There will always be some kind of disturbance, when you are dealing with humans; and that includes church humans too. But we need to be realistic and honest; this particular writer, was writing to the church. You mean confusion in the house of the Lord? Yes. We need to take some time and re-visit what James was saying about this subject.

Up above this, he was talking about the tongue, and how it was full of poison. He also spoke of the fact that a fountain, cannot bring forth both salt water and fresh water; and so forth. He said something we’ve tried to talk about before; that where envying and strife is, there is confusion. And the next line speaks loudly; “and every evil work.” We’ve all seen it; but just maybe, we were not allowed to talk about it. This kind of commotion, this kind of wisdom such folk manifest, “descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual and devilish.” That last word, deserves consideration.

Most people can quote the verse that says, “God is not the author of confusion” (1 Corinthians 14:33). However, they don’t see the verses above this; it was talking about the order in which prophets should speak in the church.

Isn’t it a bit strange, that we can remember some scriptures, but not others. Too often, they are taken out of context. The truth is, this verse was indeed talking about order; but just above it, it was giving us teaching and instruction on how tongues and interpretations should occur, and how prophets and those who prophesy, should operate also. Well, that’s another topic.

This apostle wrote something we seldom have heard addressed. “If ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth” James 3:14. What truth? The truth that you have it. We are told to confess it, pray it out of our hearts, repenting, and make it right if we need to. There has been so much confusion in many of our assemblies.

The Bible says, that all of the truly spiritual people in the church, should have a part of dealing with such things. If the saints have no voice, confusion even grows.

It’s true, that God is not the author of confusion. It can come from the dark one and his hosts. But whether we want to admit it or not, it can also come from us.

See, if we can’t include ourselves in the ones causing confusion, we will never solve the problem. I’ve caused confusion; and so have you. It is most often a lack of wisdom; and a streak of envy we all are prone to have at some time in our lives. We’re human. The only way to avoid all of this confusion, whether it be about scriptural interpretation, or what each and everyone’s place is in the body of Christ, is to seek to follow the leading of the Spirit. Humbling ourselves, and preferring, one another.

~ Robert Blackburn

Robert Blackburn