Tongues

         Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.  For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified. (I Corinthians 14:1-5)

Let me begin by saying that my focus on this passage has nothing to do with Tongues and everything to do with what Paul wrote about Tongues. He noted that anyone who speaks in a tongue doesn’t speak to people but to God. She edifies herself. What I’m getting it really goes back to the beginning of the previous chapter, which says that if we do something but do not have love, it’s just noise. That was and is the problem, but not just with Tongues.

When we are doing something as a congregation, the more of the congregation we can involve, the better. At the risk of raising a contentious issue, having a twenty-person choir is probably better than a three-person worship team, but having the full congregation singing is better still.

Back in1946, Edgar Dale developed a theory that we retain 10% of what we read, 20% of what we hear, 30% of what we see, 50% of what we see and hear, 70% of what we say, and 90% of what we say and do. (Google can be useful.) First, the percentages have never been proven, and I suspect some of it depends on how you happen to learn best. But as a general idea, the more involved we are in the process, the more we’ll retain. This explains why I like to listen to myself talk. I’m more likely to remember it than if I listen to you say it.

Recently, someone brought up the topic of communion. Worship is another long-standing issue. The more we as individuals or as a congregation participate in something, the more meaning it is likely to have. One person speaking in Tongues  (that no one else understands) does no one any good. One person leading a communion service or one person singing, all of which involves minimal involvement on anyone else’s part. A choice singing may reach more, but the congregation singing will influence the most. The pastor reading Scripture won’t be as remembered as the congregation standing and reading it together. If communion can be done in a way that increases congregational involvement, it will have more meaning. I’m not sure how to go about that, but it’s an idea to explore. I know some have a ritual saying along the lines of “The body and blood of Christ.” I don’t know if there’s a response to this, but the problem with simply adding that is that it’s rote, brainless repetition.

Put another way, what is best for the congregation and the individual is what involves the maximum involvement on the part of the congregation and the individual.