Prophecy and Tongues in Corporate Worship

1 Corinthians 14:1-25 - Riley Boggs

This past week I heard the news that a dear brother in Christ had passed away. His name was John Curlin, and we were a part of a small group that met every other week in someone’s home together. He was a brilliant man, truly. But more than that, he loved and knew the Lord deeply, and it was obvious. He had a close, intimate relationship with the Lord, and he wanted that for other believers so badly. He was always asking people, “Do you listen for the Lord? When you ask God for something, listen. And man, when he does respond, you better obey.” It was clear that John had lived this reality. And now, thanks be to God, John knows the Lord far better than any of us here.

The reason I tell you this is because I think this text demands that we listen to John’s question, are you listening to the Lord? As you heard when I read this passage, this text deals with prophecy and tongues. Something that can feel a bit distant, a bit like a truth we don’t actually believe is true because it’s not happening. But I would waiver to say that the reason we don’t think it is happening is because we aren’t asking, and we aren’t listening.

What would you say if I told you this was happening in our church? It is. Just 2 weeks ago someone in our church had a dream, they shared it with someone else in our church, it made sense to them, and it brought great comfort and encouragement. I don’t want us to be a church who reads about the spiritual gifts the same way we read about someone winning the lottery. We read that and think, “Wow, that’s awesome! Good for them. I know that’ll never happen to me or anyone else I know, but I mean that’s cool.” The spiritual gifts aren’t like this. The gifts exist and are given to the church, and we read in the very first verse of our text this morning that we are to pursue them. That means that we must make an effort to find out what our gifts are and then exercise them. It is a pursuit.

This morning I want to give you the way I am going to approach the text ahead of time. I am taking cues from how my previous pastor, Lee, preached this text. On one hand prophecy and tongues need to be addressed directly, and on the other hand this text is not primarily about prophecy and tongues. Rather this text is about corporate worship. It is a passage that sits in Paul’s larger argument about how the Corinthians corporate worship should look and function. I want to define these prophecy and tongues for us this morning, using the same thing my previous pastor used, which is Wayne Grudem’s systematic theology. And then I want to give you 3 principles for corporate worship.

So let’s define each of these. Wayne Grudem, a well-respected, well-studied,  trustworthy, and God-fearing man, defines tongues as, “Speaking in tongues is prayer or praise spoken in syllables not understood by the speaker.” I think this is a very good definition because it sets very well in the Scriptures, particularly this text. You’ll notice that this definition says that speaking in tongues is prayer or praise spoken in syllables. That is important to note because there are some who will say that tongues are always a human language. I would agree that the gifts of tongues could certainly be someone speaking in a language they do not know, but someone else understands, or someone else can interpret. But I think this text keeps us from saying it must be a human language. Look at verse 2. Paul says, “For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit.” I think Paul is being literal here. No one understands the person speaking in tongues because they are speaking in syllables that are not a human language. This is similar to how he mentioned in chapter 13 that without love, speaking in the tongues of men or the tongues of angels, is nothing. Alright, so that is the gift of tongues. We will talk more about this as we go, but now we have a working definition.

Wayne Grudem defines prophecy as, “Telling something that God has spontaneously brought to mind.” Again, I think this is a good definition because it sets well in Scripture, especially this text. Prophecy is not speaking on behalf of God and saying, “God said this”. The gift of prophecy does not grant someone the ability to speak something that would be held as high as Scripture or would ever be contrary to Scripture. Prophecy is simply when a believer is prompted by the Spirit to share something with another believer for their benefit. Maybe it’s a certain Scripture, a certain encouragement, a certain something. Look at verse 3, Paul says, “On the other hand, the one who prophecies speak to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.” That will be our working definition for the gift prophecy, “Telling something that God has spontaneously brought to mind.”

Now with all of that in mind, let’s look at the 3 principles for corporate worship. My goal is to show you Paul’s argument as it pertains to prophecy and tongues, but then zoom out and see how we might apply this to our corporate worship as a whole.

3 Principles for Corporate Worship

1.) Corporate worship should always pursue the better way

There are things that are good and there are things that a better. That is true in all of life. For example, all ice cream is good, but if money weren’t the issue, you would reach for Blue Bell every time. Why? Because it is better. That doesn’t mean other ice cream is bad, it’s still good. It just means that there is a better way. This same reality exists within our corporate worship. There are things that many things we could do in our corporate worship that would be good, but there are some things that are simply better, so we choose to do them.

Paul makes this same argument about prophecy and tongues in corporate worship. Look at what he says starting in verse 1, “Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. 2 For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. 3 On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. 4 The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. 5 Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.”

