Therefore, What Is?

What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. (1 Corinthians 14:26 NASB)

Wrapping up any argument is the hardest part.  Ending anything is truly difficult.  Sometimes it's just best to walk away, and let the ending be interpreted as it will; leave it to the 'reader' or 'listener'.  I think it's very important to realize that Paul spends three chapters on supporting his assertion made here at the end of the third chapter of his argument.  And a case could be made that his argument had more like four or five chapters.  But all of them focus right here.

It's possible that Paul could have simply 'cut to the chase' and started out with, 'everyone speak in turn'.  But there was a larger issue at hand.  It wasn't enough to address the behavior.  It wasn't enough to give direction for worship practice.  Paul saw a painful, discouraging lack of a foundational principle of Christ Jesus.  John made it the focus of his gospel, and Paul places it at the crux of his argument.  The church in Corinth had lost their love for each other.

'What is the outcome then', or literally, 'Therefore what is', after all that has been said about your loss of focus?  What is after all your faults being laid out before you?  Therefore what is to be said, to be thought, to be practiced?  Let all be done for edification.  Practice!  But practice for edification.  Build up the body of Christ Jesus, our Lord.  'Construct additions' for each person for their strengthening, for their support, for their benefit.  We all need it, and we are all to provide it.

It's not so much what we do, as much as what we do points to a deeper problem.  The problem is a failure or missing piece.  Most often a wrong piece has been put into the place of what belongs; something we prefer, we like, we brought with us from somewhere else.  We don't love like Jesus loved, we love like we like to love others; the way we see other love in the world.  Human-love rather than Divine-love does not accomplish divine purpose.

To be fair, we really can't love like Jesus; we're not capable.  That's why it's divine.  Jesus knew this, so within His call to love each other to the disciples (John 14), He also said the 'Comforter' would come.  He knew we needed help, and so the Helper came.  We can't love with divine love, but it's never really been about us.  It's about our pointing others to Jesus, so His Spirit helps us love like Jesus, so we point the right direction.

Therefore, what is?  Worship is a corporate expression of the love of our Master through us into each other.  We shed ourselves when we acknowledge His sovereignty, His holiness, His works among us, His power, and His salvation of His human creatures.  And then this is expressed as we build each other up, strengthen the weak, return strays, correct errors, and teach the ignorant (aka 'all of us'). 

One of the things the Lead Worshiper at our church does (whenever she can) is post a long roll of paper around the worship center walls.  Then during worship, the people can go and write what God places on their hearts.  This is an opportunity missed by most.  The truth is that it should be a crucial element to our worship.  We should file out of the worship center by walking past these walls.  We should stop and read, and look, and discover the words, the pictures, and the lessons our Master has prepared for us.  It's a lost opportunity.  She tries to lead us to participate, but people just don't get it. 

What is my Master leading me to do?  He's leading me to participate.  He's leading me to build up His people, to encourage, to teach, to engage with His love those around me so desperate for a touch from their Creator.  I can do this in Communion, in writing on the walls (I even love the word-play), in every opportunity afforded me to speak to our people.  But even when I have none, in greeting, in praying with and for them, with each coffee cup I pass I can bless.  I have opportunities I miss, as sad a loss as those who fail to realize what's on the walls, or should be on them, or what our Master wants them to put there.  It's time to succeed, and to accomplish the design and purpose of my Master.