1 Corinthians 14:26-33 (NIV)
What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up. 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 to 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—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people.
The key verse of this section is verse 33a : God is not a God of disorder, but of peace. In the Corinthian church things had devolved to the point that often their services were chaotic; not disorganized, but loud and confusing, with people speaking loudly in tongues over each other, and prophets interrupting each other or refusing to yield the floor, because each felt that his message was very important and must be heard. This section is Paul’s attempt to impose order on their chaos, explaining to them (again) the rules in effect in other congregations, rules that allowed the exercise of spiritual gifts while still maintaining order.
The first gift addressed is speaking in tongues. Since this gift was highly esteemed and even promoted in Corinth, their services were frequently overwhelmed with the sound of dozens of people speaking loudly in languages no one could understand. Paul’s solution, and the norm in other congregations, was that speaking in tongues should be used only when an interpreter was available so that what was said could encourage and edify the whole congregation (14:13). And even then, only two, or at most three tongue-speakers should speak in the service, one at a time, leaving space for interpretation between them.
Paul’s exhortation that if no interpreter is available those speaking in tongues should remain silent , indicate that unlike the pagan religions, where an oracle was “overcome” by an alien spirit and babbled omens, those exercising the gift of speaking in tongues were not overcome, but were able to remain in control of how, where and when the gift was used. So, they could choose to remain silent if there was no interpreter, or if another tongue-speaker was speaking.
It was the same with the gift of prophecy. Two, or at most three, prophets should share their message from the Lord to build up the body, and only one should speak at a time. That means that no prophet should monopolize the floor when other prophets are to speak. They are to relinquish the floor when their time is up, without engaging in a power struggle, so that God can fully communicate all that He wants to say to the gathered people.
Father, it is easy to see that are the exercise of our gifts in the worship service is never our chance to shine, but Your chance to shine. If it ever becomes about me and my gift, or my message, or my ministry, I have gone astray and will not be blessed by you. Help us to use every good gift You give us, whether physical or spiritual, as You direct so that You are glorified in and through them. Amen.