God Is Not A God Of Confusion

“God is not a God of confusion but of peace.” [1]

We live in a world that is increasingly confused—confused about society, confused about the role of government, confused about the sexes, confused about God. And I could undoubtedly go on about the confusion that reigns in our world. Confusion reigns in every corner of western society, ensuring a dismal future for those who hope for peace.

Early in the history of the Faith, the Lord GOD commanded those who would seek the LORD’s approval, “A woman shall not wear a man’s garment, nor shall a man put on a woman’s cloak, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD your God” [DEUTERONOMY 22:5]. It should be easy to conclude that God is decidedly in favour of distinction in the sexes.

In an online commentary, Dennis Prager noted that the Torah is rooted in distinction, [2] what we used to recognise as order. Among the distinctions he notes as having been emphasised in the Divine law are:

• God and man

• God and nature

• Man and animal

• Good and evil

• Life and death

• Parent and child

• Holy and profane

• Male and female

These distinctions reflect the Creator’s design, reminding us that there is a Designer. Clearly, God seeks order, expecting order to reign in every physical system, every social system, every culture, every civilisation. Speaking biblically, recognising the truth concerning design makes civilisation possible. When these distinctions are removed, or when they are ignored, it must mean the end of civilisation as we know it. When distinctions no longer prevail, chaos ensues. To ignore or to remove distinctions is to ensure the destruction of civilisation.

The prohibition against wearing clothing meant to be worn by the opposite sex was not always appreciated throughout the past several thousand years. The reason I make this statement is that wearing the clothing of the other sex was extremely rare in societies rooted in acceptance of biblical law. Today, and especially in western society, this is no longer the case. This biblical law is widely reviled throughout western society. Biblical law is condemned as archaic, intolerant, and even denigrated as immoral.

The distinction between male and female is being rapidly erased in our world today. God intended the distinction between male and female be maintained. Our dress is the most obvious way we declare our sex. Therefore, when a man publicly dresses as a woman, or a woman publicly dresses as a man, one of the most basic of God’s distinctions is blurred. The distinction in the sex of human beings is so central to God’s plan that this distinction is declared at the beginning of Creation. In GENESIS 1:27 we read,

“God created humankind in his own image,

in the image of God he created them;

male and female he created them.”

[GENESIS 1:27 NET BIBLE]

Truth compels me to state again emphatically that whenever, and wherever, distinctions have been obliterated, chaos has ensued. This is obvious when we recall the movement in the arts that obliterates the distinction between beauty and ugliness, or when popular religion has blurred the distinction between good and evil, just as it is immediately obvious when animal rights movements blur the distinction between humans and beasts (such as arguing against killing a pig to use its heart valve to save a person). When these distinctions are blurred, or when they are even erased, chaos ensues to the detriment of society. The same holds true when the distinction between male and female is erased or blurred. What is observed throughout the whole of nature is a continuum testifying to the necessity of distinction as essential for the maintenance of order. All nature testifies to the necessity of order. The immediate consequence of erasure of distinction is disorder and concomitant ruin.

OUR CHAOTIC WORLD — Long years past, one of the LORD’s Minor Prophets wrote,

“O LORD, how long shall I cry for help,

and you will not hear?

Or cry to you ‘Violence!’

and you will not save?

Why do you make me see iniquity,

and why do you idly look at wrong?

Destruction and violence are before me;

strife and contention arise.

So the law is paralyzed,

and justice never goes forth.

For the wicked surround the righteous;

so justice goes forth perverted.”

[HABAKKUK 1:2-4]

The distressed prophet is describing feelings of helplessness that seize the righteous in this day. We witness violence that seems unprecedented for those of us who grew to adulthood in the middle and latter years of the twentieth century. Immorality of a sort that we could have never imagined seems ingrained into the whole of society. Corruption from the highest levels of government to the lowest rungs of society permeates our world.