- Jun 23, 2016
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I hear this particular quote pulled out time and time again, whenever someone is confused by something, or finds something else too confusing for them to comprehend, or has heard more than one position on a matter to say that it is not of God. I just want to point out the context of the quote...
1 Corinthians 14:33 33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
(NIV uses 'God is not a God of disorder but of peace')
Preceding it:
22 Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers. 23 So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind? 24 But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, 25 as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!” 26 What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up. 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. 28 If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God. 29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. 30 And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. 31 For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. 32 The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets.
Following it, amusingly enough...
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.
I'm not going to touch on that
But what I want to say is, this a great verse if you want to talk about the importance of keeping order in a Church and not confusion. God does not want us to be confusing or disorderly to others. It looks to me like Paul didn't want people interrupting each each other. He was more interested in a peaceful, orderly service that would be of benefit to the believers and non-believers alike.
It is NOT a great verse for saying things like
'Algebra is confusing to me. God is not the author of confusion. Therefore, Algebra is not of God'. Or 'Person X' or 'Movement Y' or 'Topic Z' Ect.
I hear that sort of thing all the time.
'God is not the author of confusion'.
Really?
7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.
Hmm. Well he doesn't do it deliberately to his children when they follow Him at any rate. I'm pretty sure he's known for having thrown an army or two into confusion in His day. I don't think He wants confusion for His children. I think He can be good at pulling us out of it, if we want Him to. And where there is confusion, He wants us to seek Him. He is a God of wisdom after all.
James said: James 3:16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
Where there is more God, there is less confusion and more peace and more order. Where there is less, there is more chaos. I think it's about as simple as that. But please don't misquote "God is not the author of confusion" to say 'the topic is too complex for me and I am too lazy or to busy to take the time to learn more about the position or to seek God's wisdom about it, therefore it is not of God'
OK. That's my personal pet peeve and position on it, not directed specifically at anyone in particular. I've just heard it a lot as a knee-jerk-reaction use verse here. Have a good day.
1 Corinthians 14:33 33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
(NIV uses 'God is not a God of disorder but of peace')
Preceding it:
22 Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers. 23 So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind? 24 But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, 25 as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!” 26 What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up. 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. 28 If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God. 29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. 30 And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. 31 For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. 32 The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets.
Following it, amusingly enough...
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.
I'm not going to touch on that
But what I want to say is, this a great verse if you want to talk about the importance of keeping order in a Church and not confusion. God does not want us to be confusing or disorderly to others. It looks to me like Paul didn't want people interrupting each each other. He was more interested in a peaceful, orderly service that would be of benefit to the believers and non-believers alike.
It is NOT a great verse for saying things like
'Algebra is confusing to me. God is not the author of confusion. Therefore, Algebra is not of God'. Or 'Person X' or 'Movement Y' or 'Topic Z' Ect.
I hear that sort of thing all the time.
'God is not the author of confusion'.
Really?
7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.
Hmm. Well he doesn't do it deliberately to his children when they follow Him at any rate. I'm pretty sure he's known for having thrown an army or two into confusion in His day. I don't think He wants confusion for His children. I think He can be good at pulling us out of it, if we want Him to. And where there is confusion, He wants us to seek Him. He is a God of wisdom after all.
James said: James 3:16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
Where there is more God, there is less confusion and more peace and more order. Where there is less, there is more chaos. I think it's about as simple as that. But please don't misquote "God is not the author of confusion" to say 'the topic is too complex for me and I am too lazy or to busy to take the time to learn more about the position or to seek God's wisdom about it, therefore it is not of God'
OK. That's my personal pet peeve and position on it, not directed specifically at anyone in particular. I've just heard it a lot as a knee-jerk-reaction use verse here. Have a good day.
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