Decently And In Order

Many of us have heard the caution “everything must be done decently and in order”.  Through the years this has been applied to discussions ranging from singing camp songs on Sunday morning to applause during worship to raising hands while singing and praying.  For better or for worse, this warning has become kind of a catch-all for taking the time to examine the prudence of introducing something different in worship.  
The authority for this warning comes from Paul’s caution, “But all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner.” (I Corinthians 14:40).  To appreciate these words we must consider their context – the worship in Corinth.  The church was struggling with a spirit of disunity that invaded every aspect of their Christianity, including the worship.  There were people trying to out-shout each other during their assembly. There were multiple languages being spoken, but not understood.  Their “fellowship dinners” lacked fellowship (much less equity) and the Lord’s Supper was more about divisiveness than communion.  Some promoted their advanced knowledge while others sought to be superior because they aligned themselves with a particular preacher.  To put it simply, they were a crazy, mixed-up mess that bordered on anarchy!  It is against this backdrop that Paul advocates proper order.  (He would also require them to display love for one another, but that’s another topic for another time.)  Paul’s warning was to put an end to the chaos and bring a spirit of propriety and purpose back in their worship.
Thankfully, most modern Christian worship has not deteriorated to this point, but this caution should be a reminder to us.   I see at least two ways that this admonition is relevant to our worship in the 21st Century:
1).  Our worship needs to focus on God, not ourselves.  While this may seem like a no-brainer, it is a valid warning for today.  In an effort to put our best foot forward in our public worship we can be drawn to focus on the servants rather than the One being served.  There is a temptation to put style (personal talents) above substance (God).  Let’s do our best to produce our best, but let’s remember that the focus isn’t on a preacher, a song leader or someone leading a prayer – the heart and soul of our worship is shining a spotlight on our Lord.
2).  Our worship is for everyone, not just the elite.  Worship can be inspiring as long as everyone understands what is being done.  Relying on complex concepts can be stimulating to some, but we must understand that worship is for all attendees, not just the mature sophisticated believers.  When we sing, when we pray and when we preach we must be mindful that our time together is a time of communion, not exclusion. 
Our public worship should emphasize love, devotion and unity.  Let’s make sure that we display a respect for our God and demonstrate a desire to facilitate the understanding of all of our brethren.

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