I actually follow the bible and the words they contain. What other regard do you mean? So I'm asking...on this thread...do you follow the bible in the way you meet with others...as in 1 Cor. 14?
14 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
This is of course the first things. We want to grow in serving love, we are to desire God's power to move through us, and especially that God would speak through us.
2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
Many things are good to do, but we need to keep the good of others first. Some want it all to be about themselves. But our gifts, our service, should always be towards others.
5 I would that ye all spake with tongues but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
6 Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?
7 And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?
8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?
Getting yourself mixed up into things, by failing to keep the focus on serving others, dilutes the doctrine, the teaching, the benefit. And people get mixed up.
9 So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.
10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.
11 Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.
There are many ways you can say something. We need to be clear in our speech, not cagey, not underhanded, not making display of ourselves without any real meaning understood by those whom we are supposed to be serving. They end up not being served.
12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.
Of all the things you can focus on, this is it, building up the church. Like at the end of ch. 12, you earnestly covet the best gifts, but I'll show you a more excellent way, love, by love serve one another.
13 Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.
14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.
16 Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?
17 For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.
18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:
19 Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.
We can do all the things that are from God, but not everything is right for every time and place. Again, the emphasis is on clarity, and our focus on benefitting the other.
20 Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
21 In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.
22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.
23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?
24 But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:
25 And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.
There's a way we're to be like children, and a way we are to be mature. God gave all these things, and in our hearts, in our intentions, we are to be as children, but to be mature in understanding how what we do impacts others, especially those who don't know what we know, or don't believe.
26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.
This moderation is needed, as everyone has something they want to put in. It all needs to be towards edifying and not something else.
27 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.
28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.
Limits, and order are needed, within open participation.
29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.
30 If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.
31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.
32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
Again, limits, order, serving, yielding, within participation.
33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
It it's out of order, chaos, it's not from God.
34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law.
35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
36 What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?
37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.
38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.
39 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
40 Let all things be done decently and in order.
Teachers are men, and if you are spiritual, and have the word of God in you, you'll know this. Desire to speak the word of God to others, and don't prohibit tongues, just do it all in order.
Is this what I follow? Yes. Of course there is much much more that that. But it's all summed up in one word, love.
Much love!