Good morning friends,
Our passage from Isaiah reminds us of God's amazing love for us. God loves us even more than our own parents, and nothing can separate us from that love. Matthew reminds us that God cares even about our financial worries. So often that's what distracts us from God, and God knows that we have practical needs. We can trust God in everything, so seek first God's kingdom and righteousness, and everything else will work itself out.
God bless,
Sam
Sunday, 2/27
Isaiah 49:8-16a
8 Thus says the LORD:
In a time of favor I have answered you,
on a day of salvation I have helped you;
I have kept you and given you
as a covenant to the people,
to establish the land,
to apportion the desolate heritages;
9 saying to the prisoners, “Come out,”
to those who are in darkness, “Show yourselves.”
They shall feed along the ways,
on all the bare heights shall be their pasture;
10 they shall not hunger or thirst,
neither scorching wind nor sun shall strike them down,
for he who has pity on them will lead them,
and by springs of water will guide them.
11 And I will turn all my mountains into a road,
and my highways shall be raised up.
12 Lo, these shall come from far away,
and lo, these from the north and from the west,
and these from the land of Syene.
13 Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth;
break forth, O mountains, into singing!
For the LORD has comforted his people,
and will have compassion on his suffering ones.
14 But Zion said, “The LORD has forsaken me,
my Lord has forgotten me.”
15 Can a woman forget her nursing child,
or show no compassion for the child of her womb?
Even these may forget,
yet I will not forget you.
16 See, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands;
Matthew 6:24-34
24“No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.
25“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? 28And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, 29yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. 30But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you — you of little faith? 31Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 32For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
34”So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Saturday, February 26, 2011
privacy and greed
Good morning sisters and brothers,
Jesus talks today about fasting and devotion to God, as well as the dangers of possessions. Like with prayer and giving to those in need, fasting is meant to be between us and God. We don't fast so we can earn credit from other people for our self-control or dedication, but so we can grow closer to God through focusing on God. Of course, there are also times to share a fast with others; much of the fasting in the Bible is community fasting, and that's still appropriate today.
Jesus warns us not to store up treasure on earth, but to invest in God's kingdom instead. He goes from there to talk about the eye. This isn't a criticism of people with vision problems. According to the New Interpreters' Study Bible, people at that time though light went out from the eye to guide our behavior. In this case having a "bad eye" (here translated, unhealthy) probably meant being greedy. If we focus on letting God be our guide and master, our whole body and life will be full of light, but if we led possessions control us, we will be full of darkness.
Blessings,
Sam
Matthew 6:16-24
16“And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 17But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
19“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; 20but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 22“The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light; 23but if your eye is unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! 24“No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.
Jesus talks today about fasting and devotion to God, as well as the dangers of possessions. Like with prayer and giving to those in need, fasting is meant to be between us and God. We don't fast so we can earn credit from other people for our self-control or dedication, but so we can grow closer to God through focusing on God. Of course, there are also times to share a fast with others; much of the fasting in the Bible is community fasting, and that's still appropriate today.
Jesus warns us not to store up treasure on earth, but to invest in God's kingdom instead. He goes from there to talk about the eye. This isn't a criticism of people with vision problems. According to the New Interpreters' Study Bible, people at that time though light went out from the eye to guide our behavior. In this case having a "bad eye" (here translated, unhealthy) probably meant being greedy. If we focus on letting God be our guide and master, our whole body and life will be full of light, but if we led possessions control us, we will be full of darkness.
Blessings,
Sam
Matthew 6:16-24
16“And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 17But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
19“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; 20but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 22“The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light; 23but if your eye is unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! 24“No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.
Friday, February 25, 2011
praying like Jesus
Good morning brothers and sisters,
After telling the crowd who came out to hear him that they should not give or pray in a way that attracts human praise Jesus gives them another suggestion about prayer. He tells them not to simply pile up pretty phrases in their prayer; God doesn't grade based on length. Then he teaches them a prayer, which is in some ways a crucial model for prayer today. My partner and I were talking about this prayer in the ambulance on Monday. He was making the point that Jesus taught this prayer as a model, but not with the idea of having people just pray these words.
