“A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:9)
It is rarely a good sign when someone takes an emphatic stand on an issue and then shortly thereafter takes an opposite position just as strong. Such double-mindedness generally reflects a lack of core moral principles.
This type of turn-about could stem from selfishness—from trying to get maximum personal benefits from both positions. Or it could simply reflect a problem with truthfulness.
Sadly, many Americans today believe it is okay to lie in certain situations. For example, over 60 percent believe it is acceptable to lie about being sick, and 57 percent believe that lying to make a story better is completely appropriate.[1]
One arena in which double-mindedness is often seen is in politics. Texas Congressman Beto O’Rourke provides a recent example.
In 2018, O’Rourke nearly unseated US Senator Ted Cruz in a close election. That contest catapulted O’Rourke into the national spotlight in one of the most expensive Senate races in American history.[2]
After his narrow loss, O’Rourke was asked if he would use his newfound fame and political recognition to run for president in 2020. He told national media: "I will not be a candidate for president in 2020. That’s, I think, as definitive as those sentences get.”[3]
He explained that he had promised his young children they would be a family again after the Senate race. Being pressed by reporters over subsequent weeks, he remained firm, likewise telling his supporters: “The answer is no. Our children are 11, they’re 10, and they’re 7 years old. We’ve told them we’re going to take these almost two years out of our life to run this race, and then we’re devoted and committed to being a family again…[4] We've spent the better part of the last two years not with each other, missing birthdays, and anniversaries, and time together. Our family could not survive more of that. We need to be together.”[5] (emphasis added)
But after just a few months, his emphatic promise to his children apparently was no longer important. When he announced he would indeed be a candidate for president, one of his sons cried.[6] But O’Rourke explained his reversal, saying, “I want to be in it. Man, I’m just born to be in it.”[7]
If O’Rourke is so quick to be double-minded when it comes to something as important as his family, how unstable would his ways be as president? Something to consider.
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[1] Jennifer Graham, “Americans are Increasingly Comfortable with many White Lies, New Poll Reveals,” Deseret News: In Depth (March 27, 2018), here
[2] Renea Reintis, “Texas Senate Race May Become Most Expensive in History,” Fortune (October 26, 2018), here
[3] Naomi Lin, “Beto O’Rourke Pledges not to Run for President in 2020,” Washington Examiner (November 5, 2018), here
[4] John Bowden, “O’Rourke Gives ‘A Definitive No’ to Possibility of Running in 2020,” The Hill (
[5] Naomi Lin, “Beto O’Rourke Pledges not to Run for President in 2020,” Washington Examiner (November 5, 2018), here
