meditatio at the water's edge

Reading last night from 1 Corinthians 14 in The Message:

So here's what I want you to do. When you gather for worship, each one of you be preparted with something that will be useful for all: Sing a hymn, teach a lesson, tell a story, lead a prayer, provide an insight. If prayers are offered in tongues, two or three's the limit, and then only if someone is present who can interpret what you're saying. Otherwise, keep it between God and yourself. And no more than two or three speakers at a meeting, with the rest of you listening and taking it to heart. Take your turn, no one person taking over. Then each speaker gets a chance to say something special from God, and you all learn from each other. If you choose to speak, you're also responsible for how and when you speak. When we worship the right way, God doesn't stir us up into confusion; he brings us into harmony. This goes for all the churches--no exceptions.

I read it aloud to Torie and she said that it sounds very different than what most churches do when they get together today. I thought is sounded very much like what we're trying to do with our 'potluck' worship. It also affirms what I was saying Sunday night about how we need each other to grow. It's not the words of one person that enriches a community. If one person is the only one who provides the perspective, you limit the influence of the Spirit through the community--constricting it to one person's voice. That is a frightening idea. (Can you say, 'cult'? I knew you could.)

I don't know if Paul was talking about all churches throughout all time in his instructions. Maybe he was referring to those contentious Corinthian Christians, but we need to at least consider the possibility that what Paul was emphasizing in this message to the believers in Corinth may be going neglected in many church gatherings around the country.

One last thought: did you notice what Paul says at the end of that quote? God "brings us into harmony." We talked about the importance of Oneness in a community. Keep imagining what that might look like with us, with the Church here in West Michigan, and with the Church worldwide.