For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. 1 Corinthians 14:33 NKJV
We see a lot of confusion in our world today and in our churches. My friend this confusion does not come from God. We live in a society where even one’s gender can be confusing for them.
The scripture passages that follow our passage today may have the ladies reading this upset with me. I beg of you not to be upset with me, I didn’t write this. This is God’s holy word. Paul wrote in verses 34 and 35, “Let your women keep silent in churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church.”
Ephesians 5:22 says wives submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. It goes on to say that as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. As a baby Christian, I wrestled with this. The Bible also addresses the man’s role in the family.
In verse 25, it says “Husbands, love your wives as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,”. You’ll see these same instructions for husbands and wives in Colossians 3:18-19. In verse 20, children are instructed to obey their parents. In verse 21 parents are instructed not to provoke their children.
Ephesians 6:1-2 tells children to obey their parents and honor their father and mother. Ephesians 6:4 instructs fathers not to provoke their children to anger, but to raise them up in the instruction and discipline of the Lord. This means don’t nag or arbitrarily assert authority but raise them to be obedient to God’s commands. Show them the love that God shows us as His children.
The Bible is our instruction manual for life. There is confusion when we don’t follow these instructions. There should no more be confusion about gender than there is confusion about our roles as Christian men, women, and children. Confusion creeps in when husbands and wives become parents and roles get confused.
The movie Courageous was about four men who took a vow to lead their families in serving the Lord. They vowed to be the spiritual leaders of their households as the Bible commanded and to adhere to the Bible’s instructions. The question that was asked is, “Where are you men of courage?”
Men, it’s time to stand up as Christians. It’s time to lead your household by the example of godly worship and behavior. It’s time to do God’s work in His church.
Let me say there is nowhere in the Bible that says women are to submit to abuse. I am in no way condoning physical or emotional abuse. The Bible says we are to submit to a godly husband. Where the confusion comes in is when we are unequally yoked and the woman has to be the spiritual head of the family.
Provide your children with a good example of what a godly family looks like with a godly man at the head and a wife who is happy to submit to his biblical leadership.
Be sure your church aligns with God’s holy word. This means a male pastor and male deacons holding positions of authority.
When we live according to God’s word, there is no confusion. Confusion brings downfall. God used confusion in the cases of the battle of the Israelites against their enemies in Joshua 10:10 and again in 2 Chronicles 20:22-23 for the battle against Jehoshaphat. He threw the opposing armies into confusion so they defeated themselves.
If we follow God’s word there will be no confusion. Study your Bible. Pray continually. Trust in Him to lead you and guide you in a life free of confusion.
Have a great day!