The Lord gives no favor to the double-minded.

“If you use the word “Christian” anywhere in conjunction with your name or introduction to another person. You are voluntarily signing up for higher expectations, whether you like it or not.” ~ Me

I was reminded of this recently, and it challenged me to examine Scripture.

We are warned about judging others while ignoring the plank in our own eye (Matthew 7:5), but He never said we shouldn’t discern or hold fellow believers to His higher standard. 

He also doesn’t say we must maintain relationships with those who profess Christianity yet act with duplicity that causes harm or confusion.

The Double-Minded Heart

James 1:7–8 “For that person ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

Psalm 28:3 “[…] Who speak peace with their neighbors, While evil is in their hearts.”

Matthew 23:28 “So you too, outwardly appear righteous to people, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.”

Scripture Makes It Clear

When a person reveals instability of character, saying one thing and doing another, trust is broken. And instead of repentance, pride can often take over. Ego, defensiveness, and self-justification pour out fast.

That is a heart not of God, but of this world. A torn heart.

The Greek word for unstable in James 1:8 is akatastatos, meaning unstable, restless, and disorderly. That paints a vivid picture: a person whose thoughts, motives, and actions are never fully aligned. Someone likely swayed by every emotion or circumstance. 

That kind of instability produces impulsive reactions and fractured relationships. It’s not a trait of Christ, and it’s not something we should allow to take root in our lives.

Yes, we screw up at times, but trust me, there is a cast-iron pan hitting you somewhere in the head when you screw up. You feel it, you see it, you can even taste it. It is up to you to listen and be taught by God to walk away from what the world deems “right” and do better. 

You mature.

Anchoring Your Soul 

A double-minded, unstable person is restless because their internal foundation is unstable. Those who are anchored in Christ are steadier and, at the very least, feel that cast-iron conviction hard enough to shape up. 

One of our callings as believers isn’t only to walk in alignment with God. It’s to do the work to get there and to fight to stay there; it is also to hold fellow believers to the higher standard that Christ set forth for us.

How We React Reveals Who We Are

I’ve found that when you truly live your life for Christ, things just naturally occur in a person. It becomes instilled in you, whether you are new to it or not. Especially in how you respond to feedback.

When your heart is in line with Christ, I usually see one of two things:

• You recognize feedback for what it is, appreciate it, learn from it, apply it, and move on; or

• You feel the sting, step back, have a convo with God, learn from it, and then move on.

  
  

I remember my interactions with people. 

They shape how I move forward with them. I trust their words and their love for Christ, but when instability becomes painfully clear, trust is lost.

It’s not that I hold onto anything negative against them and dwell on it; it’s that that interaction shows me exactly where they are in life with God, and what they need prayer for. 

It also shows me that I may need to step away from that harm and hold them to a higher standard, which is what they signed up for when they proclaimed Christianity.

Final Thought Moment

When others act double-minded, don’t let their instability shake your integrity. Stand firm, call it out respectfully, respond with grace, and walk away if you must. 

The world will always be pulling at our loyalties, but a surrendered heart will always find its balance in Him.

© Jane Isley

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