Instructions for Public Worship

Meditations in First Corinthians

June 2, 2022

Instructions for Public Worship 

But if anyone wants to argue about this, I simply say that we have no other custom than this, and neither do God’s other churches.

1 Corinthians 11:16

Read: 1 Corinthians 11:2-16

Some of you may remember the expression, Sunday attire, or Sunday best. The thought was that when attending worship services, we would wear our very best clothing. I first recall seeing that norm fall away when I was officiating a formal wedding. One of the guests arrived late and was wearing jeans and a T-Shirt. Now, the norm for Sunday attire includes shorts and sandals as well as jeans and T-Shirts.

Suppose an issue developed in your church concerning the dress code. The issue includes the Sunday Service as well as the dress code expectations for the congregation when you are in public places. Your church cannot reach a consensus, so you write to other church leaders and ask for advice. How do you think they would respond?

In our text today, Paul is responding to a somewhat similar situation for the church in Corinth. I believe Paul was trying to blend social and religious traditions between his Jewish and Gentile congregation. His answer follows the same pattern we have seen in the last several passages: look not to your own interests and whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

My Takeaway: From my perspective, Paul is just saying for the church to err on the side of modesty in dress, and that the manner of our dress should be consistent with the people God created us to be. (By the way, the thing about the veil and head covering is still a big deal in the Middle East. Not so much so in the USA.)

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2022 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.