He who is double minded...

I would first like to raise a disclaimer. These postings are a result of what goes on in my brain. Please don't hold fast to what I say, run with it to only find yourself confused or angry. I don't intend to stir strife or confusion, nor do I promote haughtiness or claim to know everything. I don't. In fact I'm far from knowing everything and like many of you I am simply trying to make sense of my environment, the things I encounter on a daily basis, as well as the thoughts that often cross, entertain, confound or even plague my mind. Therefore please take everything I say with an open mind and honest heart. That's the only thing I advocate here; honesty ingenuity and the right to think...

 

I've often wrestled with the terms "double-minded ness", "strattling the fence" "lukewarmness". They are common soliloquies in Christian church culture used to represent the nature of Christians who are living a worldly or secular life coupled with attempts to living for God. They are taken from scriptures like James 1:8, Revelation chapter 3, 1 Corinthians 10, various other scriptures throughout the books...

You don't have to agree, but I believe the Bible is an infallible book of truth honesty mirroring the dynamics of human life; the struggles we face as people, pains, temptations, trials, persecutions, joy, honor love and hatred etc... Etc... Basically it's a teaching tool on how to be a decent and honest person. However with that being said, I've seen the downfall with this book. Not for its sheer purpose but for the disturbing resonance it leaves by the hands of others. I've seen examples of these very same scriptures used to confuse people, bring further turmoil and questions about our own lives and where we stand. It's unbearably and painfully cruel.

I just don't agree that having one foot in and one foot out per say has little , if any to do with how we live our lives for God. If anything, this mindset and way of living is perpetuated by others notion on how other well meaning see fit. The feeling of screwing up constitutes a sinful lifestyle when that's just not true. We are hard on ourself and many times we allow people to have say and dictate our lives.

Following after an idealized standard of how someone should live creates a false sense of identity, in terms of who we are in God. I'm not talking about living any way you want to live or doing everything the way you selfishly see fit; because you WILL run over and hurt others and OURSELVES with this mentality. I'm talking about being one way built around the expectation and desires of others, while hiding your true purposed self. That is the strattling the fence, being selfishly caught (for favor, recognition acceptance) between how we look to others and how God wants us to be. This is the "lukewarmness"I see when we attempt to be the fire and light of the Holy Ghost coupled with the cold callousness fueled by self agenda and the control of force by people. This is where the double mindedness comes into play. 

James 1:8 "A double minded man is unstable in all his ways..."

No wonder there seems to be an pandemic of identity crisis. We will not find the value of our purpose in things, people, lifestyle, culture. We find value in our life when we realize we are nothing without God.

Again I don't claim to know answers or have it all figured out. No one said that life would be easy or without struggle... However a little note of perspective  can help ease our burdens, a note to not give up or lose hope, a simple message to stay encouraged and upon this beaten path.

Click Here!