Scriptural Reference:
3 For the time will
come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead,
to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great
number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside
to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure
hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties
of your ministry.
2 Timothy 4:3-5
But be you 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
to a man beholding his natural face in a glass: [24] For he beholds
himself, and goes his way, and straightway forgets what manner
of man he was. [25] But whoever looks into the perfect law of
liberty, and continues therein, he being not a forgetful hearer,
but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
James 1:22-25
For if there come
to your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and
there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;
James 2:2
But will you know,
O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
James 2:20
Reflection:
Sadly
I know someone who is not at all unique. She embodies a Post Christian
mindset or paradigm that is common among both Christians and spiritualist.
A sort laissez-faire when it comes to defining their faith and
what they believe in. This mindset has crept into the church.
Making people less likely to stand firmly in an acknowledge faith
that Jesus the Christ is God's only Son and that He alone is the
only way to be reconciled with God and enter heaven. The term
this person I know uses, her words not mine, is 'Woofelly Faith'.
So it's a Woofelly faith made up of many spiritual threads from
many spiritual and religious beliefs. It lacks solidity and tends
to be flexible in that anything can be good if we just believe
it to be good. Where God is not all that judgmental. If he, or
she in some cases, is difficult we only need remind him just how
good we are and all will be right in the universe.
This new
quasi faith is also termed as being double minded. James uses
this term, double minded, twice. He warns that being double minded
is a problem that can damage the Christian church as well as the
Christians who attend (James 1:8; James 4:8). The way it manifests
itself in a Christians life is dangerous as it can destroy their
witness. If allowed to continue it can even damage their fellowship
with God and other Christians.
A look at
the The Greek word, as translated, "double-minded" is dipsuchos
from dis meaning "twice," and psuche meaning "mind.". James uses
this term to describe someone who is divided in their interests
or loyalties. They're wavering, uncertain, two-faced and halfhearted
in how they live and relate their faith. This concept of being
with a double-mind is a theme throughout his letter. When someone
starts to live a life that has a double minded view of their relationship
with God; it can start to affect their fellowship. Which will
mirror their double-mindedness. A topic that James expressed throughout
his letters.
An example
of this double-mindedness or hypocrisy can been seen when someone
going to a church for the first time is dressed in the clothes
that they can afford. Those clothes may be torn and tattered and
really all they have. But their curiosity and interest to learn
more about God has encouraged them to step forward. How often
though are they scrutinised and judged by those regular members.
Looking down on them based just on the clothes they wear. James
gives a good account of this in (James 2:2). The experience for
the individual is negative and may force them away from knowing
Jesus as their saviour. So what we can learn from this form of
woofelly faith is that looking good doesn't make us any better
then the non-Christian. Being woofelly and double-minded makes
some people arrogant and critical of others. It's down right toxic.
Getting back
to the person who thinks that all faiths or religions lead to
God; I'd like to pray that they have an epiphany moment. One where
they will wake up and realise that there is only one name by which
we can be saved. That being Jesus the Christ. And that any other
distraction will not help them understand God and the hope of
His Grace and Salvation through His Son. But sadly I fear that
not only have they deluded themselves, but they have also deluded
many others.
I pray that
you are safe in the solid faith of a perfect God and His Son Jesus
the Christ.
Prayer:
Heavenly God,
I pray that my faith is firm.
That the Holy Spirit will,
Guide and encourage me,
Bless and instruct me,
Lead and protect me,
Through these difficult times.
I pray these things,
In your Son precious name,
Jesus the Christ.
Amen