'But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. ' [James 1:6-8 NIV]
James is outspoken in his condemnation of those people he describes as 'double-minded and unstable.' He certainly is not pulling any punches. What sort of people is James speaking of? He uses two Greek words which no other New Testament writer has used.
Firstly , he describes these people as double-minded. The Greek word dipsuchos literally mean 'two souls' ('dis' = two and 'psuche' = a soul). Now that cannot be right because the soul is the real person and we are all unique individuals with only one soul or heart. But James is sending a strong message to and about those people who are sitting on the fence and have not fully committed themselves to God. He uses this word twice - here in 1:8 and he uses the same word in chapter 4 and verse 8.
Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. [James 4:8 NIV]
He is not speaking about genuine Christians.
They have not come near to God
God is still at a distance from them.
They have not experienced initial cleansing from sin (See John 13:9-10)
They have never repented from their sin (James 4:9).
They have not humbled themselves before God (4:10)
There are similarities to the teaching of Jesus when He spoke about the impossibility of serving two masters (Matthew 6:24; Luke 16:13).
There is also a passage from the Old Testament which deal with this same theme of divided loyalty. When Joshua was addressing the nation after the Lord had given them 'the promised Land,' he issued a stern warning to have nothing to do with the other nations who lived in Canaan because they worshipped other gods who would lead them astray. He stressed the importance of obeying the Law of Moses 'without turning aside to the right or to the left.' [Joshua 23:6 NIV]. Here is part of Joshua's personal and powerful appeal.
Now obey the Lord and worship him with integrity and loyalty. Put aside the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates and in Egypt and worship the Lord. If you have no desire to worship the Lord, choose today whom you will worship, whether it be the gods whom your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. But I and my family will worship the Lord!” [Joshua 24:14-15 NET]
It was impossible for the Israelites to worship Baal and God. This is what James is condemning. He is describing a person who wants to pick and choose between the best of what the world has to offer but at the same time wants Christianity as a crutch.
Secondly, James uses another unique word to describe these people - unstable. He uses a simile to unpack what he means when he describes them as 'unstable.' They are 'like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.' This idea of restlessness and lack of stability is powerful. It provides me with a gauge to measure my spiritual condition. Does my life exhibit signs of restlessness and instability? Am I being blown and tossed by the wind so much that I have lost any clear direction?
I have selected and adapted some extracts from John MacArthur's commentary to help us to grasp what James is meaning.
A double minded person
is a hypocrite
has a mind or soul between God and the world
occasionally believes God
fails to trust God when trials come
experiences more than just mental indecision
has a deep-seated moral conflict
really distrusts God.
[John MacArthur: The MacArthur Bible Commentary page 1882 Kindle Edition]
I am going to close this blog with a reminder of the third verse of a lovely old hymn.
Just as I am, though tossed about
with many a conflict, many a doubt
Fightings within, and fears without,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!
[Mission Praise 396]
(See also 1 Kings 18:21; Revelation 3:15-16)
Not the most flattering selfie!
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