Double Minded? maybe

James 1:8 (KJV):  “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”  

What is being a “double minded man”;  consist of?

“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. 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. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”  James 1:5-8

“If any lack wisdom”:  where does, how does one obtain wisdom?  “let him ask of God”.  Is there a prerequisite?  “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”  Hebrews 11:6.  What happens when God does what He has promised and man refuses to believe what God has delivered? 

How i understand these scriptures, and there applications, to be made in my life.  Understandings in “Blue”, “Blue is not, again not scripture; its my understanding of.   

“For the wrath of God And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us (those who believe the gospel) from the wrath to come” 1 Thessalonians 1:10.  “raised from the dead” His Son’s; Jesus Christ’s, death, burial and resurrection, which is the given gospel: “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” 1 Corinthians 15:1-4). 

“For the wrath of God  is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men (Ps 2:1-4), who hold the truth in unrighteousness; because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.”

Recently in overhearing and direct communications with others have heard such like statements.  Not everything is written in scripture that one needs to know to operate efficiently.  The major concepts are given but we need to _?___?___?___? whatever to get through.  In saying that they have admitted that they are double minded.  God’s Word is complete, nothing missing:  “ Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;” Colossians 1:25  That word “fulfil” is Strong’s # 4137: “pleroo, play-or’-o:  (IV) (B) Of a business or work, to accomplish, finish, complete,”   Additionaly, where those words are used to show completion in the context of being complete, finished and accomplished.  Luke 7:1, 9:31; Acts 13:25, 14:26, 19:21; Romans 15:19; Revelation 6:11.  “(for we walk by faith, not by sight:)”  2 Corinthians 5:7.   On other occasions have heard:  Paul and the 12 surely spoke the same gospel.  Well, surely they must have met here, there etc. and discussed such and such.  The 12 preached all over just like Paul did.  To these statements i ask; verse, chapter and book, please.  Don’t presume what is and isn’t written.  But we are to  “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”  2 Timothy 2:15.  Has no one heard others say, or even oneself say things like this:  “I had read that (Bible verses) my whole life and had never seen that before.”   But when the truth of scripture is revealed to the individual, then the individual, must believe what has been revealed.  Also remember those of Berea who searched to see if what Paul had said was true in light of what they had at that time (Acts 17:10-13); namely the Old Testament.  Today we have the “Complete Word” but are warned to “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”  1 John 4:1.  Same as those of Berea were also doing. 

Sidebar:  At a previous fellowship that i had attended, the question of baptism arose.  The pastor had stated that the fellowship needed to have more people saved.  That they had a baptistery and it needs to be used to accomplish salvation, that defiantly implied water baptism to be saved.  i asked the elders and pastor if what was said was truly meant.  i was told that we have to agree on the majors but we can have different insights on the minors.  So who determines the majors and the minors?  Neither, that’s why we have God’s Word.  i consider it belittling of scripture to make assumptions that God’s Word is incomplete in our daily life experiences.  i wonder how that belief will stand on judgment day? 

These verses, 20-27 of Romans 1; are given as an example of the whole context.  If every instance where to be given, how large would one’s Bible be?  We have been (most) been taught that these verses are instruction in and of homosexuality explicitly.  In verse 26 though, it reads:  “For this cause (singular cause) God gave them up unto vile affections (plural, affections) : (colon used).  For the invisible things of him (God) from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made (mankind), even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools (For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18), And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man (his ways and ideas , and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen."  Romans 1:20-27

“For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”  Romans 1:18-32.  

i’m not making judgments of who is in the body or out, but scripture does say; “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”  James 4:6.  Again with Peter writing: “Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.” 1 Peter 5:5b.  If God does not reveal, open one’s heart one will not understand (Acts 16:14).  One must learn what Isaiah was writing of:  “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept;  line upon line, line upon line;  here a little, and there a little:  For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest;  and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.  But the word of the Lord was unto them  precept upon precept, precept upon precept;  line upon line, line upon line;  here a little, and there a little;  that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.”  Isaiah 28:10-13.  Some wanting excuse (Ro 1:20b) will say that was to Isaiah:  but “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”  Romans 15:4.  

Those who are God’s children, in Christ, the body, must, without restraint accept what God has written.  i don’t have to comprehend it, i don’t have to understand it but when revealed, i will, i must believe it.  So if it doesn’t pass the smell test (man’s understandings), “What saith the scriptures?”  “LORD Jesus i don’t understand”.  When i have grown by:  “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope:” Romans 5:3-4.  “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”  Hebrews 11:1.  i will then understand and will “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 3:3-4.  

So then when others tell me things that are not written i will rely on what is written and give answer:  “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”  2 Timothy 3:16-17.  What are the “good works” spoken of there?  “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”  Galatians 6:10.  To know who i am in Christ and what is His calling in my life:  “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”  How is one reconciled to God?  by believing the gospel:  “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”  1 Corinthians 15:1-4. 

Thank You LORD Jesus for loving me, giving Yourself for me, giving me Your life.  Thank You for being patient with me all those years i was in rebellion and unbelief.  By Your faithfulness, persistence, and love, You did the work for me and now i see Your finished work for me.  i am content to believe You, trust You, exercise faith in You, i love You and am so ever thankful too  You for making it possible for me to be made part of Your body.  Thank You, thank You, my God, my LORD, my Saviour, my Christ, my Messiah, my all in all, never to need or want, You have made me complete and alive:  Thank You,  in Jesus’s name, Amen . . . . . . .