Decently and in Order
Keith Sharp
First Corinthians chapters twelve through fourteen contain the fullest discussion of spiritual gifts in the Bible. In chapter fourteen the apostle Paul regulates the use of these miraculous gifts in the public worship assembly of the church (cf. verses 4-5,18-19,23,26,28,33-35). Thus, the details of the chapter pertain to the age of the miraculous gifts and cannot be enforced in our assemblies.
However, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:9-13) and commandment of the Lord (1 Corinthians 14:37), the apostle states four general, spiritual principles which are universally binding until the end of time. He clearly identifies these worldwide and age lasting precepts. Three times he uses the word “all” in connection with regulations (verses 26,33,40), and once he states that the principle was true even under the law (verse 34).
One of these universal, age lasting laws is “Let all things be done decently and in order” (verse 40). The International Standard Version of the Bible translates this verse “But everything must be done in a proper and orderly way.” Barnes comments on the phrase “in order”:
Let all be done in ‘order, regularly;’ without confusion, discord, tumult. The word used here ... is properly a military term, and denotes the order and regularity with which an army is drawn up.
When the Lord created the “heavens and the earth,” His creation was “without form and
void” (Genesis 1:1-2). But “the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters” (verse 2), and in the six days of creation He fashioned perfect order from this chaos. Thus, at the end of the sixth day, “God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good” (Genesis 1:31).
The Lord Jesus was orderly. Before miraculously feeding the five thousand men plus women and children, He commanded the apostles, “Make them all sit down in groups of fifty” (Luke 9:14). “So they all sat and were filled, and twelve baskets of the leftover fragments were taken up by them” (verse 17).
The local church should be orderly in conducting its business. Paul left Titus in Crete to “set in order the things that are lacking” (Titus 1:5). Appointing elders was chief in importance (Ibid), and every congregation should be striving to have scripturally qualified elders to rule and shepherd and deacons to serve (Philippians 1:1).
Until these offices have been filled in the congregation, the men of the local church must rule (1 Corinthians 11:3; 1 Timothy 2:12; 3:14-15) and set up and follow an orderly schedule of worship and work, taking into account the abilities of each member (Romans 12:4-8). Each member should know well in advance what his duties will be and be properly prepared to carry them out, so the assembly and classes will be conducted “decently and in order.” When someone has an assigned duty in the worship assembly or classes and is unable to fulfill it, he should let the one in charge of assignments know so a substitute can be ready.
Our worship assemblies must be conducted “decently and in order,” for this is an inspired command of the Lord, it reflects the nature of the Lord whom we serve, it gives proper honor to the One whom we worship, and it will keep us from being offensive to our visitors (1 Corinthians 14:23). During the public assembly when visitors are often present is not the proper time or place for those who are unskilled to practice or to try out new songs.
Classes may and should be arranged for practice. Jesus Christ spent three and a half years training the apostles for their work (John 17:8,12). A serious part of the work of the church and of preachers is training faithful Christians for service to God (Ephesians 4:11-16; 2 Timothy 2:2). A congregation without such a training class is seriously deficient in its program of edification. Christians who are content with slovenly teaching, preaching, singing, and leadership in the worship assembly are rebelling against the Lord’s command for decency and order and demonstrating a lack of concern for service to God (cf. Romans 12:11).
To be orderly, our classes and assemblies should start at the announced time. To fail to do this not only violates the command for decency and order and demonstrates lack of zeal in serving the Lord, but also makes us liars for posting a set time for the assembly (Revelation 21:8).
To start on time, the members should arrive early. Do you drag into work just at starting time or even five or ten minutes late? Is your job more important than the worship of the Lord? (Matthew 6:33) When one is chronically late, he is demonstrating he places little importance in Bible study and worship (cf. Matthew 6:33; 1 Peter 2:2; Hebrews 10:24-25).
God always has been and always shall be orderly. He demands that we worship Him “decently and in order.” Let us heed the command.
Works Cited
Barnes, Albert, Notes on the New Testament: 1 Corinthians (from e-Sword computer Bible program)
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