In other words, both prophecy and tongues are a good thing. We should pursue them as the Lord sees fit to gift us. But, when it comes to corporate worship, prophecy is better. Why? Well the reason it is better is because it more easily builds up the church. If someone speaks in a tongue that can’t be translated or interpreted then that person might be edified, but the rest of the church isn’t because they do not know what was said. On the other hand, if someone prophecies there is no need for a translator or interpreter. What is said is clearly understood, and the church is more easily built up.

It’s important that we see this dynamic because Paul is going to be playing off of it the rest of this passage. Just imagine we gather one evening for a prayer meeting and someone prays, and as they begin to pray, they pray in a language that none of us are familiar with. No one translates or interprets, and so we just sort of move on. Now imagine someone shares a certain struggle and someone else is prompted by the Spirit and remembers a certain text that might help them. So they speak up and share that passage. In that moment everyone in the room is encouraged that the Lord is in our midst and using us to build up one another. See how prophecy is the better thing here in corporate worship? This doesn’t mean the gift of tongues is bad, that’s not the point. It is simply that in corporate worship, the better thing should be pursued.

Paul explains this another way starting in verse 6. He says, “6 Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? 7 If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played? 8 And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? 9 So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air. 10 There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning, 11 but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me. 12 So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.”

Here’s what he is saying: If someone stands behind a curtain and plays an instrument in a way it isn’t supposed to be played, we might not even know what is being played. Some of you might be thinking, “I’d know it was a flute even if it was played poorly.” If you’re thinking that, you have put too much trust in my ability to make a flute sound like something you’ve never heard before. Paul makes it even clearer when he mentions a bugle being played in such a way that soldiers know to get ready for battle. If it’s not played in the right way, no one will know they should be getting prepared.

And all of this is simply an illustration for us to see what the gift of tongues might be like, if it is not translated or interpreted, and there is no revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching to accompany it. It simply won’t encourage, and it won’t build up. It will be indistinct like the instrument not being played right. We will talk about this in a moment, but there is a place for uninterpreted tongues, but that place is not corporate worship.

Let me zoom out now and apply this principle as a whole. All the time people ask, “Riley, why did you decide for your service to be like this? Why do you choose these songs? Why do you not do this? Why do you not do that?” These are valid questions. Why does our corporate worship look like this? I’ll tell you why. It is because we are in pursuit of not just what is good, but what is better. Could we sing shallow, fun, and popular songs? Sure. But when we have so many theologically rich and beautiful songs right before us, why wouldn’t we choose those instead? Could we have a time where we all sit down, and someone comes up here and sings a song to us? Sure, and it wouldn’t necessarily be sinful. But what would be better? I think the better path is one where we all sing, we all lift our voices. We all proclaim the truths being sung and we do so united as one voice, not tempted to give praise to man, but all our praise to God. Our service isn’t perfect, I know this. But it is our best attempt at fulfilling what we are commanded in Scripture, and seeking to do the better thing amidst a lot of good things.

2.) Corporate worship should be corporate

I know this seems like an obvious and silly thing to say, but I do think it needs to be said. Americans love their individualism, and we live in culture that encourages it. An example we can all see rather clearly is how homes are built now. They used to have big front porches where people would sit and talk to their neighbors. Now houses lead with a garage door. You pull up, open the garage door, drive your car in, close it behind you, and you’re inside. We live in society that promotes individualism and desperately lacks community. If you talk to enough young people, you’ll find our very soon that one of the greatest struggles they are facing is loneliness.

If anyone gets this right, it should be Christians. We have been called to a body. We have been called to a life of commitment, accountability, honestly, vulnerability, and dependence. A life of community. And our corporate worship must reflect this reality. Our corporate worship needs to be corporate.

As Paul works through the gift of prophecy and tongues, I think he makes this same point. Look with me starting in verse 13. He says, “13 Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. 15 What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also. 16 Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say “Amen” to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying? 17 For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up. 18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19 Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.”

Here's what I think he is getting at. Paul says clearly that he speaks in tongues often, and he is thankful for that, because God uses it to sanctify him. However, he doesn’t pursue this gift in the church, which is simply a reference to corporate worship. Why? Because corporate worship is meant to encourage and edify those who are present, not just the one who is speaking in tongues. Another way of saying this would be to say that corporate worship should be corporate.

He says that if you are going to speak or sing in tongues, pray that you might interpret as well, that way others might understand what is being said and lift up an “Amen” in thanksgiving. But, if no one translates or interprets, then no one understands, and no one will lift up and “Amen”. And so, because Paul understands that corporate worship should indeed be corporate, he says that he would rather speak in 5 words that are understood than 10,000 words that are not.

The application regarding how we might view the gift of tongues in corporate worship is rather straightforward. However, I want to zoom out and push us to believe this truth about corporate worship wholeheartedly. There is a reason why we will never pull dark shades over these windows. That reason is that you need to see the people around you. You need to see them reading and praying beside you. You need to see them singing with you. We need that. We will never crank up the speakers loud enough that the church’s voices can’t be heard. Why? You need to hear the people around you singing, and they need to hear you. Our corporate worship needs to functionally be corporate.