He was right too in his observation that some churches use the Lord's prayer so often that it is drained of meaning and actual prayer. A couple of years ago we did a study on this prayer during Lent as part of Supper and Scripture. The deeper examination helped many of us reclaim the meaning of Jesus teaching. The interesting irony is that when Jesus taught this prayer his point was simple, intimate prayer with God, and that is exactly what we lose if we simply mimic Jesus words. We need to pray about what's on our hearts. We don't need to be careful composers of prayer; we just need to thank God, to tell God what we need, to rest in God's presence. The door for prayer is always open, so keep on praying.
Blessings on your Friday,
Sam
Matthew 6:7-15
7“When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9“Pray then in this way: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11Give us this day our daily bread. 12And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one. 14For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; 15but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
After telling the crowd who came out to hear him that they should not give or pray in a way that attracts human praise Jesus gives them another suggestion about prayer. He tells them not to simply pile up pretty phrases in their prayer; God doesn't grade based on length. Then he teaches them a prayer, which is in some ways a crucial model for prayer today. My partner and I were talking about this prayer in the ambulance on Monday. He was making the point that Jesus taught this prayer as a model, but not with the idea of having people just pray these words.
He was right too in his observation that some churches use the Lord's prayer so often that it is drained of meaning and actual prayer. A couple of years ago we did a study on this prayer during Lent as part of Supper and Scripture. The deeper examination helped many of us reclaim the meaning of Jesus teaching. The interesting irony is that when Jesus taught this prayer his point was simple, intimate prayer with God, and that is exactly what we lose if we simply mimic Jesus words. We need to pray about what's on our hearts. We don't need to be careful composers of prayer; we just need to thank God, to tell God what we need, to rest in God's presence. The door for prayer is always open, so keep on praying.
Blessings on your Friday,
Sam
Matthew 6:7-15
7“When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9“Pray then in this way: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11Give us this day our daily bread. 12And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one. 14For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; 15but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
public and private
Good morning friends,
We're continuing with Jesus' sermon on the mount for the next few days. This passage is often close to my mind and is sometimes a barrier for us. Jesus warns his disciples against flashy religious practice. He tells them to keep their charity and prayer a private thing so they are really doing it for God and not so people will say, "Wow, look how faithful and spiritual so and so is." This is wonderful advice because there is a temptation sometimes to use faith to look good for others.
The trouble is that often we've taken this advice so much to heart that we lose the ability to share our faith with others. We hear these words and are empowered for lives of private faith but not for evangelism. When Jesus was ministering in the flesh being religious was normal and respected. Today that's not the case as much. If we have to make a mistake I'd rather we live our faith too publicly than too privately. The voice of loving, prayerful, welcoming Christian witness is too quiet in today's world. So do close your door and pray alone, just you and God, but don't be shy about letting people know that you've found something exciting in the love of Jesus.
Blessings,
Sam
Matthew 6:1-6
“Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2“So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 3But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
5“And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 6But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
We're continuing with Jesus' sermon on the mount for the next few days. This passage is often close to my mind and is sometimes a barrier for us. Jesus warns his disciples against flashy religious practice. He tells them to keep their charity and prayer a private thing so they are really doing it for God and not so people will say, "Wow, look how faithful and spiritual so and so is." This is wonderful advice because there is a temptation sometimes to use faith to look good for others.
The trouble is that often we've taken this advice so much to heart that we lose the ability to share our faith with others. We hear these words and are empowered for lives of private faith but not for evangelism. When Jesus was ministering in the flesh being religious was normal and respected. Today that's not the case as much. If we have to make a mistake I'd rather we live our faith too publicly than too privately. The voice of loving, prayerful, welcoming Christian witness is too quiet in today's world. So do close your door and pray alone, just you and God, but don't be shy about letting people know that you've found something exciting in the love of Jesus.
