1 Cor 14-The shattered touchstone
Posted by appolus on December 4, 2023
1 Cor 14 is a subject near and dear to my heart. I have written many times about it and have long considered writing a small book about it. The title would be “1 Cor 14-The Shattered Touchstone.” Now, a touchstone is defined as ” a test or criterion for determining the quality or genuineness of a thing.” In the new Testament we have very little to determine how the early church gathered, yet in 1 Cor 14 we see it laid out. And so, over the years, when given the chance I have a question I ask “leaders,” or “pastors.” It is always the same question, verbatim. “Does your church look anything like 1 Cor 14 and if not, why not?” You would not think that a very controversial question. Yet it typical engenders anger or a personal attack. Actually the best answer I ever got was from a dear brother who simply said, after acknowledging that his service/liturgy (order of service) did not resemble 1 Cor 14 replied “I don’t why.”
And so, I asked that question of a “pastor,” yesterday and here was the reply “I don’t want to get into a fault finding discussion about my church or any other congregation. We work hard to contend for and embody New Testament Christianity. No congregation is perfect, but I am thankful for the healthy body life in my church body.” Strange answer dont you think? Now I realize that this man ( a good man in my opinion) depends upon that church to put a roof over his head. He undoubtedly enjoys his position within that church. It elevates his status. And because he is in that position, he can never criticize his gathering. Imagine having a doctor that could never tell you what is wrong with you? Would you pay that doctor? The man in question stated that he “worked hard to and contend for and embody New Testament Christianity.” Now, if that were actually true, then one would undoubtedly go back to the Scriptures and see how they compared to it. Is there any other way?
All genuine revivals of the past started with an inward look at the state of ourselves, the nation, the community, the Church and the local church. How else can change come? If we cannot compare ourselves to the Word what is left? Well, then we must compare ourselves to others or perhaps compare ourselves to the traditions of men or the idols of our fathers. All of that would leave us severely wanting. Imagine we decided to ignore Galatians chapter 5 for instance. Within that chapter we see the fruits of the Spirit which are love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self control. This is an absolute way we can measure ourselves. It’s a measure of where we are. Imagine not wanting to offend ourselves or others by daring to ignore these fruits. Imagine not having the ability to suggest to a man that is clearly lacking in self control that he is falling short of the mark of God in his life. Our actual opinions about ourselves would mean nothing, it is only meaningful in light of the revealed Word of God.
And so it is with all things. The Word of God is our touchstone. It determines the quality and the genuineness of whatever it speaks to. If we must ignore that in order not to offend or find fault with man, then we have drifted far away from the Truth. It is often easier in the flesh to offend God than it is to offend men. If our foundations rest upon the tradition of our fathers, if our salaries and pensions and status in life depend upon ignoring the Word of God in favor of not offending men, are we any better than a hireling? The Word of God is living and active, sharper than any tow edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intentions of the heart (Heb 4:12)
A Call To The Remnant 
BT said
“And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house” Ph. 1:5
What a sad statement… “my church, our church…”
Church is not somewhere you go, it is some you are… or should be.
A new day is dawning, God will only pour out His New Wine into a New Wine skin.
Blessings brother
BT
Anonymous said
I can only say “OUCH”, “yes and amen.”!!
The Lord has been doing a deep cleansing/separating, two-edged S(Word) work in my life. It has been an incredibly painful and hard process, but true healing and health is occurring by, in, and through God’s wonderous love, grace and mercy and righteousness.
I have been unsettled these past two nights and mornings.
Reading your commentary on 1Corinthians 14 settled me down and was the focus I needed! While looking up 1Cor 14, the Lord directed the pages and my eyes to 1Cor 5 & 6, but especially 1Cor 5: 12-13 NLT STUDY Bible:
12/ It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning. 13/ God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, “you must remove the evil person from among you.” (Deut
17:7)
That would almost every person now in “church”, that would have been me, too, earlier. We are in serious times and the Lord does not want us to play “church” anymore, but to be His totally committed pure and holy/righteous (heart, soul and mind) BETROTHED.
God is preparing a pure and holy and beautiful Bride for His Son and the call to come to the Wedding Supper will be made sooner than we expect!!