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The Perils of Double-Mindedness (Part Two)
CGG Weekly by David F. MaasThe real two-faced entity is the prince of the power of the air, who, despite a vile, iniquitous core, has been transformed into an angel of light. Double-mindedness epitomizes satan's character, as the devil has convinced humanity that harboring a little recreational sin is harmless as long as outward appearances remain acceptable. This demonic lie of good outer actions masking rotten inner motives leads to a dangerous disconnect from God Almighty, who demands purity from the heart's motives to outward behaviors. Failing to attain a pure heart results in losing contact with our Creator, a loss tantamount to eternal death.
The Ambiguous Mind
Commentary by Martin G. CollinsA double standard is defined as the claim or pretense of holding beliefs, feelings, standards, qualities, opinions, or virtues that one does not actually possess. It affects others when principles are applied differently, and usually more rigorously, to one group of people or circumstances than to another. God's standard and expectation are that all His representatives must not be two-faced, a liar, or hypocritical in thought or action. When people are two-faced, the only thing you know for sure is that you cannot trust either face. The person who consciously and consistently lives a double standard, rejecting the authority of God's righteous standard and replacing it with an indifferent, wishy-washy set of opinions, has little or no convictions. His mind contains only preferences, which are easily changed. The double-minded person has an inability to hold a fixed belief of any kind, prepared to go either way, wanting to be like the world and the church at the same time. He decides what to do by what he thinks will benefit him most, but his human reasoning only serves to send him down the wrong path. Vacillating between trusting God and trusting the world or one's own natural abilities makes a person insecure and indecisive. Someone who is unsure whether God is good, or will do good, doubts God's goodness, and in so doing, dishonors Him. He is torn between God and the world, and is therefore unstable in all his ways. We must have a settled trust and confidence in God, based on His character and promises. We must be firm in our principles, steady in our integrity, and wholehearted as we work hard to carry out His will rather than our own.
Hypocrisy: The Last Sin of America
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsHypocrisy, as depicted in the scriptures, embodies a deceptive duality akin to a Greek or Roman actor playing a part. The term, derived from the Hebrew meaning profane or godless, portrays a person who outwardly appears religious and good but inwardly harbors insincerity and unrighteousness. Jesus vigorously exposed and denounced this two-faced nature, particularly in the scribes and Pharisees, who paraded their charitable deeds, prayers, and fasting as theatrical displays to win human praise. They sought to appear godly while being blind to God's truth, giving alms ostentatiously, disfiguring their faces during fasts, and attempting to trap Jesus with feigned religious perplexity. The Pharisees, often seen as model citizens and accepted leaders due to their zeal for the law, were driven to hypocrisy by pride. Despite their fervent pursuit of knowledge of God, many opposed Jesus, infuriated by His surpassing wisdom, miraculous healings, and claims of divine authority. Their hypocrisy manifested in abusing power, burdening people with legalistic rules without offering assistance, and shutting the door to the kingdom of heaven through false teachings and evasion of the law's spirit. Jesus condemned them as whitewashed tombs, beautiful on the outside but full of spiritual decay within, emphasizing that hypocrisy is a spiritually filthy inside masked by a clean exterior. This two-faced behavior is further highlighted in their lost sense of proportion, tithing herbs while neglecting justice, mercy, and faith. Jesus criticized their focus on minute details while missing the law's greater purpose, likening them to those who clean the outside of a cup but ignore the filth inside. Their systematic deceit and permanent untruthfulness gradually annihilated their sense of their own condition, making repentance harder than for open sinners. Yet, Jesus asserts that unless righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees, one cannot enter the kingdom of God, underscoring that true righteousness is seated in the heart, genuine and unfeigned, unlike the outward observances of the hypocrites.