Blessings,
Sam
Matthew 6:1-6
“Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2“So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 3But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
5“And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 6But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
worship
Good morning friends,
Our reading today reveals a fascinating picture of worship. The worship Paul describes is highly participatory with leadership shared among the whole congregation. The congregation expects to hear God speaking through each of them in prophesy and praise. When God speaks to someone sitting in the pews, the person speaking at the moment should be quiet and allow that person the change to be heard. Let's allow ourselves to be challenged by this word as we think about worship.
As far as Paul's words here about women go, they really don't make any sense. Paul himself relied on female leaders and recognized at least one woman as an "apostle of the Lord" so it doesn't make any sense for him to say that women should be silent in church.
Blessings as you seek to hear and share God's voice,
Sam
1 Corinthians 14:26-39
26What should be done then, my friends? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. 27If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn; and let one interpret. 28But if there is no one to interpret, let them be silent in church and speak to themselves and to God. 29Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. 30If a revelation is made to someone else sitting nearby, let the first person be silent. 31For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged. 32And the spirits of prophets are subject to the prophets, 33for God is a God not of disorder but of peace.
(As in all the churches of the saints, 34women should be silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be subordinate, as the law also says. 35If there is anything they desire to know, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church. 36Or did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only ones it has reached?) 37Anyone who claims to be a prophet, or to have spiritual powers, must acknowledge that what I am writing to you is a command of the Lord. 38Anyone who does not recognize this is not to be recognized. 39So, my friends, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues; 40but all things should be done decently and in order.
Our reading today reveals a fascinating picture of worship. The worship Paul describes is highly participatory with leadership shared among the whole congregation. The congregation expects to hear God speaking through each of them in prophesy and praise. When God speaks to someone sitting in the pews, the person speaking at the moment should be quiet and allow that person the change to be heard. Let's allow ourselves to be challenged by this word as we think about worship.
As far as Paul's words here about women go, they really don't make any sense. Paul himself relied on female leaders and recognized at least one woman as an "apostle of the Lord" so it doesn't make any sense for him to say that women should be silent in church.
Blessings as you seek to hear and share God's voice,
Sam
1 Corinthians 14:26-39
26What should be done then, my friends? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. 27If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn; and let one interpret. 28But if there is no one to interpret, let them be silent in church and speak to themselves and to God. 29Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. 30If a revelation is made to someone else sitting nearby, let the first person be silent. 31For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged. 32And the spirits of prophets are subject to the prophets, 33for God is a God not of disorder but of peace.
(As in all the churches of the saints, 34women should be silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be subordinate, as the law also says. 35If there is anything they desire to know, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church. 36Or did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only ones it has reached?) 37Anyone who claims to be a prophet, or to have spiritual powers, must acknowledge that what I am writing to you is a command of the Lord. 38Anyone who does not recognize this is not to be recognized. 39So, my friends, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues; 40but all things should be done decently and in order.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
prophecy builds up
Good morning sisters and brothers,
I'd like to remind you of a workshop on visiting we're hosting at Laurelton (in the Peters Room downstairs) at 6pm. Feel free to email or call me with questions. This morning Paul continues his discussion of why tongues are a spiritual gift with limited use while prophecy, though less impressive, is more important for the church. The main idea is that no one else understands what the person is saying when they speak in tongues, so they can't be built up by it. He also turns to evangelism as a consideration for worship. Paul seems to contradict himself for a second here because first he says that tongues are a gift for unbelievers while prophecy is for believers, then he seems to say the opposite. I don't know what to make of this, and welcome your impression to help me out.
He moves on to say that if a visitor comes into worship and people are speaking in tongues the visitor will think the members of the church are crazy. On the other hand, if a visitor comes in and the church is prophesying that visitor will hear things that resonate with his or her heart. Many of us have had the impression sometime in our lives that part of a sermon or prayer or scripture passage is aimed right at us. I think that's similar to what Paul is thinking of here, though maybe more so. When the visitor feels the "thoughts of his heart disclosed" he or she will recognize that God is in that meeting and be built up in God's love.
