2 SOULS

Several months ago, I was part of a leadership life-group at my church and we read through a book called The Empowered Leader.

I returned to the book recently to read the last chapter and there was a quote that struck me. The author, Calvin Miller, stated, "We who believe are an odd mixture of sin and supplication."

Sin,
AND
Supplication.

Now if I learned anything from studying the Bible at a Christian University, I learned this: context is everything. To this point, Miller has been discussing King David's blatant hypocrisy in his adulterous affair with Bathsheba--that led to the homicide of her husband Uriah 2 Samuel 11. That would be the "sin" aspect of his quotation, but the striking part of David's story is the other half of Miller's statement: the supplication.

The Bible is not direct in answering, but the questions must be asked:


Did David still continue to pray and worship while blatantly living in sin? 

Is it possible to actively posture worship before God, while sin is lurking in the heart, and still genuinely love God? 


Does this paradox please God?

Miller then introduces James 1:8: "He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways." The literal Greek word dipsuchos means "two-souls". Clark, in his commentary states about the two-souled man: "[He] has one for earth, and another for heaven." He has one soul for sin and one for supplication. James molds an image that is not only unhealthy for the believer, but downright schizophrenic!

We are not called to serve both God's purpose and our own fallen longings. Not only does it rob God of worship, but it also robs us of peace. Shame breeds as the two souls co-mingle; the ultimate end is we are robbed of our joy and destitute in our spiritual walk, but so many of us do it every day...hence the paradox...

This way of life does not please God...but it does not mean we don't love God.

We all find ourselves somewhere on the "Sin-Supplication" spectrum. None of us are totally free in all our passions to wholly sell ourselves out for the purposes of God. Temptation lurks around every corner seeking to hook us, but that should never prevent us from pursuing God and having a heart for transformation.

Never be resigned to living in compromise; like David, continue to pursue God.

Pray.
Study.
Worship.
Fast.
Aggressively pursue accountability.
Find some positive hobbies.
Serve.
Give.
Believe.

Whether you have been disenfranchised, dissatisfied, or disqualified, always fall forward in supplication.