The Danger of Being Double-Minded

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The apostle James warns against being double-minded. What is double-mindedness, and what are its consequences?

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In his New Testament letter, the apostle James twice uses the term double-minded (James 1:8A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
See All...; James 4:8Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
See All...). Being double-minded is a problem that can damage Christians and can manifest itself in several areas of their lives.

The Greek word translated "double-minded" is dipsuchos , from dis , meaning "twice," and psuche , meaning "mind." James uses it to describe someone who is divided in his interests or loyalties, wavering, uncertain, two-faced, half-hearted. We will see double-mindedness as a theme throughout his letter.

Even godly men in the Bible sometimes lapsed into double-mindedness. John, who baptized Jesus Christ, saw the Holy Spirit descend upon the Savior "in bodily form like a dove" and heard a voice from heaven declare, "You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased" (Luke 3:21-22 [21] Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,
[22] And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.

See All...). Yet, after landing in prison, where he would ultimately be beheaded, John sent men to Christ asking, "Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?" (Luke 7:19-20 [19] And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?
[20] When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?

See All...).

John the Baptist was human, and we humans begin to doubt when God seems not to respond to our prayers during a crisis. Even though John's words reflected doubt, Christ described him as greater than any prophet born before him (Luke 7:28For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.
See All...). We should be encouraged that, as we humbly seek God's will and way of life, He promises to remember us according to our victories in the faith, just as He considered John the Baptist.

Praying with doubt?

The first area of double-mindedness James addressed concerns how we pray (James 1:5-8 [5] If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
[6] But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
[7] For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
[8] A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

See All...). James describes one who is dubious and indecisive in prayer as "a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."

Doubt and irresoluteness in our communication with God short-circuit our relationship with Him. Before asking God for anything, we should first ask ourselves questions that directly bear on our prayers:

Is what I am asking according to His will? The apostle John tells us why this is important: "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us" (1 John 5:14And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
See All..., emphasis added throughout).

Are my attitude and life in tune with the will of God? John stresses the role of obedience: "And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight" (1 John 3:22And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
See All...).

Are my motives self-centered or God-centered? James says be careful what you pray for: "You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures" (James 4:3Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
See All...).

If we can answer yes to the first two questions and "God-centered" to the third question, then we should have no problem staying single-minded in prayer. Of course, we can't earn or force a particular response from God. God responds to us according to His mercy and righteousness, not ours.

Hearing without doing?

James's second warning concerns the double-minded hearing of God's Word (James 1:22-25 [22] But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
[23] For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
[24] For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
[25] But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

See All...). He shows that double-mindedness can creep into our attitude, and he admonishes his readers to "be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves" (verse 22). The follower of Christ should feel happy after reading God's Word, but reading the Bible should be a means to an end, to becoming Christlike. We should go beyond just feeling good to actually striving to be good. A pleasant, satisfied feeling can deceive us into thinking we have accomplished something when we haven't.

The story of the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ to His mother, Mary, has inspired many, and rightfully so. Yet few are motivated by the story to follow Christ's example and will.

Luke 11 tells the story of a woman so moved by the words and miracles of Jesus Christ that she exclaimed, "Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts which nursed You!" But Christ responded with another perspective: "More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!" (verses 27-28).

Christ talked of imprudent people whose lives are not built on the Rock. Everyone "who hears these sayings of Mine and does not do them" is "foolish" (Matthew 7:24-26 [24] Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
[25] And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
[26] And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

See All..., emphasis added throughout). Conversely, those who want to obey Christ will "do" His sayings.

Although no one can earn salvation by anything he does, we can lose our salvation by being "hearers only" (Hebrews 2:1-4 [1] Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
[2] For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;
[3] How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
[4] God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?

See All...).

Biased fellowship?

Our fellowship can mirror our double-mindedness, wrote James. Do wealthy church members receive special treatment when they "come into your assembly"? (James 2:2For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;
See All...). The Greek for assembly is translated elsewhere as "congregation" and "synagogue." James addressed the conduct of Christians in their assemblies.

In some congregations in James's day, the rich apparently garnered more respect and qualified for better seating than did the poor. As a result, James admonished congregations not to show "partiality among yourselves" (verse 4) by having people's seating arrangements follow some ranking or pecking order of wealth or status.

