Strengthening the Church

Most churches are desperate to get back to normal worship, but I’m not convinced the Lord wants us to return to what we consider normal. Today’s church has been turned over to paid staff, who then molds the worship service into the image they want. When COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, believers might be spiritually refreshed if we returned to the structure of the early church. Paul described orderly worship, “What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church. If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God. Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. For God is not a God of disorder but of peace” (I Cor 14:26-33a NIV).