Let Me Take Your Order

...everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.  1 Corinthians 14:40

Today, I align the cross hairs of my hermeneutic scope squarely on the congregation-squelching, Spirit-emasculating, glory-blocking concept of order. Not order as the word envisions it, but all that which man puts in place in the name of order, which only serves to quench the Holy Spirit. That kind of thing is thought good in many quarters, and that which would let the Spirit move is called indecent. Good called evil, and evil, i.e. that which is unscriptural, called good-- what a state!

Are we that afraid to follow the Word and let the Spirit direct us?

What was the Apostle Paul calling for in this verse? Orders of Service? Lectionaries, liturgies, and canons? Does it serve as the excuse for minister-orchestrated meetings and sergeants-at-arms types to enforce adherence? I don't think so, considering he's spent all of Chapter 12 establishing that a congregational meeting is about participation, not observation, and that more spontaneous than prepared.

Paul attempted to teach a middle road which allowed the fullest possibility of participation, without having the loudest or the strongest take over to everyone else's detriment. In other words, our services should be arranged (κατὰ τάξιν), so ordered, with full participation in view. Participation should be offered in good form (εὐσχημόνως), so decently. Ordered for participation done decently, that's what the Apostle was trying to convey.

Paul was not telling us to substitute the direction of our meetings by the presiding officer for the leading of the Holy Spirit in the congregation.

I'm beginning to wonder whether or not that is what we're most comfortable with. God in charge means mystery, uncertainty-- the possibilities that our hearts will be laid bare with no place to hide except in the love of Christ. We might not get out in time to get a table at our favorite restaurant! Along those lines: when the Holy Spirit moves into our meetings and takes our order, he isn't there to serve our appetites but to glorify Christ.