James was aware of the problems that can result from hypocritical, two-faced fellowship, because he was indirectly involved in a conflict between the apostles Paul and Peter (Galatians 2:11-16 [11] But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
[12] For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
[13] And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.
[14] But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?
[15] We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,
[16] Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

See All...). Peter showed partiality in fellowship when "certain men came from James" (Galatians 2:12For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
See All...). These verses show that Peter was as subject to human weakness as the rest of us. In this instance he "would eat with the Gentiles; but when they [Jewish believers sent from James] came, he withdrew and separated himself [from eating with the gentiles], fearing those who were of the circumcision."

Sadly, "the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy."

Peter grew into a great leader and man of God, but in this instance he strayed from a lesson Jesus had taught him years before through a vision. "In truth I perceived that God shows no partiality," Peter learned at the time of the revelation. "But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him" (Acts 10:34-35 [34] Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
[35] But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

See All...).

In the Greek theater, actors would speak ( krinomai ) from behind a mask ( hypo ). Together the Greek words for speak and mask form hupokrisis , from which we get our word hypocrisy. Are we ever so swayed by peer pressure that we figuratively wear masks around certain people to stay in their good graces? We must be vigilant to avoid straying outside the proper boundaries of being "all things to all men" (1 Corinthians 9:19-22 [19] For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
[20] And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
[21] To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
[22] To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

See All...) to the point of contradicting ourselves or, worse, contradicting God.

Jesus Christ sets the ultimate example of not being a "respecter of persons" (Acts 10:34Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
See All..., King James Version). This old English phrase doesn't mean we shouldn't respect anyone. A modern translation makes the meaning clear, that we should follow the example of God, who "shows no partiality." Jesus proved His impartiality by sacrificing His life for everyone, regardless of rank or privilege.

Ironically, when certain men sent by the Pharisees acknowledged that Jesus Christ did "not regard the person of men" (Matthew 22:16And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men.
See All...), they were speaking from behind a mask themselves because their motive was to "entangle Him in His talk" (Matthew 22:15Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.
See All...). Needless to say, they failed.

Romans 2:11For there is no respect of persons with God.For there is no respect of persons with God.
See All... confirms that "there is no partiality with God." Our Creator impartially judges us (Ephesians 6:9And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.
See All...; Colossians 3:25But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.
See All...; 1 Peter 1:17And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:
See All...).

Selective obedience?

Next, James targets double-minded keeping of the law (James 2:8-13 [8] If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
[9] But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
[10] For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
[11] For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.
[12] So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
[13] For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

See All...). For centuries the Christian world has been of two minds concerning God's law. Its double-mindedness has resulted in the breaking of "the royal law according to the scripture" (James 2:8If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
See All...). The Old Testament records God's giving of the royal law, which is summarized in Leviticus 19: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Leviticus 19:18Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.
See All...).

How does one break this law of love? A common way is the breaking of even "one point" (James 2:10For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
See All...) of the royal law.

James goes from discussing the royal law of Leviticus 19:18Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.
See All... to enumerating the Ten Commandments. He cites two of the Commandments: the seventh, "Do not commit adultery," and the sixth, "Do not murder" (Exodus 20:13-14 [13] Thou shalt not kill.
[14] Thou shalt not commit adultery.

See All...). He calls the Ten Commandments "the perfect law of liberty" (James 1:25But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
See All...)

The royal law, the perfect law of liberty, shows mankind the way to express love. When we read the 10 points of this law as summarized in the Commandments, we notice that the first four reflect love toward God and the last six depict love of our fellowman; that is, the love of our neighbor as ourselves (Leviticus 19:18Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.
See All...; James 2:8If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
See All...).

James shows the double-mindedness of embracing one point of the Ten Commandments while breaking another point of this law of love. Notice that the breaking of one point of the law is the same as breaking the "whole law" (James 2:10-11 [10] For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
[11] For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

See All...).

God's law expresses His will

Jesus Christ prophesied a time after His return when He will say to many who cry out to Him, "Lord, Lord." He will reply to some who say this: "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness" (Matthew 7:21-23 [21] Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
[22] Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
[23] And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

See All...). Regardless of how much one believes in Him, Christ said that only "he who does the will of My Father in heaven" (Matthew 7:21Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
See All...) will enter His Kingdom. Here God's will and law are spoken of together, because His law is an expression of His will.

