“Dear brothers and sisters, don’t be childish in your understanding of these things. Be innocent as babies when it comes to evil, but be mature in understanding matters of this kind. It is written in the Scriptures: “I will speak to my own people through strange languages and through the lips of foreigners. But even then, they will not listen to me,” says the Lord.”
1 Corinthians 14:20-21 NLT
The believers in Corinth had become fixated and fascinated by the gift of tongues, using it as something to show off and possibly brag about. Paul was clear that seeking the gift of prophecy was preferable because it would be more helpful to the other believers. Paul made the comparison in a previous verse when he said that he would rather speak five helpful words than ten thousand in a tongue that no one could understand. Paul gently suggested to the believers that they abandon any sort of childish petulance in their understanding of the uses of tongues and prophecy. Instead, he said, “be mature in understanding matters of this kind”.
Regarding childishness, Paul had already pointed out the Corinthians’ childish behaviour. In 1 Corinthians 3:1-3, we read, “Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn’t talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in Christ. I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren’t ready for anything stronger. And you still aren’t ready, for you are still controlled by your sinful nature. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn’t that prove you are controlled by your sinful nature? Aren’t you living like people of the world?” To use any of the Holy Spirit gifts effectively, some degree of maturity is required, and the Corinthians, generally but apparently, lacked it, thereby reducing their effectiveness.
Paul also instructed the Corinthians to be as “innocent as babies” when it came to anything evil. Jesus said to His disciples, referring to the time when He warned them about their future role as Apostles, “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16). What did He mean by that? The Apostles would soon be sharing the Gospel in a world that was violently resistant to any ideas about Jesus and His mission to planet Earth. Most of the Jews failed to recognise Jesus as their promised Messiah, and tried to close down any thoughts and actions about Jesus being the One they were waiting for. The Greeks and the Romans had a pantheon of gods, and a new one was not welcome to them. Then we have the situation in Acts 19 where a riot was started by the silversmiths who were making idols of the Greek goddess Artemis. Their complaint was, “But as you have seen and heard, this man Paul has persuaded many people that handmade gods aren’t really gods at all. And he’s done this not only here in Ephesus but throughout the entire province!” (Acts 19:26). Paul escaped this event, but he didn’t in Philippi. “A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape” (Acts 16:22-23). In those days, sharing the Gospel was dangerous work. But those early Apostles innocently entered hostile territory with their eyes open, never counting the cost.
Regardless of the evil practices and idolatry in their communities, Paul reminded the Corinthians that believers were to be innocent of any involvement in them. Just as the early Apostles had to, they were to face into the hostile environment around them, shrewdly analysing the danger but innocently heading into it in faith that God would protect them, in their mission to share the Gospel.
But within their church environment, their innocence had to extend to matters of the Holy Spirit’s gifts, making sure that they did not become cynical and hard of heart. This is easy to do sometimes, as sometimes the same people bring the same messages week after week. A good pastor and teacher will soon bring correction and guidance. Those amongst them of a more mature faith would recognise the dangers in their society, and in the church, and they would understand their own limitations and provide room for the Holy Spirit to minister. But throughout it all, we remember Paul’s teaching on agape love from the previous chapter.
Paul finished these two verses today with the thought that even though “strange languages” might be used in communicating God’s message, perhaps a reference to tongues in Paul’s mind, the message could still be misunderstood or ignored. Being innocent in the face of any accusations of evil, and being mature in the way that they handled the Holy Spirit’s gifts and each other, was Paul’s encouragement and warning to the believers in Corinth, and something we can learn from today.
Dear Father God. We want nothing to do with evil, and instead, we must look to You for instruction and personal growth. Please lead and guide us by Your Spirit, day by day. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Being a Pilgrim 