The “worship wars” are raging within congregations throughout our country, separating Christians principally although not exclusively along generational lines. Some like robed choirs accompanied by organs. Some like praise bands featuring guitars and drums. And because each group not only prefers their own musical style but finds the other sort of music off-putting, separate worship services are planned or people just leave to find another congregation more suited to their liking. And if you think this situation is volatile, just wait until Christian rap gets into the mix!

Paul would have us take a step back, and look at the elements of worship in a completely different way. Instead of asking, “What do I like in a worship service,” or even “What did I get out of the worship service today,” he would have us wonder, “How can what I do in worship help the other worshippers?”

And just as in our modern worship wars, Paul isn’t talking about separating the good from the bad. After all, because God has not chosen to prescribe a certain sort of music or instrumentation in Scripture, musical styles are morally neutral. Just so, the psalms, teachings, revelations, and tongues and interpretations Paul mentions in verse 26 are all good things, all ways that God speaks to us or that we speak to God.

And isn’t that really what worship is all about? We come together to praise God and to lift up our common prayers. We come together to hear a Word from the Lord, and to think together about what that means for our lives. We come to have the promises of God applied to and sealed upon us in the Sacraments. In short, all our worship should be focused on God, regardless of the cultural trappings in which we wrap it.

But when it comes down to selecting the ways we communicate with God, Paul would have us focus not on our personal preferences, and not even on the preferences of others, but on their needs. His main concern is what will edify, what will build one another up.

The Corinthians seem to have been guilty of a rather chaotic form of worship, which produced not peace but confusion (v. 33). So as we design worship, let’s keep the opposite in mind: what will help others have peace with God and with one another? What will help others clear up the confusion they have about God? How can we clear the channels of communication between all of us and God? How can we build others up when they come to worship God? Maybe if we ask these sorts of questions, we can find a solution to the “worship wars” after all.

I Corinthians 14:26-40 (ESV)

26 What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.
27 If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret.
28 But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God.
29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said.
30 If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent.
31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged,
32 and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.
33 For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,
34 the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says.
35 If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.
36 Or was it from you that the word of God came? Or are you the only ones it has reached?
37 If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord.
38 If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.
39 So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.
40 But all things should be done decently and in order.