The heading for the second half of this chapter is "Instruction for the Church". But this chapter contains instructions about speaking in tongues, which I don't have any experience with, or much knowledge about (basically none outside of what the Bible says). There is also some instruction about the role of women in the Church, and if I'm honest I go back and forth of my thinking on that, so I'm not ready to put any thought out there yet on the issue. But in spite of all of that, there are still some things to pull out of this for the Church of today.
First those who make up the Church are to be mature in their thinking. Paul says in the previous chapter "When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things" (1 Corinthians 13.11). One of the biggest complaints I've heard about Christian's is that they are ignorant/uneducated. I've been a part of conversations between Christians and Atheists, and can you guess who makes more intelligent conversation? The most popular response that the Christian has is "Well this is what the Bible says, go read it." Everything comes back to that, there is no consideration of history or science, and there is no progress made.
I think part of it is that many Christian's don't know why they believe what they believe. And personally, at times I really do agree with the ignorant accusation that is made. Along with the ignorance comes close-mindedness and an unwillingness to listen. This is what Paul doesn't want to happen. As Christians we have to be educated. Our faith has to be rooted in something personal for us. As Christians we have to be willing to listen and discuss different opinions. And the thing is that when we know why we believe what we believe we don't have to be afraid to listen and discuss with someone who has a different opinion and belief than we do.
We need to be mature in our thinking, and infants in terms of evil. We are to be innocent as a new born baby. Not ignorant, but innocent. Those who make up the Church are to have nothing to do with evil. We are to be born again, and then live holy and righteous lives.
Second, the Church is to be a place of order, not chaos. This is where there is instruction about speaking in tongues and how it is to take place. This section ends with these words, "for God is not a God of confusion but of peace". The Church is not to be a chaotic confusing place. The Church is a place where people come to learn and worship God. In the Gospels Jesus drives people who are changing money and selling animals for sacrifice from the outer court of the Temple, in part, because it was interfering with the worship of the Gentiles who were there seeking God. If Church is chaotic with no order and full of confusion what happens to the person who comes seeking God for the first time?
Third, both items that I have addressed is so that the Church can be built up. In verse 26 it says, "Let all things be done for edification." Christians need to be mature in their thinking and infants in evil so that the Church can be built up. If we have no evil, (no hypocrisy) for people to bring up, they are left with holy and righteous Christlike followers of Jesus. If we are able to have an intelligent, well informed discussion, we can't be called ignorant and uneducated. And if there is order and structure in the Church, people who come seeking will be able to learn the truth about who God is.
"I have been young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or his descendants begging bread."
To God alone be the Glory!
Peace be with you
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