Articles From Our Bulletins
Can We Be Both Reasonable and Unwavering?
Yes. In fact, such is expected. Note James 3:17, “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.” However, it seems that in our current culture, and even in our spiritual mindset, the wise traits of being both reasonable and unwavering have become polar opposites. We seem to have reached a point in our thinking that to be reasonable, we can no longer have firm/unwavering convictions about anything. Such is patently not true! And here’s why….
- The notion that one can’t be both reasonable and unwavering (firm in convictions) is based on the false premise that “truth” is relative.It isn’t.Facts are facts and truth is truth.Our choice is to either accept the truth and stand unwaveringly on it, or reject it for a preferred falsehood.Romans 1:18-23 well illustrates both this choice, and its incumbent results.Notice that in this text: truth was suppressed, v.18; that such was done contrary to evidence, v.19; that truth could be clearly seen and understood, v.20a; and that rejection of such a known truth rendered one without excuse, vv.20b-21.God’s Word is truth, and we must stand unwaveringly on and in it!To do otherwise makes us fools, v.23, and brings His wrath upon us, v.18.
- But, being reasonable is not in opposition to these things.In James 3:17, wisdom is shown to include being both unwavering and reasonable. Perhaps a little word study will be enlightening.Adiakritos (pronounced ad·ee·ak·ree·tos) is the Greek word translated into our word “unwavering.” Among other things, it means “without uncertainty.” The idea seems to be that those who wise (according to God) are certain of the veracity of truth, and are thus willing to stand on and in it, and to do so unwaveringly. However, another trait of being wise in God’s estimation, according to the same verse (James 3:17), is to be reasonable. This word is translated from the Greek term, eupeithes (pronounced yoo·pi·thace), and is defined as “easily obeying, compliant.”As used here, the idea is that one who is reasonable is open to and easily converted to/by previously unknown truth.Thus, a wise person is one who, among other traits from James 3:17 that are not within the purview of this article, is both unwavering in his convictions and application of the truth he knows, and open to new or additional truth that he hasn’t yet discovered.Thus, unwavering and reasonable are not mutually exclusive!
- As an illustration of being both unwavering and reasonable, consider Apollos in Acts 18:24-28.He was: mighty in the Scriptures, v.24; instructed in the way of the Lord and fervent is spirit, v.25a; which led him to teach accurately the things concerning Jesus, v.25b; but, he was acquainted only with the baptism of John (which had, by that time, been superseded by baptism in the name of Jesus, cf. Acts 19:4-5).He was unwavering in his convictions, and preached them accurately (v.25), even though his understanding was incomplete.However, because he was also reasonable (as per the definition above- easily obedient and compliant), he was also: open to additional truth presented to him by Priscilla and Aquila, v.26; and immediately received, was converted to/by this additional truth, and began proclaiming it, vv.27-28!
What’s the bottom line? If we are to be wise in God’s estimation rather than our own, we must be unwavering with regard to the truth we know, and yet reasonable enough to be open to and easily converted to additional and previously unknown truth when it is proven to be so! Face a couple of facts in these regards. Firstly, God expects us to be wise enough to practice what we know to be true. “Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do, and does not do it, to him it is sin,” James 4:17. We need to be unwavering in our commitment to obey the truth we know to be truth. Secondly, none of us knows ALL of God’s truth. Therefore, we must be reasonable enough to recognize our deficiency, and be open to and easily convertible by and to additional truth. And thirdly, Paul said that he “had to do many things hostile to the name of Jesus of Nazareth,” Acts 26:9. This was so because “the truth” he thought he knew was false- that Jesus wasn’t the Christ. But, because he was reasonable enough to be open to truth that could be proven valid- that Jesus was the Christ, he “did not prove to be disobedient” to it, but was immediately and completely converted to it, Acts 26:19, and became an unwavering proclaimer and example of it, Acts 26:20. Let’s be unwavering in our convictions, and yet reasonable in our openness to and reception of additional truth. That is wise!
- Reasonable_and_Unwavering.pdf (89.06 kB)
