Making Distinctions

James 1:1-15

⁶ But let him ask in trust, doubting nothing; for the doubter is like a wave in the sea being tossed and driven by the wind. ⁷ Indeed that person should not think that he will receive anything from the Lord, ⁸ because he is double-minded, unstable in all his ways.

I couldn’t make sense of this passage, because it sounds like James is telling the doubter that he should not think that he will receive anything from the Lord, because he is double-minded. But I think James was too wise to waste his advice on people who can’t understand what he’s talking about. So, I fished out a bunch of translations, some of which said the same thing in different words, but some said something completely different. I went to the Greek, and I think I’ve figured out the problem. The phrase “should not” isn’t there! Literally, word by word, the Greek says:

But ask in assurance —not one making-of-distinctions (diakrinō)  —for the making-of-distinctions is like an ocean wave driven-by-the-wind and agitated. For that person not imagines the seeing-that (hoti) receiving anything from the Lord— double-minded human being, unstable in all the of-the-self (autos) ways.

Paraphrased, but still literal: But ask in assurance, not making distinctions, because the making of distinctions is like waves of the ocean blown by the wind and agitated. For that (sort of) person is unable to imagine the awareness of receiving anything from the Lord. Double-minded within the human self; unstable in all ways.

Surprisingly, it was the King James translation that (to me, anyway) caught the meaning of the Greek the best:

 ⁶ But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. ⁷ For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. ⁸ A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

(By the way, the thing James is talking about asking for is wisdom.. or enlightenment.)

I think James is talking Zen here. Exactly Zen. It’s the ‘making-of-distinctions’ that is the problem. The maker-of-distinctions is literally unable to imagine the state of “receiving-anything.” They “not-imagine.” The word “diakrinō” could be translated as “dukkha.” (Discontent.) The word “hoti” could be translated as “awareness.” If I paraphrase the Greek with a Zen twist, I get something like this—

(If any of you lack enlightenment, ask God……and it will be given.)

But ask with assurance, making no distinctions, because a mind full of distinctions is discontented, like a turbulent sea of waves stirred up by the wind. That discontented mind is unaware of any such thing as the awakening that we receive from the Source. A double-minded, discontented person is unstable in all ways.