decent and in order

     Defenders of the modern, evolved gentlemanly church love to talk about things being done "decently and in order" 1st Cor. 14:40. Only they too often mis-quote the verse and say "decent" and in "order".  They mean by  the word "decent" that what is done should be done so as not to offend any all-important person.  (Religious correctness at work!)  No siree bob!  We wouldn't want to offend Bro. & Sister Doodad.  He is on the board, she is the church mother and they tithe BIG!  And, several of the little Doodads run the Sunday School.  Them thar Doodads like things quiet, reserved and dignified.  Well, unforturnately for the Doodads, the word is not "decent" which implies being done so as not to offend. It is "decently"  implying things done  things done well.  So, if we are to prophesy, do it well.  If we sing, praise, shout, dance,  talk in tongues, roll on the floor, get drunk on New Wine, do it well.  "Decently"

    And, then, there is that word "order".   Whose "order" are we truly concerned about?  Doodads?  Man's? The board of deacons?  Or, God's?  Often the word, as used, means things have to happen the Pastor's way or they are not going happen!  No siree!  Of course, sometimes it is the bored board that establishes the order, including hiring and firing the pastor if their order is not observed.  Yessiree!   For me, I really prefer God's order.  Haven't seen it as much as I would like, but I love it.   A friend of mine visited a powerful revival going in a church in another state.  He received a mighty touch of God that changed his life and he excitedly ran back to his pastor to report what had happened.  He told him, "Oh, we need this revival to come to our church. Couldn't we have that evangelist or someone from the revival come and hold a meeting here?".  The pastor answered "Oh no, we don't want that kind of revival. It is out of order.  It would split the church.".  And, of course, he misquoted the obligatory verse saying all things need to be done  "decent and in order".

    Who are we to tell God what kind of revival we will allow Him to give us?  Isn't that  just a  big wheelbarrow full of pride to even think that way?  Who are we to tell Him what order we will permit?  You know, in spite of the common sentiment to the contrary, He is God and does what He wants when He wants, the way He wants. That is what you get when you are God.  That is what you get when God shows up and manifests among us.  I am okay wih that.  I like God being God.  I like God showing up suddenly , disrupting the well laid plans of man.  I like God offending the senses of natural thinking deacons, forcing them to really examine where they are with God.    I like it when "humdrum" explodes under the mighty wind of God.  I like it when ordinary burns up under the flame of the Holy Ghost fire baptism.  I love it when God takes charge, does things real decently and has His own order.