Spiritual Schizophrenia

February 16

Read: James 3:1-18

In context, the discussion in James chapter three concerns our tongues. After lamenting the power of an uncontrollable tongue, in verse 8 James starts to give some examples of things that simply should not be. In verse 10, he writes, “Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.” He follows with examples of a fig tree bearing olives and a fountain yielding both fresh water and salt water. He gets to the point beginning in verses 14-18, when he compares the fruit of a righteous (saved) man to what comes out of a natural (lost) man.

What James is describing here is spiritual schizophrenia. There really should be no such thing as a carnal or worldly Christian. It makes no sense that one who is bought by the blood, indwelt by the Spirit and fed on the Word of God should manifest the same manner of living as one who is lost without God. It is schizophrenic for a man to exhibit the character of both the saved and the lost. It is indicative of a split personality, or, as James writes in chapter one, a man who is double-minded.

But didn’t Paul in Romans chapter seven describe a war between the flesh and spirit, such that sometimes the flesh is in control? Indeed he did, and that conflict is something that Christians deal with until the day we are called home. We all have such a conflict within. The problem is when we begin to see walking in the flesh as normal.

We are incredibly good at rationalizing almost any behavior. The one who has an anger problem will simply decide, “That’s just the way I am” and accept it as something he cannot change. The pornography addict will conclude that “God made the opposite gender attractive, and besides, I’m not hurting anybody.” And he makes no effort to alter his practices. We have become a spiritual schizophrenic when we can claim to be Christian, know there is sin in our lives, and accept it as normal. Such a Christian is destined to live a powerless and frustrating life, dangerous not only to himself but to all around him.

Brethren, these things ought not so to be.

Just a servant,

Bro. Tom