How It Should Be--Lessons From "Remeniscences"

1 Corinthians 14:26 reads, "How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification."  Apparently, there was no shortage of ministry going on when the Corinthian church met together. In fact, they were encouraged to be orderly in their services, but not discouraged from participating.

There are lots of verses of scripture that are overlooked, disregarded, or simply ignored throughout the Bible. Perhaps none has been more so in the North American church than this one. We have a class of professional clergy and those whom they have approved, that carry the public ministry during any kind of meeting. The stronger the influence of the religious spirit in a congregation, the more control will be exercised by the fewer people. (That hurt.) Trust me when I tell you, I know all the rationalizations for not letting the Holy Spirit direct church meetings. (That really hurt.) By the way, that also includes church-sponsored, small, group meetings where the powers that be in the church, assemble, approve, and assign the curriculum and the teachers. (That probably hurt too.)

Surely there is a place for the kind of meetings we call "church" that we have come to expect on any given Sunday morning or evening, Wednesday evening, perhaps Thursday or Saturday evening, or whenever. That particular model does facilitate a number of people hearing a sermon simultaneously, but does little to facilitate fellowship or individual ministry. We actually heard a local pastor state recently that fellowship does not occur during their "church" services. He was correct, of course. We applaud him for that understanding.

We attended a church for years that set aside time in virtually every service for people to meet and pray with those around them. As one might imagine, there were many criticisms of that practice over the years. Most of those criticisms came from people who wanted to hear the teaching of a world-renowned minister of the gospel, but did not want to interact with other people. I might have been one of them at one time, but I got over it around the time another couple prayed with us about a financial need and then handed us $150.00 in cash to meet that need as we were leaving the building at the end of the service.

Acts chapter 13 begins with these words, "Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away." (verses 1-3)

These verses seem to indicate some kind of small-group, men's, gathering that had a specific purpose. We realize many people do not recognize the office of the prophet in the church today. Too bad. You are missing out on an important ministry. Nonetheless, this explanation is probably not for you anyway. Their purpose for meeting seems to be to hear what God had to say to the group gathered there. Is that not what "church" is supposed to be about anyway? My recent experience is that "church" usually does little to foster fellowship and perhaps less to help us hear what God has to say. We really should be able do better with our corporate experiences in facilitating fellowship and hearing from God. Otherwise we are spending way to much money on facilities, creature comforts, and paid staff for the return we receive. Feeling good is really not what church is supposed to be about, but how many people consider that the primary reason for attending?

Folks, we are simply putting our emphasis on the wrong things in The Church today. We mistake our soulical pursuits of getting together, singing a few songs, and listening to a sermon, for true, spiritual worship and fellowship. Those last two, by the way, are the essence of our vertical and horizontal, spiritual relationships. Let this be an encouragement to you to find a group where you can be a part of those vital elements of the Christian life. Your life will change and so will the lives of the others who join with you. God bless you and guide you as you do.