The fact is, WE are INSTRUCTED to be full participants in the operation of the church
Absolutely! We should! And yes, there should be Psalms, doctrine, tongues (not my favorite but it's there), revelation and interpretation. But the theme of this chapter is missed. The theme comes in the last verse of this chapter:
1 Cori
1 Corinthians 14:40 KJV
Let all things be done decently and in order.
Let's look at you opening verse, Bobby Jo:
1 Corinthians 14:26 KJV
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.
"How is it then?". This is basically say, " why is it..?" It's not a call to do it, it's wondering why they are doing it. More specifically, doing it without order (without LEADERSHIP).
My goodness! When you read the entire chapter, while Paul is not forbidding any of this, he is curtailing it. He gives pretty specific rules at times, too.
So if you are looking to de-emphasize the "hiring" and emphasize unstructured activity, you picked the wrong chapter!
If you want to sing or compose a psalm (song), great! But let it be done decently and in order. Want to submit a doctrine (teaching), fine. Let it be done in order. Got a revelation? Do it in order... Tongues as well.
How is it done in order? Well, the only way I see that happening is through leadership. And this whole chapter backs me up.
I encourage everyone with a gift, whether it be singing, dancing, teaching, even art and yes... I suppose speaking in tongues... I encourage you to let the gifts be known.
Then watch! Wait! Be ready and let the Lord decide when to use those gifts! When God's ready, he will let the leadership know.
By the way... Just throwing this out there for you to ponder... Perhaps sometimes full participation requires you to sit down in the pew, shut up and pay attention to what is being preached.
Maybe?