Edify: To educate, build up and make stronger as in "building a house."
We are instructed in the Word of God to edify one another in the Word when we meet together. Each one should come away from the gathering more wise and better educated than they were before they came.
When only one man speaks then only one man's perspective will cause people to trust in that man rather than in Christ.
Over the years, many people have used the word "edify" to mean praise or encourage. This is wrong according to the Bible.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 "
So comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, just as you are doing."
When we meet together with believers, we are to share in educating one another. Sometimes this means someone will teach and the others will evaluate to make sure it is Biblical.
1 Corinthians 14:26 "What is the outcome then, brothers and sisters? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. All things are to be done for edification."
God's instruction to the gathering is that everyone participate in instructing and teaching one another. When all participate, they prepare themselves all week as the Holy Spirit instructs them in the word so when they meet together, everyone has something to offer.
In the modern church, the people do not participate, making them lazy to study during the week. They are not concerned about having anything to offer because the one man up front does all the talking and no one else is allowed to interrupt him.
1 Corinthians 14:29 "29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. 30 If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent."
In the gathering, there is an allowance for interruption so that all have an opportunity to interject. When something wrong is said, it can be handled immediately for all to hear. When good things are said, then others can share more to bring depth.
When a culture is based on pleasing others to make everyone feel better about themselves, they will resist the urge to correct when in error and also resist adding to what someone says to avoid embarrassing them that there was more to what they said. Feelings-oriented cultures make people enjoy themselves, but never truly train anyone to serve Christ.
When we obey the Word of God, doing things God's way everyone grows Spiritually and emotionally into mature and rational followers of Christ.
