Sometimes I feel like I am on a faith roller coaster. I might have a really good day, and then the next day I struggle to think correctly. Whenever this happens, it is vital that I look to Jesus and the Scriptures. The Scriptures address the stability of our faith because there are many challenges against it. In this paper I will examine some concepts from the Scripture to help us in this area.
Being Double-minded
The term double-minded is used twice in the New Testament, both in James. Double-minded also has two different usages:
Double-minded
a. wavering, uncertain, doubting (Used in James 1:8)
b. divided in interest (Used in James 4:8)
James 1:5-8
“But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”
When I watch a body of water, the waves are in continuous movement. I look for a pattern, but the waves are always changing and somewhat chaotic. That may be what James is referring to in his analogy. Our faith should not be chaotic like the waves of the sea, but instead should be stable and unchanging.
In James 1:8, the term double-minded is used to mean: wavering, uncertain, doubting. James says that someone who is double-minded is therefore unstable in all his ways.
To combat this double-mindedness and become more stable, we can build our faith in several areas:
Consider the history of God working throughout the Bible and in your life;
Study the evidence for the Bible, its historical accuracy and reliability;
Investigate the case for Jesus. Evidence for His life, death, and resurrection.
James 4:8
The other usage of double-minded, is in James 4:8;
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
In this passage (James 4:1-10), James explains that we can’t live a worldly life and also live for God -we can’t be double-minded. In verse four he says, “You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” (James 4:4)
Here, double-minded is used in the sense of having a divided interest. In this section of Scripture, James also gives us some solutions for dealing with this problem. I think of it as setting the course of our life as Christians:
- Repent (Confess your sin to God)
- Change your attitude, turn from selfishness and complacency
- Refer back to solutions for building our faith from James 1:8 above
- Decide to honor God
Equipping Believers
To build up our faith and equip the church, God has given certain gifts and abilities to us. In Ephesians 4:11-14, Paul explains,
“And He gave some as apostles, and some [as] prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming.”
We can take an active role in this process even if we are not those doing the equipping. Some of the elements from this passage where we can apply ourselves are:
- Strive for unity
- Get equipped with good Bible teaching
- Build our knowledge of Jesus
- Seek maturity in our lives
- Study doctrine1 so we are not deceived
Every Thought Captive
Our thought life is central to the way we live. What we think sets the tone for our attitudes, and out of that, flow our actions.
One passage that speaks to this issue, is 2 Corinthians 10:3-5. Paul is addressing how he battles viewpoints and ways of thinking that are anti-Christian. He recognizes that the battle is a spiritual one fought through the power of God.
It is important to note that the battle is not against people, but against any wrong thinking. Therefore we must be kind and gentle and demonstrate love towards those we interact with.
For us to be effective in this battle, we must make sure that we ourselves are thinking correctly first. Once we think correctly, then we can see the incorrect thinking in the world.
Paul says in the Corinthians passage,
“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.”
Paul explains that we walk in the weakness of the flesh, but war by divine power. He uses battle terminology: war, weapons, warfare, and destruction of fortresses. His conclusion is that these false ideas can be destroyed in Christ!
The term Paul uses for fortresses, is used to mean anything on which one relies.2
Fortresses:
“a stronghold, fortress” is used metaphorically of those things in which “mere human confidence is imposed.”3
When Paul says that we are taking these thoughts captive, he is using the word ‘captive’ figuratively meaning: to subjugate, bring under control.4
Therefore Paul is saying that we should subjugate mere human confidence under the authority of Christ. That is, we should not rely on, and have our confidence in ourselves. Rather, we should depend upon what is revealed to us in the Bible and submit all to Christ. I talk more about this particular spiritual weapon in the post, Our Weapons.
Trust in the Lord, not yourself
The last passage we will consider is Proverbs 3:5-8. Like the other passages, there is much we can learn here. However, we will only focus on one point: who do we trust?
Proverbs 3:5-8 says,
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
8 It will be healing to your body, and refreshment to your bones.
The proverb tells us that our whole heart should be used in our trust of God. This is in contrast to using our own human thinking. Our wisdom must be informed by God’s wisdom as delivered to us in the Bible. We receive the benefit of correct thinking, plus it will have an effect on our whole being.
In verse 6, to “Acknowledge Him”, does not mean to just give a nod toward God. Vine’s Expository Dictionary defines it as: to know, recognize. The idea is that we are to know God and recognize Him in everything. The Pulpit commentary explains,
“It is not a mere theoretical acknowledgment, but one that engages the whole energies of the soul, and sees in God power, wisdom, providence, goodness, and justice.”5
A New Testament verse expresses the same thought,
“And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” (Colossians 3:17)
Conclusion
We are to not be puffed up in our own thinking or believe that we are self-sufficient in ourselves. God created us to be dependent on Him. He made us to be in relationship with Him. We thrive when we place our lives under His Lordship.
By applying these concepts in our lives we can have a more consistently stable faith. We can avoid being tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine. We can take ungodly thoughts captive to the truth. We can give God His proper place in our lives.
Appendix
Stability in the faith is linked to persevering in the faith. I write about that in the post titled, Persevering in the Faith. In addition, see the article Spiritual Assurances.
1 Doctrine is simply the teaching of the Bible
2 Thayer’s Greek Lexicon for ‘Fortresses.’
3 Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words for ‘Fortresses.’
4 Thayer’s Greek Lexicon for ‘Captive.’
5 Pulpit Commentary