Expert: Brenda Martin - 12/8/2008

Question
I would like to know what fundamentalist Christian experts have to say to the question, "Is God the author of confusion or is He not?"

If I were to take 2nd Peter 3:9 and Romans 9:22 seriously, I would be compelled to conclude that God is a very confused character or that He is trying to confuse me, despite what 1st Corinthians 14:33 says.  

Answer
“IS GOD THE AUTHOR OF CONFUSION OR IS HE NOT?"

1 Cor 14; 33--“God is [a God], not of disorder, but of peace”

Confusion is caused by the many religions that muddy the clear waters of Bible teachings with fallacies and legends. When you ignore the traditions and myths and stick to what the Bible actually says, you discover a teaching that makes sense and offers hope.

"TO TAKE 2ND PETER 3:9 AND ROMANS 9:22 SERIOUSLY, I WOULD BE COMPELLED TO CONCLUDE THAT GOD IS A VERY CONFUSED CHARACTER OR THAT HE IS TRYING TO CONFUSE ME"

NEITHER :¬)

2 Peter 3;9--“Jehovah is not slow respecting his promise, as some people consider slowness, but he is patient with you because he does not desire any to be destroyed but desires all to attain to repentance”.

God is patient because he desires all to attain to repentance. However those who stubbornly refuse to turn back from their bad ways (the vessels fit for destruction) face execution at the hand of God. However, God finds no pleasure in the death of the wicked one. Rather, he delights to see people repent, turn back from their bad ways, and keep living. (Ezekiel 33:11) Consequently, he is exercising patience and is having the good news declared in all the earth so that people may have every opportunity to live.
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Romans 9;22---“If, now, God, although having the will to demonstrate his wrath and to make his power known, tolerated with much long-suffering vessels of wrath made fit for destruction”

Ever since the rebellion in Eden, any who have opposed God and his laws have been “vessels of wrath made fit for destruction.” During all the time since then, God has exercised long-suffering. The wicked have ridiculed his ways, persecuted his servants, even killed his Son. Showing great restraint, God has allowed enough time for all creation to see fully the disastrous results of rebellion against God and of human rule independent of him. At the same time, Jesus’ death provided the means for delivering obedient mankind and for ‘breaking up the works of the Devil.’—1 John 3:8; Hebrews 2:14, 15.

Not all of humankind have turned out to be vessels of wrath (or wicked), deserving of destruction. Shortly, God’s sovereignty will be vindicated as he proves that he alone can bring peace, harmony, and happiness to the human family, through Jesus’ Kingdom rule.—Psalm 37:9-11; 45:1, 6, 7.

All the best
Brenda