An old classmate was curious why he hasn’t seen me in the usual places that many of them hangout. I told him that there are certain activities that I don’t enjoy. I further explained that I’m a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, and my desire is to live by his example and do what pleases God. He remarked that he could never be a Christian because in his opinion they are such hypocrites. I asked why he felt this way, he said it’s because Christians say one thing, but act in a completely different way. In his opinion, this kind of flipflopping is worse than anything a person that doesn’t know Jesus Christ could do.
His opinion was offensive to me as a believer, but it wasn’t anything I hadn’t heard before. Even so, it saddened me. With the widespread use of social media and cameras everywhere, many of the things kept hidden in Christian culture are being exposed. This seems to be fueling a lot of negative talk about believers. And it’s no secret that ever since our blessed Lord and Savior left the earth, there have been many individuals that say they are Christians but are not true believers in their hearts. They know how to talk the talk, but they are not walking the walk. James 1:8(NLT) informs us, “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” This is a person that has wavering faith and a vacillating mind. One minute they are believing God, the next minute they are sinking in their hearts emotionally, losing faith, and taking matters into their own hands.
The quality of double mindedness isn’t spawn from the boldness that comes from standing on God’s Word. It comes from doubt, and doubt belongs to satan. It has a stench to it because doubt is a poor witness of the Gospel. It doesn’t give people anything they can hang their hopes on, and they don’t like it. As believers, we shouldn’t like it either. We should believe in the rewards that we will receive from living Godly. We should be confident that we can live righteously through Jesus Christ, and he will help us to do so. This is the witness people are longing to see. But when a Christian is double minded, there’s no consistency in their conversations and actions, and this is perceived by others as being hypocritical.
There are individuals that have been on their jobs for years. Every day they get up in the morning, get dressed, and go to work. They are consistent, and their consistency is rewarded with a paycheck. Artist paint, sculpt, or express whatever their talent might be, and they are driven to create and will do it consistently, throughout their entire lives. Good parents nurture and care for their children, and this is a given. They never stop loving their kids, and never stop wanting to support and care for them in any way they can. The bottom line is that human beings are built with the capacity to be consistent. We choose to be disciplined and consistent when something is important to us. God is letting us know that it is unacceptable to be diligent in other areas, but not be diligent and consistent when it comes to our relationship with Him through the Lord Jesus Christ.
God tells us in Ephesians 5:1-2 to be imitators of Him and walk in the way of love. To walk in the way of love means that we should follow God’s nature and do the good works that He purposed us to do. He’s not telling us to do this just to give us something to occupy our time. He’s telling us to follow the example of Jesus Christ because this is what sustains our lives. It’s what causes us to be blessed and to leave a trail of God’s goodness in the lives of others.
Ephesians 5:3-6(NLT) further instructs us, “3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them.”
Living this way is living God’s Way. Through the example of Jesus Christ, His Word, and the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, God has provided everything we need to live a Godly life that is pleasing to Him and fulfilling to us as well. He forgives us when we sin and make mistakes, but we should not be continually making the same mistakes and repeating the same sins. That’s not living with Holy Spirit power. 1Corinthians 15:57 affirms that Jesus Christ has given us victory over sin. We should thank God that we have been delivered from darkness, and our thanks must be expressed through living as though we know we’ve been saved. ■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“Living God’s Way”, written by KLizzie, edited by Reverend Fran Mack, for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2021. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.