches. They would be handled behind closed doors by a limited slice of the congregation. The rest of the saints would either never be involved in dealing with the issues, or would have no say in their resolution. Paul wrote to the Church. A church that he planted, and that had been in existence by that time for a number of years. Arguably the "dirtiest laundry" in the NT is entrusted for cleansing to every member of the church. Honest and objective consideration by many Christian leaders today would result in an admission that they would never have considered doing what Paul did here. They would have written, "To the Corinthians Rescriptus", and addressed it for the elders eyes only. They need to ask themselves why. They may learn that they are viewing the church with different eyes than those of the Apostle or Christ himself.
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