God bless,
Sam
1 Corinthians 14:13-25
14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unproductive. 15What should I do then? I will pray with the spirit, but I will pray with the mind also; I will sing praise with the spirit, but I will sing praise with the mind also. 16Otherwise, if you say a blessing with the spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say the “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since the outsider does not know what you are saying? 17For you may give thanks well enough, but the other person is not built up. 18I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you; 19nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind, in order to instruct others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
20Brothers and sisters, do not be children in your thinking; rather, be infants in evil, but in thinking be adults. 21In the law it is written, “By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people; yet even then they will not listen to me,” says the Lord. 22Tongues, then, are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is not for unbelievers but for believers. 23If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your mind? 24But if all prophesy, an unbeliever or outsider who enters is reproved by all and called to account by all. 25After the secrets of the unbeliever’s heart are disclosed, that person will bow down before God and worship him, declaring, “God is really among you.”
I'd like to remind you of a workshop on visiting we're hosting at Laurelton (in the Peters Room downstairs) at 6pm. Feel free to email or call me with questions. This morning Paul continues his discussion of why tongues are a spiritual gift with limited use while prophecy, though less impressive, is more important for the church. The main idea is that no one else understands what the person is saying when they speak in tongues, so they can't be built up by it. He also turns to evangelism as a consideration for worship. Paul seems to contradict himself for a second here because first he says that tongues are a gift for unbelievers while prophecy is for believers, then he seems to say the opposite. I don't know what to make of this, and welcome your impression to help me out.
He moves on to say that if a visitor comes into worship and people are speaking in tongues the visitor will think the members of the church are crazy. On the other hand, if a visitor comes in and the church is prophesying that visitor will hear things that resonate with his or her heart. Many of us have had the impression sometime in our lives that part of a sermon or prayer or scripture passage is aimed right at us. I think that's similar to what Paul is thinking of here, though maybe more so. When the visitor feels the "thoughts of his heart disclosed" he or she will recognize that God is in that meeting and be built up in God's love.
God bless,
Sam
1 Corinthians 14:13-25
14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unproductive. 15What should I do then? I will pray with the spirit, but I will pray with the mind also; I will sing praise with the spirit, but I will sing praise with the mind also. 16Otherwise, if you say a blessing with the spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say the “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since the outsider does not know what you are saying? 17For you may give thanks well enough, but the other person is not built up. 18I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you; 19nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind, in order to instruct others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
20Brothers and sisters, do not be children in your thinking; rather, be infants in evil, but in thinking be adults. 21In the law it is written, “By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people; yet even then they will not listen to me,” says the Lord. 22Tongues, then, are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is not for unbelievers but for believers. 23If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your mind? 24But if all prophesy, an unbeliever or outsider who enters is reproved by all and called to account by all. 25After the secrets of the unbeliever’s heart are disclosed, that person will bow down before God and worship him, declaring, “God is really among you.”
Sunday, February 20, 2011
speaking in tongues
Good morning sisters and brothers,
I'm sorry to send this so early, but I have an early start in the morning and had some free time this evening. I was listening to this passage during an afternoon run and struck by how strange and sensible Paul's words are. Paul is giving advice on worship here. He suggests that, while all the spiritual gifts pale in importance next to love, prophecy is the most important gift. By prophecy Paul seems to mean not only the extraordinary gift of understanding the future, but also understanding the present, people, and situations. The prophet sees how God is at work in the church and world, and by rational instruction builds up the church. That's why Paul values this gift so highly; it is a powerful example of being tapped into God's wisdom through the Holy Spirit. It is a gift we expect through prayer as we gather at the session table or in our annual meeting as well as a gift from long ago Bible stories.