James warned against inconsistency in our obedience to God. It's much easier to pay lip service to the broad expression of God's royal law—love (Leviticus 19:18Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.
See All...)—than to embrace the specifics of it (Exodus 20:1-17 [1] And God spake all these words, saying,
[2] I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
[3] Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
[4] Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
[5] Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
[6] And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
[7] Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
[8] Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
[9] Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
[10] But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
[11] For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
[12] Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
[13] Thou shalt not kill.
[14] Thou shalt not commit adultery.
[15] Thou shalt not steal.
[16] Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
[17] Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.

See All...). After all, without specifics each person decides for himself what love is. The Bible, however, plainly defines love: "For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome" (1 John 5:3For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
See All...).

What sin do you hate the most? Stealing? Lying? Adultery? God wants us to hate every sin. He wants us to hate the breaking of any of the Ten Commandments, as well as anything else that is not "pleasing in His sight" (1 John 3:22And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
See All...).

Faith without works?

Double-minded faith (James 2:14-26 [14] What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
[15] If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
[16] And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
[17] Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
[18] Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
[19] Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
[20] But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
[21] Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
[22] Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
[23] And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
[24] Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
[25] Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
[26] For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

See All...) is not the wavering in one's belief in God. Rather, double-minded faith is believing in God without performing the actions, or the "works," that reflect that belief. James wanted his readers to know that faith means more than just belief in God. Every Christian should be aware that "faith without works is dead" (James 2:20But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
See All...). James challenges us to show tangible evidence of our beliefs: "Show me your faith without works, and I will show you my faith by my works" (verse 18).

Belief is not enough, he says. "Even the demons believe-and tremble!" (James 2:19Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
See All...). It is much easier to tremble at the thought of God's existence than it is to fear to disobey God. A classic example is ancient Israel. The Israelites quaked with fear before God's awesome presence when God gave them the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:18-19 [18] And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.
[19] And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.

See All...). But, when they could no longer see the evidence of God's nearness to them, they fabricated a golden calf (Exodus 32) while they should have been trembling at the explicit instructions God had revealed to them.

Of Abraham's example of faith, James poses a question for every Christian: "Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?" (James 2:22Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
See All...).

Unbridled tongue?

Have you ever tried to keep from saying the wrong thing but you just couldn't, and an inappropriate comment just popped out of your mouth? Of course, you have.

If with our tongue "we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men" (James 3:9Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
See All...), then we're speaking out of both sides of our mouth and are, therefore, double-minded (James 3:1-12 [1] My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
[2] For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
[3] Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
[4] Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.
[5] Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
[6] And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
[7] For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
[8] But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
[9] Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
[10] Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
[11] Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?
[12] Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

See All...). James calls the tongue "an unruly evil, full of deadly poison," because abusive conversation can undermine the powerful influences of prayer, the inspired reading of God's Word, the impartial treatment of people, and faith with works.

Before passing along information that could hurt someone, we should ask ourselves: Does this need to be said, or do I just want to say it? Would more harm come by saying it or not saying it? If it needs to be said, am I sharing it with the right person?

Imagine how the news and entertainment media, politics and our social lives could be enhanced and improved if we were to first think things through the way James thought them through.

"For we often stumble and fall, all of us. If there is any one who never stumbles in speech, that man has reached maturity of character and is able to curb his whole nature" (James 3:2For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
See All..., Weymouth New Testament). Our conversation—our speech—speaks to our spiritual maturity or lack of it.

From the heart

Before examining the words that flow from our mouth we should examine the thoughts of our minds and hearts, for, as Jesus said, "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" (Matthew 12:34O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
See All...).

We cannot always control what we hear, but we can control what we hold dear in our hearts. Each day Satan, the "prince of the power of the air" (Ephesians 2:2Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
See All...), relentlessly inspires a multitude of improper thoughts. We must "take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
See All..., New International Version).

We are bombarded with "corrupt" communication (Ephesians 4:29Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
See All...) from coworkers, fellow students and acquaintances. Movies and magazines transmit values, morals and behavior far removed from those God expects of His followers.

Nevertheless, we must assimilate God's words and ideals; they must become a part of us; we must keep them in our minds and hearts. "Purify your hearts, you double-minded," counsels the writer of the epistle (James 4:8Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
See All...). We should pray without doubting, read God's Word with great care, fellowship without bias, have faith while consistently keeping God's law, and speak edifying words that inspire friends and brethren to honor God.

With single-minded attention to God's will as shown in His Word, we can draw near to God and He will draw near to us.