There was a time in my life, and I am embarrassed to share this now, that I did not enjoy corporate worship much at all. It was boring and I had no place. I showed up and watched other people read, other people pray, other people sing, other people do this or that, and then I left. I wasn’t a participant; I was a spectator. And then sometime later, I swung towards the total other end. I showed up, shook a few hands, and then it was just me and Jesus. I clenched my eyes tight when I was singing, I prayed my own prayers, I hunkered over my notes during the sermon, and I left.

Thankfully, I had all of this called into question in college, and I began to see that both of those approaches to corporate worship are wrong. We don’t gather only to spectate others worship, and we don’t gather to do our own little thing and leave. We gather to worship corporately, to worship together. We open our Bibles together, we stand together, we sing together, we pray together, and we come to the table together. 

It's a very simple thing, but I would encourage you to look around while you sing and watch what happens. You’ll realize very quickly that this is how corporate worship is supposed to happen. You will see that couple who have been through hard times singing, and your heart will be glad. You will see that brother or sister who is battling sickness or pain singing and your own voice might get a little louder. You will see that young boy or young girl standing on their tiptoes singing louder than everyone around them and you will be filled with joy. And in that, you will see and experience why corporate worship should be corporate.

3.) Corporate worship should not be aimed at non-believers, but should point them to the glory of God

I could add, and their need to repent and place their faith in Christ. Starting in verse 20 Paul writes, “20 Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature. 21 In the Law it is written, “By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.” 22 Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers. 23 If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds? 24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, 25 the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.”

In this passage Paul is again showing why prophecy better than tongues in corporate worship by walking through how a visiting unbeliever might walk away from a worship service with one or the other. In verses 21-22 he makes a reference to Isaiah and then speaks of tongues being a sign for unbelievers, not believers, and prophecy being a sign for believers, not unbelievers. Here’s what he is getting at. The reference to Isaiah is one where the Lord used prophet to instruct them, they didn’t listen, and said that when they hear a language they do not understand, it is a sign of judgment. And so Paul is making the point that the same is true for unbelievers who might attend these corporate worship services.

Imagine an unbeliever comes to a service where people are speaking in tongues, but there is no translation or interpretation. They person is going to leave confused and further judged because they are an unbeliever and have continued to reject God. This, of course, isn’t what we desire for those who are unbelievers who visit. We want them to see the glory of God and the hope of the Gospel. And to that, Paul would say, that’s exactly my point, and that is why prophecy is better. If an unbeliever comes and people are sharing things that the Spirit has prompted in them, then the unbeliever will marvel at how the Spirit is working amongst them. And hopefully, they will be moved to see that they should worship God, declare the same truths about Him, and repent and place their faith in Him.

Zooming out, we can apply this principle to our corporate worship as a whole. Our service is not primarily aimed at unbelievers. We don’t just stay at the basics or just talk as if no on in the room knows Christ. We go deeper and speak as if we are all in Christ and are seeking to follow Him together. And, at the same time, we want the service to be accessible. Anyone might walk through the doors and see the glory of God put before them. They will hear the simple Gospel, and they will see that the Lord is working in and among us. That is the goal.

There is a sense in which an unbeliever should feel out of place and in the right place all at the same time if they visit our service. They should feel out of place because they are in a room full of people who love God, are committed to one another, and are seeking Christ, and none of these things are true of them. And at the same time, they should feel like God Himself has brought them to this very place so that they might see their need to repent and believe.

One of the clearest ways we put this on display is in how we do the Lord’s Supper. For those of you who have trusted Christ for salvation, we you to come to the table with us. But, for those of you who do have not trusted Christ for salvation, I ask that you not come to the table. The reason for this because this meal is only for those who know Christ. On one hand, you need to feel that you need to do something, because you do. You need to repent of your sins and place your faith in Jesus. On the other hand, you need to feel thankful to God that He has brought you here so that you might hear the good news of Jesus Christ. The good news that Jesus came, lived a sinless life, died, was buried, and resurrected. All so that helpless sinners like yourself might be forgiven for your sins. So I would plead with you to place your faith in Him and receive forgiveness.

In just a moment we are going to come to the table, but I want to say one thing first. My honest prayer is that you would pursue the spiritual gifts and that we would exercise in the way that God desires for us to. And I think we have seen that in this text. I would find great joy in walking through this with any of you who desire to. If you don’t know what your gift is, let’s talk and pray through it. If you do know and you are hesitant to use, let’s talk and pray through it. Don’t withhold the blessings that God is trying to bestow on others in the church because you are not willing to practice the gifts. We need you to. The Lord loves you and He desires that you might know and feel this, and He desires that you would use your gifts to remind others in the church of God’s love for them as well. Let us be a church that does this.