Take very seriously.....except

January has passed in a blur, full of hard work, some illness, and interesting events - several of which have triggered thoughts for blogs. But time has eluded me writing about them.

However, yesterday one of my students made me think. My practicum class this term is preaching through 1 Corinthians with each student being allocated a chapter from which they will prepare and deliver a sermon. This particular student was commenting about his home church. "It took 1 Corinthians 14 very seriously," he said. "all the business about coming together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction in verse 26. They really participated together as a body in orderly worship." And then he paused and said: "Of course they took 1 Corinthians 14 very seriously except for all the parts about gifts of prophecy and tongues!"

Actually, 1 Corinthians 14 is mostly about gifts of prophecy and tongues! That word EXCEPT is most telling isn't it? Of course, Scripture's interpretation is a spiritual exercise, as the Holy Spirit helps us apply its meaning to our own contexts. But I was left thinking about those parts of texts that I take very seriously except.....