Answer
Perverseness, or perversity, is behavior that goes against what is normal or acceptable, often in a moral or sexual context. A perverse person exhibits a deliberate refusal to conform to established ethics. Biblically, perverseness involves a willful rejection of God’s moral laws and ethical standards. Choosing to define right and wrong based on our terms instead of submitting to God’s moral will results in perverseness. Any corrupt action or any behavior deviating from God’s standard is perverse.
Isaiah 5:20 sketches a picture of perverseness as God speaks of “those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.” A distortion or outright rejection of what is good is at the heart of perversity.
The difference between culture’s definition of perverseness and that of the Bible relates to our ultimate authority. Secular morality operates on consensus and social contracts, changing with the times. What is considered perverse today may become ethical tomorrow. In contrast, biblical morality is based on unchanging divine standards. What God said was perverse in the past remains so today, regardless of cultural sentiments.
Speaking deceitfully is one form of perversity. Proverbs 4:24 says, “Put away from you a deceitful mouth, And put perverse lips far from you” (NKJV). Perversity twists what is good and leads to all kinds of disorder. In Proverbs 6:12, Solomon asks, “What are worthless and wicked people like?” (NLT). The answer, in part, is that “their perverted hearts plot evil, and they constantly stir up trouble” (verse 14, NLT).
The fact of perverseness suggests an order that is being corrupted. That order comes from God, and perverseness distorts it. Morality, for example, serves as a boundary to protect God’s creation, to maintain order within ourselves and harmony with others. Immorality abuses the purpose of sex, destroys order, and wreaks havoc. Similarly, truth is necessary to maintain order and harmony in relationships. Dishonesty, another type of perverseness, disrupts harmony and tears at the fabric of society.
Biblically, perverseness affects every human. When we lie, lust, hate, or use foul words, we lower our dignity, cause chaos in our relationships, and damage God’s creation. The problem is, we all have an inclination to perverseness, and we call that bent the “sin nature.” When Adam and Eve chose to define right and wrong based on their wisdom rather than God’s, human nature became perverse. Rather than walking in fellowship with God, we began to desire what contradicts God’s character, leading to perverse behavior. A just God cannot overlook perverseness, as doing so would make Him perverse.
Fortunately, God set out to redeem humanity from its perverseness as soon as Adam and Eve sinned. After declaring the “first gospel” to Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:15), He sacrificed an animal to clothe them, introducing the theme of atonement and hinting at humanity’s need for God’s provision (Genesis 3:21). Throughout the Old Testament, we see God’s commitment to maintaining moral order and righteousness in a broken world. He judges evil, makes covenants, gives laws, enforces penalties, and shows mercy. All of this deters perverseness and charts a redemptive history leading to Christ.
Jesus Christ came to break the power of our perverseness by taking our punishment and removing our guilt. Through His death and resurrection, humans are offered forgiveness of sins, reconciliation with God, and right standing with Him. Children of God are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, who empowers them to continually overcome perverseness.
