There is an interesting word in the Greek language.
Akatastasia.
It refers to a “state of disorder, disturbance, confusion.”
It comes from two Greek words…a (the negative particle) and kathistimi, “to set in order.” Whereas kathistimi describes a place of order, a place where things are kept in perspective, a place where life makes sense… akathistimi describes…well…the opposite.
It is a society where nothing makes sense…where things are overblown…where disorder, chaos, and confusion reign.
Hmm…sounds like our world.
This word, akatastasia, is used in several verses in the New Testament.
“When you hear of wars and disturbances [akatastasia], do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end does not follow immediately.” (Luke 21:9)
For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. (1 Corinthians 14:33)
For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder. (2 Corinthians 12:20)
For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. (James 3:16)
So what do we learn?
- God is not the author of confusion. If confusion is around, then it is because He has been rejected, abandoned, or forgotten.
- As the world moves further and further away from submission to God, it will be characterized by more and more confusion, disorder, conflict, and war.
- Pride, self-centeredness, and envy breed more chaos, division, and confusion.
- Christians can succumb to confusion…especially when they get caught up in the discord, jealousy, anger, ambition, pride, slander, and gossip of the world.
This coronavirus crisis has certainly created confusion in our world. We were already politically polarized…angry…skeptical…cynical…stuck in our echo chambers. And now this crisis has amplified that.
Quite simply, we are blasted with more information than we can possibly process. We are media addicts, inundated with facts, stats, news, views, theories, conspiracies, experts, pundits, analysts, panelists, commentaries, documentaries, and doomsday scenarios that beckon for our attention…heighten our fears…and confirm our deepest suspicions.
Tossed to and fro…blown here and there…by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming (Ephesians 4:14).
Maybe it is time to turn off the news.
How much information do we need?
Deep down, we tend to think that knowledge is power.
Perhaps. If you know the right things. Otherwise it is just a mass of information, tangled in our minds like an old extension cord twisted and warped with no clear ins or outs. A jumbled story with no plot, no theme, no resolution.
We are not to be naive…but we are to be wise.
We are not to close our eyes…but we are to keep them focused on the right things.
Scripture’s message has not changed.
Finally, brethren, whatever is true,
whatever is honorable,
whatever is right,
whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely,
whatever is of good repute,
if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise,
dwell on these things. (Philippians 4:8)
If you fix your eyes on the news, you will live in confusion.
If you fix your eyes on Christ, you will find peace.
Are there selfish ambitions, greed, deception, lies, hidden agendas, evil plots, conspiracies in this world? Absolutely. Should we focus on them? Absolutely not.
Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. But the Lord of hosts, Him you shall honor as holy. Let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread. And He will become a sanctuary. (Isaiah 8:12-14a)
In the end, God calls the shots. He rules the universe. He pulls the strings. And He is working all things according to the counsel of His will.
And He will become our sanctuary…when we choose to dwell in Him.
The atmosphere of confusion is chaos.
The antonym to confusion is peace.
The antidote to confusion is humility.
For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. BUT the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.
And the answer to confusion is Christ.
There is another Greek word that is worth knowing.
Anastasis
“To stand again, to raise up, to resurrect.”
Confusion is everything stable being knocked down.
Resurrection is everything knocked down being raised up again.
God is not the author of confusion.
He is the God of resurrection.
And therefore, we can have peace.
Even in the midst of a virus crisis.
