I Corinthians 14:20-40
For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. (v. 33) I remember reading a Christian book, Miracle at Darien, which is the story of a major revival in a (then-?) Episcopal church in Darien, Connecticut. They had hired a new rector who, on his first talk to his new congregation said, “Jesus Christ is the head of this church.” All agreed – nice words. Then a day or two later at a ?prayer meeting? he said the same thing. Again, all agreed. Finally he said the same words at the Vestry meeting, again soon thereafter. The Vestry members were, frankly, tired of hearing these words a third time. Then the rector went on to explain that if Jesus Christ were the head of this church that He would be present at the Vestry meetings and that the Vestry would agree unanimously on decisions that had to be made, knowing that Jesus Himself had a voice in those decisions. The church was transformed!
Which brings me to our church’s decision in 2019 to move from two services to one and the sad fallout from that decision. What did we miss? God is not a God of confusion but of peace. Yet peace was not the outcome of that decision. As we have moved forward, mostly I’ve come to the conclusion (the hope?) that God is working in our midst and working in the hearts of those who left and those who stayed. Our task is to pray for our church and for those who left and trust that they are doing the same, praying for those they left behind and those with whom they are now worshiping. God is not a God of confusion but of peace.
See also: May 11 / I Cor. 14:13-25; May 12 / I Cor. 14:26-40