Part 5: Christian Living
In 1 Corinthians, Chapter 14, Verse 40, Paul was instructing the Christians in Corinth, saying, "But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way." The apostle was also pleased that the saved in Colossi were orderly. In Colossians, Chapter 2, Verse 5, Paul wrote, “For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how orderly you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.”
In 1 Corinthians, Chapter 11, Verses 17 through 22, Paul scolds the brethren there:
In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God's approval. When you come together, it is not the Lord's Supper you eat, for as you eat, each of you goes ahead without waiting for anybody else. One remains hungry, another gets drunk. Don't you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you for this? Certainly not!
Paul’s directive was primarily that they be orderly and thoughtful in the partaking of the Lord’s Supper. They had homes to eat in, of course, but they were meeting together to eat rather than to remember the body and blood of their Lord.
In the three quotations (above) we see that orderliness is important.
Activities that distract others from their worship of God should be avoided:
1. When services begin there should be no need for someone to try repeatedly to get the services started while others pay no attention and continue to talk
2. Talking, especially during the Lord’s Supper, must be avoided.
3. Young children are sometimes noisy. Others about them should understand that the child can not learn to sit quietly if taken out at every minor disturbance. Respect a parent’s efforts to train their children in this matter. If the child cannot be quieted, however, it should be taken out.
4. Before, during and after the services youngsters should walk and never run about the church’s building. There are usually older people and expectant mothers nearby who could be seriously injured if ran into by even a small child. Parents should train them or, at least, permit others to “correct the running child.”
5. A hymn is a prayer; it is communication with God. Accordingly late arrivals should remain in the rear of the auditorium until the current song ends. Then they should quietly take their seats.
6. Avoid exiting the auditorium during the invitation to the unsaved for baptism and to the erring Christian for restoration. One walking out might very well hinder and delay the response of someone who is “almost persuaded.”
7. As a matter of common courtesy cover your cough or sneeze. Don’t simply deflect it by placing you hand in front of your face. Cough or sneeze into a handkerchief or facial tissue. This will better reduce the number of virus and bacteria-filled droplets scattered by the cough or sneeze.
8. One should dress appropriately when meeting with the Master of the Universe. If poor or rich, we would honor an important visitor by wearing our best. (But the clothing of the rich must be modest. See 1Timothy 2:9,10.) We should also honor our Lord for when two or three gather together in His name, He is there also. Matthew 18:20.
These thoughts will help you to better understand Matthew, Chapter 7, Verse 12. Here, Jesus says, "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets."
Or, in other words, think courtesy!