Are You Confused?

Hello TiMP Nation we are back with another inward perspective moment and teaching from the word of the Lord. Our study will use as scriptural foundation 1 Corinthians 14:33 “For God is not the author of confusion but of peace”. This new series will take us into the topic of “confusion”. In particular how it’s used to promote and perpetuate an immoral mindset and related actions that are contrary to God’s truth in the church and the world. Confusion by definition is the lack of understanding and/or uncertainty. In the Greek new testament language, the word akatastasia meaning “instability” translates to confusion. To begin we must first understand the context of 1 Corinthians 14:33. Also you may have noticed I excluded the portion of the verse that says “as in all the churches of the saints”. Technically this portion actually belongs at the beginning of verse 34 thus verse 33 would be a stand-alone statement. In the overall context of chapter 14, we find Paul who has been dealing with the church at Corinth on their issue of lovelessness. Now as you can imagine this issue if not corrected, creates confusion and impacts the truth and effectiveness of the gospel. Paul has been trying to get them to function as a unified congregation and to pursue godly love. Not just for one another but with particular diligence and determination for the things of God. As the church did have presence of spiritual gifts and right doctrine was in place, we can see this starting in chapter 12 and most notably chapter 13 you can read these for reference. Here in chapter 14 the discussion centers around desiring spiritual gifts in particular prophecy and tongues. Paul was cautioning that obtaining or use of these gifts should not be for personal adoration but to edify the church.

Paul in this particular passage focuses his teaching on prophecy and tongues, that tongues must be interpreted, that tongues is a sign to unbelievers. In the latter portion he addresses the topic of order in church meetings. The reason being just like today there were carnal minded counterfeit Christians in Corinth. God’s word in Romans 8:7 says “the carnal mind is enmity (opposed/hostile) against God, and is not subject to God’s law neither indeed can be”. Now from chapter 14 you can pull out a few things that are confusing and controversial in the modern church today. The one we will focus on in the first part of this series is speaking in tongues. I’m sure at some point in time whether in church or on television you have experienced someone shouting, hands flailing, and with a passionate performance, uttering something like “boom-shaka-laka-bam-bam-tee-tee-e-i-e-i-uh-oh”! With a hallelujah or thank you Jesus on the end.

In a lot of churches today these indescribable utterances amongst the church faithful are considered a marker in determining if you are truly saved, sanctified or in some cases a believer in Jesus Christ. Confused yet? Well, you should be. And that’s exactly the position these folks that pray on your confusion want you to be in. Now I’m sure there are some folks who follow the speaking in tongues ritual because they simply are followers or honestly don’t understand the word to know any better. I’m reminded of a quote by the famous journalist Edward R. Murrow that says, “anyone who isn’t confused really doesn’t understand the situation”. If you are some place or in a church and you think this type of display is of God, Run! Because it is not! Understand the situation you are in, this is pagan ecstatic Ungodly Gibberish and edification of one’s self. If we look back to our premise, God is not the author of confusion. Here is what God’s word says when it comes to those who do this. In verse 2 of chapter 14 Paul teaches that “For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to god (a god), for no one understands him and in the spirit he speaks mysteries”. In your bible you may see God capitalized and assume Paul is referring to Jehovah God. However, that would be incorrect as most of the new testament was translated from Greek which normally did not contain definite articles. Thus, it should be lower case as I indicate. This and the concluding wording of the verse “in the spirit he speaks mysteries” would support this fact. As we know there are no mysteries to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Ok so let me break this down a bit further. There were some within the church at Corinth just like today that were not interested in being understood but making a dramatic display to the public or the congregation. Think, Paula White, T.D. Jakes, Joyce Meyers, even Madea, Tyler Perry himself among others get in on this falsehood (you can YouTube the clown show with him and T.D Jakes). They then manipulated the word to confuse people into thinking that tongues are some great gift that only a few are privileged with and understand it. None the less this display of antics from these false teaching and false doctrine spreading folks is not of the Holy Spirit but of their own human spirit or demonic. I’m going to be brutally honest here for all intents and purposes most that participate in this farce do it as a learned or pressured behavior. The leaders that promote it are ear and visual hustlers keen on the fact the most will fall for this because they take scripture and teach confusion that sounds true to justify their immoral and unrighteous actions.

This is why as I always say it’s vital that you seek the Lord, read and study his word for yourself. Paul goes on to clarify that this gibberish tongue you hear is false by comparing it to musical instruments, read verses 8-9. He basically says “even things without life like instruments make a sound we can understand, if they don’t then how would we know the songs or instruments”. He then simply notes the same should be for the tongue, “if words are not spoken that people easily understand then how can we know what is being said? If not, then we are simply speaking into air”. Today that statement would be translated to the expression of one who mumbles saying nothing or blowing hot air. This is exactly what the church at Corinth and a large majority of modern churches pushing this false speaking in tongues doctrine are doing.

Oh, but there is good news to be found in God’s word to put an end to the confusion on speaking in tongues and to clarify what genuine spiritual gifted tongues from God was at that time. And how it doesn’t exist or is needed today. If you desire to learn and see the truth come back next Sunday for part 2 and conclusion to the tongues portion of our journey into, Are You Confused?