In contrast, Paul talks about speaking in tongues. This is also a spiritual gift that Paul appreciates and practices, but he has some warnings to share about this gift. Speaking in tongues means not only speaking in other human languages without learning them (like at Pentecost) but also speaking a mysterious spiritual language unintelligible to most people. In some ways speaking in tongues seems like a direct connection between the Spirit within the worshiper and God that goes deeper than our conscious thought. Paul doesn't discount the spiritual value of this gift, he only worries that it doesn't build up the church, unless there is someone there who has a spiritual gift to interpret this language for the benefit of others. This seems very strange to those of us who have never experienced speaking in tongues (that includes me). But I have friends who have the gift of tongues and I trust their experience, even though I don't understand it. God works in different ways with each of us, but when it comes to worship one of the most important question is whether our experience of God is also useful for others.
Blessings on the new week,
Sam
1 Corinthians 14:1-13
Pursue love and strive for the spiritual gifts, and especially that you may prophesy. 2For those who speak in a tongue do not speak to other people but to God; for nobody understands them, since they are speaking mysteries in the Spirit. 3On the other hand, those who prophesy speak to other people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. 4Those who speak in a tongue build up themselves, but those who prophesy build up the church. 5Now I would like all of you to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. One who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.
6Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I speak to you in some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? 7It is the same way with lifeless instruments that produce sound, such as the flute or the harp. If they do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is being played? 8And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? 9So with yourselves; if in a tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is being said? For you will be speaking into the air. 10There are doubtless many different kinds of sounds in the world, and nothing is without sound. 11If then I do not know the meaning of a sound, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me. 12So with yourselves; since you are eager for spiritual gifts, strive to excel in them for building up the church. 13Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray for the power to interpret.
I'm sorry to send this so early, but I have an early start in the morning and had some free time this evening. I was listening to this passage during an afternoon run and struck by how strange and sensible Paul's words are. Paul is giving advice on worship here. He suggests that, while all the spiritual gifts pale in importance next to love, prophecy is the most important gift. By prophecy Paul seems to mean not only the extraordinary gift of understanding the future, but also understanding the present, people, and situations. The prophet sees how God is at work in the church and world, and by rational instruction builds up the church. That's why Paul values this gift so highly; it is a powerful example of being tapped into God's wisdom through the Holy Spirit. It is a gift we expect through prayer as we gather at the session table or in our annual meeting as well as a gift from long ago Bible stories.
In contrast, Paul talks about speaking in tongues. This is also a spiritual gift that Paul appreciates and practices, but he has some warnings to share about this gift. Speaking in tongues means not only speaking in other human languages without learning them (like at Pentecost) but also speaking a mysterious spiritual language unintelligible to most people. In some ways speaking in tongues seems like a direct connection between the Spirit within the worshiper and God that goes deeper than our conscious thought. Paul doesn't discount the spiritual value of this gift, he only worries that it doesn't build up the church, unless there is someone there who has a spiritual gift to interpret this language for the benefit of others. This seems very strange to those of us who have never experienced speaking in tongues (that includes me). But I have friends who have the gift of tongues and I trust their experience, even though I don't understand it. God works in different ways with each of us, but when it comes to worship one of the most important question is whether our experience of God is also useful for others.
Blessings on the new week,
Sam
1 Corinthians 14:1-13
Pursue love and strive for the spiritual gifts, and especially that you may prophesy. 2For those who speak in a tongue do not speak to other people but to God; for nobody understands them, since they are speaking mysteries in the Spirit. 3On the other hand, those who prophesy speak to other people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. 4Those who speak in a tongue build up themselves, but those who prophesy build up the church. 5Now I would like all of you to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. One who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.
6Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I speak to you in some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? 7It is the same way with lifeless instruments that produce sound, such as the flute or the harp. If they do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is being played? 8And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? 9So with yourselves; if in a tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is being said? For you will be speaking into the air. 10There are doubtless many different kinds of sounds in the world, and nothing is without sound. 11If then I do not know the meaning of a sound, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me. 12So with yourselves; since you are eager for spiritual gifts, strive to excel in them for building up the church. 13Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray for the power to interpret.
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