Spiritual Stability

One of the most important, but least discussed, ingredients of a faithful church is stability. Consider the following passages:

“… until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.” (Ephesians 4:13–14, ESV)

“if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.” (Colossians 1:23, ESV)

“But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:6–8, ESV)

Each of these passages, in one way or another, stresses the importance of stability in the Christian life. Stability, consistency, & steadfastness all go together in producing long-term spiritual gains & ministry usefulness. Unstable people in unstable ministries are too easily shaken off course by difficult situations & strange doctrines.People need a stable church to grow in their sanctification, and a stable church requires stable church members.

The Problem of Instability — “UNSTABLE IN ALL HIS WAYS”

The term unstable has taken on an almost technical sense in our modern world. To call someone unstable is to call into question their mental lucidity and even identify them as a potential threat. Unstable people shouldn’t be left alone, can’t be trusted to drive a car, and certainly should not apply for a gun permit. This, however, is not what the Bible is talking about when it describe spiritual instability. The instability that we read about in the NT is of a spiritual variety.

Spiritual Instability: From a biblical perspective, the term “unstable” describes an individual who is inconsistent in his spiritual growth and unreliable in his spiritual service. This is an individual struggling to trust Christ with his life and useless to help others follow Christ.

Here are some practical signs of spiritual instability:

• Inconsistency in the means of grace and the spiritual disciplines that God has placed in your life.

• Regular indecision and confusion about how to handle your circumstance and how to make life decisions.

• Nagging insecurities about the decisions you’ve made, the course of your life, and your relationship with God.

• Constant doubts about God’s perfect care for you, his plan for your life, and his love—a theological victimhood.

• Discontentment, a constant desire for more or different blessings than God has already given—perpetual fear of missing out.

• Anxiety about the details of your life and situations that you might face; the constant fear of unmet expectations.

• Depression that comes from distrusting God and focusing on all of your disappointments and regrets in this life.

• Powerless against temptation, emotions, and selfish desires; the smallest things throw you into sinful patterns.

Instability stunts growth because you never have anything to build upon. Rather than steady gains and deepening convictions, the faith of an unstable believer is in perpetual crisis mode. In fact, in many cases, the quiet determination to continue trusting God seems less spiritual to an unstable believer than the drama of being driven and tossed by the waves of life. But eventually an unstable person will not only neglect Scripture, he will twist it to make it confirm whatever he wants it to say:

“There are some things in [Paul’s letters] that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability.” (2 Peter 3:16–17, ESV)

The Power of Stability — “STABLE AND STEADFAST”

In contrast with the unstable, a spiritually stable individual exhibits the kind of constancy that leads to gains in holiness and usefulness in ministry.

Spiritual Stability: A stable believer is steadfast in the battle with his own sin, unwavering in his commitment to the Truth, and unflappable in his convictions about Christ. This is an individual who, while being imperfect, resolutely stands firm in his faith and regularly submits his life to the means of grace.

Here are some fruits of spiritual stability:

• Clarity on how God’s truth directs every area of your life and informs every aspect of your faith.

• Confidence in God to graciously supply you with everything you need for life and godliness.

• Certainty that God’s word is always true and the Bible is where you always need to turn for answers.

• Conviction to order your life, make decisions, set priorities, and make sacrifices based on biblical principles.

• Comfort that even when you life seems like a mess the promises of God always remain true.

• Contentment that no matter what you are facing the Bible makes it clear that you have the greatest good—Christ.

• Consistency to trust and obey God’s word in the patterns and rhythms of your every day life.

Unstable Christians are easily shaken in their faith and alarmed by circumstances; stable Christians consistently trust what God’s word says and seek to obey it no matter what their circumstances are like. Their stability comes from Christ because they know that is where victory/salvation come from. They interpret the challenges and disappointments of life through the grid of the Gospel, always reminding themselves that they can entrust their circumstances unto the God who has saved their soul.

“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” (1 Cor 15:57–58)