“And Elijah came near to all the people and said, ‘How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.’ And the people did not answer him a word.” (1 Kings 18:21, ESV).

This verse is the challenge the prophet Elijah issued to the people of Israel to be faithful to God preceding his contest on Mt. Carmel with the 450 prophets of Baal.

The Hebrew word for “limping” occurs again in verse 26, where the prophets of Baal “limped around the altar” calling on Baal to ignite their sacrifice. The irregular steps of their ritual dance portrayed an inability to move properly, or metaphorically speaking, to do the right thing.

Elijah compared the faith of the people to the irregular ritual dancing of the prophets of Baal. Elijah said that because the people of Israel refused to choose between the Lord and Baal, because they had no passion for God but somehow wanted it both ways, their faith was limping.

And because of their limping faith, because of their complacency, they were easily deceived and led into spiritual corruption by the prophets of Baal.

So, you can’t worship the Lord and Baal. No, you can’t follow Jesus and go the way of the world.

Yes, God requires your complete commitment, your total belief,  your unwavering faithfulness. Anything less is complacency, fence-straddling, double-mindedness.

Anything less is faith with a limp!

“Cursed is he who does the work of the Lord with slackness” (Jeremiah 48:10).