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It never failed. Mom would be asleep and us three kids would get into a knock down, drag out fight. Finally, one of us would get fed up and yell, “I’m telling mom!”

It had to be bad, really bad, if we were going to wake her up. She worked nights and already didn’t get much sleep. To wake her up before it was time for her to go to work was a last resort.

Once someone yelled that, you knew you only had a few seconds to get your story straight and your complaints ready.

“Mom, mom! You have to get up…”

As soon as you saw her eyelids flicker, it was a race. The barrage of excuses, rants, accusations and justifications flew at her at rapid fire. But coming from 3 people at once, she couldn’t hear a thing we were saying.

“Stop it. One at a time. What happened?”

Of course, we would try to weasel our way into being the first to speak, but she would shush us and only one would speak. The others could share their side of the story next.

This was the kind of chaos that was erupting in the church at Corinth. Paul had written a letter to them to encourage unity and order within the church.

Many of the believers in the church were fighting over their spiritual gifts. When they came together, instead of the focus being on Christ, they made it about them. Some seemed more spiritual than others because they spoke in tongues, or other languages. As others heard this, they began doing it themselves. Pretty soon, it was a cacophony of voices babbling nonsense, trying to “out do” the performance of another.

But it wasn’t just speaking in another language. They also fought over prophesying. They claimed they had received a message from God and would share this new revelation, and while they were speaking, another would begin. And another.

It was chaos. And Paul was writing to put a stop to it.

1 Corinthians 14:26-33

“Well, my brothers and sisters, let’s summarize. When you meet together, one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God has given, one will speak in tongues, and another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must strengthen all of you.

27 No more than two or three should speak in tongues. They must speak one at a time, and someone must interpret what they say. 28 But if no one is present who can interpret, they must be silent in your church meeting and speak in tongues to God privately.

29 Let two or three people prophesy, and let the others evaluate what is said. 30 But if someone is prophesying and another person receives a revelation from the Lord, the one who is speaking must stop. 31 In this way, all who prophesy will have a turn to speak, one after the other, so that everyone will learn and be encouraged. 32 Remember that people who prophesy are in control of their spirit and can take turns. 33 For God is not a God of disorder but of peace, as in all the meetings of God’s holy people.”

The purpose of meeting together was to learn and study the scriptures, to be equipping and encouraged to go out and share the good news of Jesus. But all that was happening here in the church at Corinth was madness. There could be no learning or understanding. Paul had even mentioned that because of their actions and nonsense, that any unbelievers that came to the church would not hear the message of Christ, but would think they were crazy.

Pride and the desire to exalt self was pulsing through this congregation. Paul reminded them that their actions were not mirroring Christ. This was not how the church should be.

“God is not the author of confusion, but of peace.”

If a stranger walked into our church today, what would they hear and know about Christ and His followers?

Would they hear the beautiful gospel of Christ? Would they see His hands and feet at work, serving, loving, welcoming? Would they be able to listen and learn? Would they see others leading by example giving glory to God and not themselves?

Let the house of the Lord be filled with His praises, His Word, teaching the truth, loving others and unity.