A Verse that Made Me Wonder
It was my privilege to attend the Lads to Leaders convention in Nashville not long ago. It provided an all too rare opportunity (in my mind) for all of our family to be together. Between Donna and me, we were able to see all five of our grandchildren as they participated in various activities.
While Lads to Leaders was treasured by us as a special family time, it also proved to be a time of spiritual growth and renewal. What a blessing it was to see so many young people use their considerable talents in various avenues of service to the Lord and His people! What an experience it was to worship on Sunday morning with what was estimated to be about 6,000 other Christians! What an encouragement it was to hear some young men preach to that many people and to do such a wonderful job!
The thoughts that are becoming the words I am typing now began to germinate as I heard one of those young men speak. During his presentation, he quoted 1 Corinthians 14:33. I will reproduce that verse here from two different translations:
For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints (KJV).
For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints (ESV).
There are many others who know much more than I do about the original languages of the Bible and the various sources/manuscripts from which we have various translations. I will leave it to them to discuss whether “author” or “God” is the best translation in the opening thought conveyed in this verse.
It is not that part of the verse that has me wondering. I think that it is very clear that peace is from God, while confusion is not. If this verse does not make that clear, there are many, many other passages which do.
What has me wondering is the last part of that verse. There is no way of knowing how many times I have read that verse. There is no way of knowing how many times I have used it myself in sermons, Bible classes, etc.
However, it was not until I heard that young man quote it on that particular Sunday morning, that I really began to wonder. I haven’t stopped wondering yet. I may never stop wondering.
Please look at the verse again. Read it slowly. Read it again. Let it sink in.
Then, ask yourself a couple of questions that I wondered about when I heard the young man quote the verse and have been wondering about ever since:
How much confusion does there have to be in order for the Lord to no longer view a group of people as “…a church of the saints?”
If an atmosphere of peace is found in “all the churches of the saints,” what is the identity of a church that is known for rancor, disharmony, etc.?
I may never satisfy my curiosity about those questions (and others very similar to them). I have already spent a great deal of time wondering about the answers to them. I could easily go to my grave still wondering about all of the implications of 1 Corinthians 14:33.
While I will probably still spend time wondering about that verse, there is something else on which I need to focus and on which I need to spend my time. I’m praying that all who read these words will join me in that effort.
It seems to me that my individual effort and our combined effort would go a long, long way toward something that has an impact on something other than the identification of the congregation of which we are members. It has an impact on our own individual identity.
Listen to Jesus as He says:
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God (Matt. 5:9).
Here is what I’m really wondering about. I’m wondering if I am doing all I can to live up to these inspired words:
So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding (Rom. 14:19).
The characteristic of every congregation is dependent to some degree on the character and effort of each individual member. Is your congregation truly a “church of the saints?” Is that true because of your efforts?
I’m just wondering.
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AUTHOR: Jim Faughn
