Check out this parody video of a modern day “contemporary” service:
What stood out to me in the video was the part that says, “And only one man has the answers.” Many churches operate this way. Only one person speaks to the congregation. Only one person has the answers. There isn’t time during the gathering to question that man, either in questioning for clarification or any confusion you have about what he is teaching or to question if what he is saying is in accord with God’s Word. When he is finished speaking, there is no confirmation or affirmation of the message by those who heard it built into the service agenda/outline.
How does this common service outline of a “contemporary” service match what is found in 1 Corinthians 14? How does a common “liturgical” or “traditional” service match what is found in 1 Corinthians 14?
I think we all need to read 1 Cor. 14 and pray over that chapter and the type of worship order that Paul describes. A lot of churches hold strong and firm to the part about not speaking in tongues unless there is an interpreter, and if there is speaking in tongues to not have more than 2-3 people do it, but completely skip the part about having more than one speaker (prophet) or the time for others to share revelations and other Scripture passages that affirm the message or correct it, as this video pointed out, in our modern day services, “One man alone has the answers.” It creates a be fed mentality and not a learn to feed yourself and feed others congregation. We often times call our services fellowship, but is there much fellowship in them if everyone is facing forward and singing only what is told for them to sing, standing and sitting when told to do so, and communicating with one another only when told to shake hands and greet people, and only interacting briefly or none at all with the person who was up front teaching, while not knowing the individual needs of those around us, or being able to use our gifts of encouragement, prayer, teaching, generosity, prophecy, healing, and etc. unless we’re on the stage?
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