1 Corinthians 14:20-25: a reflection

20Brothers, don’t be children in thoughts, yet in malice be babies, but in thoughts be mature. 21In the law it is written, “By men of strange languages and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people. They won’t even listen to me that way, says the Lord.” 22Therefore other languages are for a sign, not to those who believe, but to the unbelieving; but prophesying is for a sign, not to the unbelieving, but to those who believe. 23If therefore the whole assembly is assembled together and all speak with other languages, and unlearned or unbelieving people come in, won’t they say that you are crazy? 24But if all prophesy, and someone unbelieving or unlearned comes in, he is reproved by all, and he is judged by all. 25And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed. So he will fall down on his face and worship God, declaring that God is among you indeed.

Paul describes what can happen when an outsider, an unbeliever, comes into a gathering where God's people are worshiping and his word is being spoken clearly. He is convicted, Paul says; the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so he will fall down on his face and worship God, declaring that God is really among you. The clear presence of God among his worshiping people can reach into the heart of an outsider, convict him, lay bare what is hidden there, and draw him to worship. What convinces him is not clever performance but the reality of God among his people, made plain when his word is spoken clearly. The genuine presence of God in the midst of his people can do what no argument could, drawing the outsider to fall down and worship.

Notice what draws the outsider in: the reality of God among his worshiping people. Paul does not describe a clever performance that impresses the visitor; he describes the outsider convicted, his heart's secrets laid bare, falling down to worship and declaring that God is really among these people. It is the genuine presence of God, made plain when his word is spoken clearly, that reaches the outsider's heart. He senses that God is truly there, and it convicts and draws him. The reality of God among his people does what no argument or performance could; it lays bare the heart and draws the outsider to worship. What convinces is not the impressiveness of the gathering but the presence of God in it, plainly felt. God among his people, truly present, is what reaches the outsider.

That is worth taking to heart, for the reality of God among his people can convict and draw in an outsider more than any argument. We can suppose that what draws outsiders to God is clever presentation or impressive performance; but Paul describes the outsider convicted and drawn to worship by the genuine presence of God among his people, made plain when his word is spoken clearly. It is God truly present among us, not our cleverness, that reaches the outsider's heart. Do not rely on clever performance to reach outsiders; the reality of God among his people, made plain, is what convicts and draws them in. Trust that the reality of God among his people can convict and draw in an outsider more than any clever argument, as Paul described the unbeliever convicted, his heart laid bare, falling down to declare that God is really among you; for what reaches the outsider's heart is not the impressiveness of the gathering but the genuine presence of God in it, made plain when his word is spoken clearly, doing what no performance could.

Lord, Paul describes what can happen when an outsider, an unbeliever, comes into a gathering where your people are worshiping and your word is being spoken clearly. He is convicted, Paul says; the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so he will fall down on his face and worship God, declaring that God is really among you. The clear presence of you among your worshiping people can reach into the heart of an outsider, convict him, lay bare what is hidden there, and draw him to worship. What convinces him is not clever performance but the reality of you among your people, made plain when your word is spoken clearly. Show me what draws the outsider in: the reality of you among your worshiping people. Paul does not describe a clever performance that impresses the visitor; he describes the outsider convicted, his heart's secrets laid bare, falling down to worship and declaring that you are really among these people. It is your genuine presence, made plain when your word is spoken clearly, that reaches the outsider's heart. He senses that you are truly there, and it convicts and draws him. Take that to my heart, for the reality of you among your people can convict and draw in an outsider more than any argument. I can suppose that what draws outsiders to you is clever presentation or impressive performance; but Paul describes the outsider convicted and drawn to worship by your genuine presence. It is you truly present among us, not our cleverness, that reaches the outsider's heart. Keep me from relying on clever performance to reach outsiders; help me trust that your reality among your people, made plain, is what convicts and draws them in, Lord, as Paul described the unbeliever falling down to declare that you are really among us.