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哥林多前书14：26-33：26弟兄们，这却怎么样呢？你们聚会的时候，各人或有诗歌，或有教训，或有启示，或有方言，或有翻出来的话，凡事都当造就人。27若有说方言的，只好两个人，至多三个人，且要轮流着说，也要一个人翻出来。28若没有人翻，就当在会中闭口，只对自己和神说就是了。29至于作先知讲道的，只好两个人，或是三个人，其余的就当慎思明辨。30若旁边坐着的得了启示，那先说话的就当闭口不言。31因为你们都可以一个一个的作先知讲道，叫众人学道理，叫众人得劝勉。32先知的灵原是顺服先知的，33因为神不是叫人混乱，乃是叫人安静。
基督徒的敬拜聚会，甚至是圣经学习，不应该成为脱口秀或是一场政治辩论，每个人都提高嗓门，互相打断别人的发言，争着去说服别人，以至于没有人能表达自己的看法。保罗说：“先知的灵原是顺服先知的，因为神不是叫人混乱，乃是叫人安静。”我们要记住这章的内容前面就是第13章，第13章教导我们什么是基督徒的爱。基督徒的爱要求我们去倾听别人，而不是别人必须倾听我们。
神不是叫人混乱的神，乃是叫人安静（和谐）的神。也许当我们超越敬拜仪式和圣经学习，去看这个问题时，我们就明白如何运用这句话。当我们在教会里一同服事做工的时候，我们必须对很多事情做出决定，从是否有必要呼召另一位牧师，到教堂新地毯的颜色。令人惊讶的是，人们甚至对不重要的事情也会有强烈的看法和情绪。但我们彼此交谈，互相倾听。当我们作为一个整体做出教会的决定的时候，这个决定也将是我个人的决定，即使有时候我是不赞成这样做的。我在这里谈论的不是教义，因为上帝的教导没有商量的余地。
这么多年来，我的经历慢慢使我形成了这样的看法，我注意到很多我本人不赞成的决定，最后都成为了正确的决定。耶稣仍然在我们中间引导他的子民，有时候甚至使用他们做的那些“错误的决定”，来成就对他的国度最大的益处。我们的救主上帝是叫人安静和谐的上帝。
祷告：主耶稣，我们聚集在一起的时候，有时候会陷入混乱。在教会内部，我们因为一些决定和方向而挣扎。请赐给我们彼此倾听的心。求你赐给我们智慧，使我们能作正确的决定。最重要的是赐给我们信心，让我们相信你永远祝福我们，并让你的国降临在我们中间。阿们。
1 Corinthians 14: 26 So, brothers, what is to be done? When you come together, each one of you has a psalm, or a teaching, or a revelation, or an utterance in a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done in a way that builds people up. 27 If someone speaks in a tongue, limit it to two or at most three (speaking one at a time), and have one person interpret. 28 But if there is no interpreter, he is to keep silent in the church and keep his speaking between himself and God. 29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others carefully evaluate what was said. 30 But if a revelation comes to another person as he sits there, let the first person become silent. 31 For you all can do your prophesying one at a time, so that all may learn and all may be encouraged. 32 The spirits of the prophets are also subject to the prophets, 33 for God is not a God of disorder, but of peace.
Christian worship or even Bible studies should not be like the Jerry Springer show or a political debate, where everyone is shouting and talking over each other and no one can get a word in edgewise. Paul says, “The spirits of the prophets are also subject to the prophets, for God is not a God of disorder, but of peace.” Remember that this chapter follows the chapter that teaches us about Christian love. Christian love demands that we listen, not that we must be heard.
God is not a God of disorder, but of peace. Perhaps if we look beyond our worship services and Bible studies, we can see where that applies. When we come together in a congregation and do our work, we have to make decisions about lots of things, from whether or not we are going to call a second pastor to the color of the new carpet in the sanctuary. It’s amazing how people can have strong feelings even about things that aren’t important. But we talk to each other. We listen to each other. And when we make a decision as a congregation, then it is going to be my decision, too, even if I didn’t think that was what we should do. I’m not talking about doctrine, because God’s teachings are never negotiable.
Over the years (and age gives one that perspective), I have noticed that many decisions that didn’t go my way turned out in the end to be the right decision. Jesus is still among us, guiding his people, using their even sometimes “bad decisions” for the good of his kingdom. Our God and Savior is still a God of peace!
Prayer: Lord Jesus, our gatherings as you people can be messy at times. We struggle with decisions and directions. Give us the heart to listen to each other. Give us wisdom to make good decisions. And give us faith that you will bless us and make your kingdom come among us. Amen.