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Sometimes in fact we do pick out the things we want and leave out the ones we don't want. It's always risky at best to look at a teaching in the Bible and say "that doesn't apply to me or us." Specifically regarding 1 Corinthians 14, I believe that everything Paul teaches there, all of the instructions, are relevant to all churches everywhere in all time. When Paul says in 14:1 to "eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy," I don't expect to be miraculously endowed with a prophetic gift, but since Biblical prophecy generally means speaking God's message, I can aspire to do that, and every believer can eagerly desire to do that. Furthermore, Christians can work to develop the gifts they do have and turn their abilities and efforts toward edification of the church and clear presentation of the message of Christ to outsiders. Whatever gifts we have, every Christian is directed to use them for the good of all, and guidelines are given for how to do that, and what not to do, in 1 Corinthians 14. There are restraints, some of which relate to what we are capable of, some of which relate to who we are, some of which relate to circumstances. In 1 Corinthians 14 there is nothing relating to the modern concept of tongue speaking as practiced by many, which is not a gift of language at all and which has no interpretation. Rather Paul is talking about the use of real languages, and what he says applies whether those languages are obtained through "ordinary" means or as a gift of the Spirit as happened in some instances. The public use of that gift was not for emotional release or to stir excitement, but was to be for the communication of a meaningful message of God. So also with all that the church does when it comes together, the measure isn't whether it feels good or is exciting, but whether it builds up in knowledge and love, whether it is sensible and true, whether it is consistent with God's character and purpose.
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