1 Corinthians 14:37-40

1Co 14:37 If anyone considers himself a prophet, or spiritual, he should really know that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord,
1Co 14:38 but if anyone ignores them, he should be ignored.
1Co 14:39 So then, brothers, seek to prophesy, and do not prevent speaking in other languages.
1Co 14:40 But all these things should be done properly and tactfully.

properly and tactfully

Paul’s closing comments in this section reveal how the issue of disorder in worship fits into the larger concern that has shaped the entire letter: the problem of divisions created by the elevation of certain leaders. The chaotic worship practices in Corinth—uninterpreted foreign‑language outbursts, interruptions, competing voices, and general confusion—did not arise in a vacuum. They were being fueled, at least in part, by influential figures within the congregations who enjoyed the spectacle and encouraged it. These leaders were not simply passive participants; they were ringleaders in the circus. Their behavior—and the behavior they inspired—was fragmenting the church and undermining the gospel.

Paul therefore connects the disorder in worship to the deeper issue of spiritual arrogance. Some leaders were so enamored with their own authority and giftedness that they felt no obligation to heed Paul’s instructions, even though Paul insisted that these instructions came from the Lord. If a leader refused to recognize the authority of Christ expressed through apostolic teaching, that refusal revealed something essential about the leader’s spiritual condition. Such a person was not acting as a true prophet or teacher of God.

Paul’s solution is striking in its simplicity: if a leader chooses to ignore the Lord’s commands, that leader should be ignored. Influence in the church is not granted by charisma, volume, or self‑promotion. It is granted by faithfulness to Christ and by conduct that builds up the body. Anyone who insists on practices that create confusion, disorder, or division is not speaking by the Spirit, because the Spirit does not produce chaos. Disorder is not spiritual. Confusion is not spiritual. The Holy Spirit does not contradict himself by inspiring behavior that undermines the unity and clarity of the church’s worship.

Public worship, Paul insists, must be conducted kata taxin—properly, fittingly, with tact and order. This does not mean rigid formality or suppression of spiritual expression. It means that every act of worship must serve the mission of the church, strengthen the community, and reflect the character of the God who brings peace, not confusion. Leaders who demand the right to create disorder reveal that they are not being led by the Spirit at all.

In Paul’s vision, the church flourishes when its leaders model humility, clarity, and obedience to Christ. When leaders refuse those virtues, the church must not follow them into confusion.

LORD, as leaders, may we lead your church faithfully, and lead others to worship you properly and tactfully.