People of Ambiguity
Where straight is a bit crooked!
Ambiguity is the number one cultural issue of our day.
When I was asked to include this topic in our documentary, honestly, my mind went to what’s the point – people of ambiguity dismiss Truth. However, after giving it some thought, I realized ambiguity is behind the “why” people disregard end times prophecies.
The ideology buried deep within the sin of ambiguity reminds me of a counseling case I had a few years back. A youth pastor of a megachurch approached me for discipleship. He is the father of three lovely children and was the husband of a Godly wife. He held one of the most coveted church positions within their denomination. After six months of quality Christ-as-Life discipleship, he stops me mid-sentence, saying, “You probably should know I am joining the gay community.” Not knowing his motive, I asked what he was confessing. He explained that he believed he was born gay and would be leaving his wife and church to lead a gay church in the inner city. No matter what angle I approached the subject or the Scriptures I presented, he remained loyal to his self-proclaimed philosophy of being open to more than one interpretation of the Word of God. He decided to discontinue the discipleship and divorce his wife. A few weeks later, his story hit front-page news in our city’s paper. This story is a perfect example of ambiguity.
Ambivalence is the greatest enemy of the end times and is now the greatest threat to the Church. This pastor’s equivocation disrupted his family and church AND provoked a youth movement within the church community.
If you are unfamiliar with equivocation, it means “concealing the truth” or “avoiding committing oneself to absolute Truth.” In other words, doublespeak, which is a nasty habit our Millennial generation popularized.
Ambiguity is a meaning in which a phrase, statement, or resolution is not explicitly defined, making several interpretations plausible. A common aspect of ambiguity is uncertainty, but passion and “feelings” dominate logic when uncertainty is fronted. Thus, it is an attribute of any idea or statement whose intended meaning cannot be resolved according to the governing mandates stated in documented absolute Truth. Logic becomes flawed, while passions take the forefront of reasoning. When ambiguity becomes habitual, a spiritual stronghold is established. Therefore, I believe ambiguity is the gateway to demonic spiritual strongholds. As per the norm, the world captures words and phrases to define age-old issues in the Bible. Ambiguity versus spiritual strongholds is one of them.
A stronghold is an area of darkness within the mind, will, and emotions that causes ongoing spiritual, emotional, or behavioral problems. We can be genuinely born-again, indwelt by Jesus, and sincere in our faith, but constantly struggle with thoughts, emotions, and habits that wage war against our relationship with the indwelling Christ. We pray, study, and attempt to discipline ourselves, but we often find our problem is resistance to allowing the Life of Christ to manage our lives.
A stronghold is the fruit of death, resulting from believing a lie for an extended period. While it is true that authentic believers have the mind of Christ, the human mind allows a distorted or confused view of the views contained within the mind of Christ. The lie begins to dominate unless the believer has a healthy perspective of this passage.
“For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:7-8)
People of ambiguity cannot understand the end times prophecies. The absolutes in the prophecies stir up a decision in their minds. Do they decide to drop their morbid interests in tantalizing their flesh or dive deeper into the absolutes of what God means by what He says? Their greatest hurdle is in the immovability of God’s predestined plan to end the world and its self-absorbed people. Since people of ambiguity are all about their selfish interests, this message most likely falls on culturally deaf ears. Let’s face it. The End Times doctrines mess with the plans of the masses. Instead of preparing, most disengage and become people of ambiguity.
Until next time.
Discover the full message in my documentary below, “Signs of Ambiguity.” Watch the full documentary series HERE.
Excellent Stephen. I’ve actually been pondering this of late. Can’t wait to watch your video.