Consistency Or Immutability
"Inconsistency" is sometimes confused with "immutability." Frequently, the charge of inconsistency is leveled at someone because that one has changed. In such cases it is not consistency that is being demanded, but immutability.
Consistency is defined by Webster as "standing firm; hence persisting, settled, durable. Uniform; as a consistent method or style; practice consistent with one's own belief or professions. Living or acting conformably to one's own belief or professions." Thus we see that one is consistent when his practice is at variance with his conviction. Inconsistency and hypocrisy are very closely related.
Immutable means, "not capable or susceptible of change: unchangeable; invariable, unalterable." This adjective can properly be applied to God. God is immaculately perfect, hence any change, variation or alteration would be toward imperfection. God is eternal, omnipresent, omnipotent, omniscient, immaculate in goodness and justice and of necessity unchangeable. "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, neither shadow that is cast by turning." (James 1:17) God's promise and his oath are immutable. (Heb. 6:17, 18) This is strong encouragement to those who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before them, in the immutable promise, and "reinforced" by the oath of God. Abraham's hope, based upon the promise of God, could not have been maintained against the voice of human experience if his faith had not been based upon the promise of an immutable God. It could never have been said of him that he "in hope (of faith) believed against hope" (of reason). (Rom. 4:18) God is immutable, his counsel is immutable and due to his immeasurable goodness he condescended "to show more abundantly unto the heirs of the promise" the unchangeable character of his counsel. This he did by interposing his oath in connection with his promise — both being from an immutable God were necessarily unchangeable. This is man's strong assurance.
Men frequently make improper promises and pledge themselves to unrighteous causes, thus need to change. This is not to be taken as justification for a man to back out of a bargain just because he learns that he can do better materially by an agreement with some other, The righteous man "changeth not," when he "sweareth to his own hurt." (Psalms 15:4) He stands by his word in any righteous agreement, and will take material loss rather than change, but never should one take a spiritual loss rather than "back out."
True consistency demands that one change his practice to fit his conviction. If one is in error and is convicted of his error, but refuses to make necessary changes that one is wide open for a "strong delusion." Such stubborn vanity should never be confused with consistency. On the other hand, when one becomes convicted of sin and error and changes to truth and right, such a change should never be labeled inconsistency.
Conversion to Christ is in violation of the concept of consistency held by some. One could not abide by the requirements of this phony consistency and ever come to enjoy the healing provided by Christ, for man must turn before Christ heals. (Matt. 13:15)
Truly, genuine consistency is a jewel, but false consistency is a device of the devil.
— 417 E, Groesbeck, Lufkin, Texas