IN this last chapter concerning gifts of the Spirit, Paul discusses how such gifts should be used and expressed in the worship of the church. I believe it is important here to seek to appreciate something of the conduct of worship as it is seen here in Corinth. It is plain that the way worship was expressed in the early church in Corinth was a great deal different to the way we do so today, at least in England. It would have been helpful if Paul had described the worship in Corinth, but he was writing to a known situation and so there was no need. However we can see that worship had little formal structure. The believers met together and everybody was allowed to take part as the Spirit inspired. So if a person felt the Spirit moving them, they expressed this in audible worship, whether it was speaking in tongues or prophecy. These two gifts of the Spirit seemed to be prominent in worship in Corinth. There did not seem to be anyone presiding or controlling the expression of worship, praise, or prophhecy. In such a situation it is not difficult to appreciate that the expression of worship could very easily get out of hand. Any of us who have experienced Charismatic expression can appreciate this, though today there would ususally be someone presiding to control things. We can see how easily Satan could exploit such a situation, and the corruption of the fallen nature, even in those who are saved, could find expression. Because of this, plainly, there was plenty of disorder in the worship at Corinth, where people were prophesying and speaking in tongues and seeking to interpret tongues all at the same time.

Another thing Paul seems to be adressing in this chapter is the undue importance placed on the gift of tongues to the expense of prophecying.

We can also deduce that the gift of prophecy was plainly intelligible teaching for the building up of the believers in their faith, and the conversion of unbelievers. Prophecy was analogous to our preaching, testifying and witnessing.

Now what are the points which Paul is seeking to put across?

Love must predominate in worship, and this means that self assertion must be held at bay. (v.1)

In the desire for spiritual gifts we should seek the best gifts, and with regard to worship, the best gift is prophecy, and not tongues, because prophecy edifies both believers and enquirers. Tongues by their very nature can not do this, unless there is recognisable interpretation.(v.3)

From this it can be deduced that the gift of tongues, by which people pray and worship in the Spirit, is more for private use than public. (v.4)

Paul enlarges on these thoughts in verses 6-12.

From verses 13-17 it appears that tongues was an aid to worship, but that it is a spiritual experience and expression, but the mind is not involved. (v.14) Paul indicates that it is much better to pray with the spirit and with the mind. (v.14-15) Paul finishes this discussion and teaching on tongues and prophecy in worship by pointing out that tongues is a form of judgement on unbelievers, and he illustrates this by a quotation from Isaiah 28:11,12. God expresses judgement by withholding understanding of the truth from people, and this is the greatest and most terrible judgement, because it shuts people out of believing in the truth. Speaking in tongues (v.22) therefore is a sign to unbelievers and of their exclusion from the blessing of God. By speaking in tongues we are excluding unbelievers from hearing the Gospel.

On the other hand if an unbeliever comes in to church when there is prophecy (preaching, etc.) (v.24) then they have an opportunity to hear a word of salvation and be converted.

In verses 26-40 Paul speaks to bring order to the worship in Corinth by laying down some guidelines for the conduct of worship.

Verses 33b to 35 sound harshly on our ears today, but again it is important to hear these instructions of Paul in the context of the worship scene in Corinth. Where the worship was open to all to contribute as the Spirit led, women found themselves in a liberated situation, and because freedom after oppression always can be dangerous, so no doubt women were being very up front in their expression of their freedom in Christ, and so were pushing themselves foreward in an inappropriate way. Also not having such freedom before, they had no background and character which controlled how they reacted in public worship. I cannot see that this has anything to say about women's ordination or women holding office in the church.

What we can learn from this chapter for our worship today, specially in the Church of England, is that one person ministry is not scriptural. No doubt there is a place for leadership and someone being president in worship, but the worship in Corinth teaches us that every believer has a contribution to make, and their gifts must be used, and encouraged and not excluded. The church should encourage and help each member to find out the gifts they have been given, and to use them, and be given help to develop them.