“вυτ αll τhïṉģṡ ṡhøυlḋ вε ḋøṉε ḋεсεṉτlÿ αṉḋ ïṉ øɾḋεɾ.”
What do you think it means to have everything done with decency and in order? 1 Corinthians 14:40
Isn’t this verse used by over zealous religious legalists to try to control your life?
Is it a sin to be disorderly?
Aren’t decency and orderliness subjective terms?
Missionary in the Andes Mountains Cloud Forest Region of Ecuador. My last name, "Labrador," is the word that's used for "Vine Worker" in the Spanish Bible, and it's OK with me. 
Eli on Leading Edge Missiology and Ecclesiology?
Carlos on Leading Edge Missiology and Ecclesiology? Eli on Leading Edge Missiology and Ecclesiology?
Well, the context of the quote shows that Paul was trying to reign in zealous religious legalists (well, at least charismatic, enthusiastic church members whose speaking in tongues was undermining unity in the Corinthian congregation. Can’t say for sure who the legalists were. The instruction makes sense as a goal of worship, I can’t imagine this verse being a Biblical injunction in areas outside worship and congregational life. Is your room in disorder? Maybe you should clean it, but not because St. Paul told you to.
Xalem,
Thanks for your comment. Actually I’ve heard this line of thought used often outside of “church” settings in exactly the manner you exemplified. I had a music teacher tell me that if one purposefully builds in dissonance to music, then it is sinful. He really believed it.
Be sure to take it in context!
1 Corinthians 14:39-40(NET) So then, brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid anyone from speaking in tongues. And do everything in a decent and orderly manner.
The concern in not to have everything ‘just so’ but to keep the exercise of Spiritual gifts from becoming a free-for-all where they all go on at the same time. The context was specifically the gathering together and ‘orderly’ simply meant, as Paul had already said, that prople should not talk on top of one another and should behave with courtesy to each other.
I chuckle when I think of the (blatantly non-Charismatic) legalists who beat uis over the head with this verse never admitting its context. This is a prime example of proot-texting.
Tom,
Context is key here. I was hoping someone would raise this issue. But, if anyone reading this can show me where the same concept is given in a broader context and applied a general rule for life, then I would like to see it.
By the way, what weird font have you attached to the title? I’m getting umlauts and underlines like it is Greek, or something.
In a very revised very marginal reading, it reads “A clean desk is the sign of a sick mind.” That’s what it says, and I’m a goin’ with it…
Dennis, it amazes me how many brilliant people were messy. If history is correct, both Einstein and Beethoven were both very messy people in their day to day lives. Personally, I’d rather be a bit sloppy and gifted intellectually than a neat freak and a half-wit.
lol