Double-Minded Living

There has, for as long as I can remember, been a lifelong struggle within me, a struggle between denying myself of things I know God does not want for me and the part of me that says, “Just go for it and ask forgiveness later.” I admit in my younger days there was a much more intense battle than the one I face in my later years, praise be to God! However, the battle does continue, the difference being now I love the Lord so much that I choose to avoid temptation with much more zeal and determination. This morning I was reading in James 4, and it appears that James is addressing those who are not struggling with the temptation but are rather simply attempting to live both lives: the one with God’s blessing and the other without. He refers to these people as “double-minded,” vacillating between obeying God and giving in to the flesh, even if it means they are sinning or missing the mark. This phrase “double-minded” is also defined as “two-spirited”: those who abuse the grace and gifts of God yet continue in a self-serving lifestyle, not those who struggle and battle against their flesh. For those of us who fight against our temptations, we have made up our mind; we have purposed to follow God, to not abuse His grace and mercy, to not defile the blood of the Lamb. In my feeble attempt to teach people about the abuse of grace, I have all too often failed to make the distinction between those who are saved and struggling and those who are attempting to, let’s say, have “fire insurance” or just simply attempt to “justify” their sin. You see, for those of us who struggle, we understand the guidelines of godly living. We accept them, we surrender to them; we don’t attempt to justify them, rather we face our failings with humility and repentance. It is my belief that these are those who fall under the blood, those who truly believe and are saved by grace, made righteous by Jesus. However, those who are double-minded, those who attempt to justify ungodly behavior, those who fight with pride and arrogance the requirements of salvation, those who deem themselves worthy on their own accord, are simply fooling themselves. These are the ones who water down Christianity and, in fact, turn many away. There is hope, however, for all men, and James presents us with a cure—a prescription for their healing. “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up” (James 4:7–10). I know many who read my ramblings are wrongly under the opinion that I believe in the law or I am too harsh with people. To them I would say you truly do not know me. The reality is this: the Word of God, the Epistles in particular, address issues with the church. The church was new and being formed, and it was small enough that for the most part the leaders of the time were able to give direction to their leaders, to warn them of straying doctrine, to build for them a foundation upon which to stand. From the very beginning of the church there have been those who attempted, for one reason or another, to change things, to improve upon God’s design, to justify their sin, to form their own belief, and so on. Folks, nothing has changed! People have and always will desire an easier way: a simpler solution and a compromise. There is no compromise with God. He is who He is, and He requires what He requires. He never attempted to justify sin, not through Jesus nor through His Word and not today through His Holy Spirit. Sin is not up for debate. The Bible is very clear on what separates us from God, and it is rooted in pride, arrogance, stubbornness, and deceit. We are only saved from it because of Jesus and our willingness, through humility, to admit our failings and surrender to His will and be transformed by His Spirit. Bottom line is this: you either believe to the point of doing all you can to avoid sin, knowing failure will come, and by His grace and our repentance we are redeemed. Or you can justify your own desires, sins, lifestyle, and choices and ignore the Word; thus you abuse the blood and grace and end up eternally separated from God—period! Pastor Gene Burroughs, Missio Dei Ministries, Navarre, FL outreachman@gmail.com