| It is a widely used word! Every Christian at some | | | | "Carnal"! Pitiful, isn't it ? But such incidents are |
| time or other has used this word -- for other | | | | common in Christendom. To avoid such |
| Christians, of course. So much so that this | | | | foolishness in our judgement, we must rely on the |
| subject has produced more heat than light in the | | | | word of God alone to study the symptoms of |
| Christendom. | | | | Carnality. We will base our study on I Corinthians |
| Carnality has been equated with every | | | | 3:1-3 which is an important passage on this topic. |
| conceivable thing, (from using an expensive soap | | | | I need not tell you that Carnality was a serious |
| to keeping mustaches, and from keeping a dog | | | | problem in the Corinthian Church. The Scripture |
| up to walking through a certain street) all | | | | says (1 Cor. 3:1) that Paul could not speak to the |
| confusing and ridiculous. This word has become | | | | Corinthians as spiritual because they were Carnal. |
| the best weapon to let down other believers. | | | | It is a strong word indicating that they were |
| If you don't agree with some of his activities just | | | | completely under the control of their Old Natures. |
| label him as "Carnal" and you will get a lot of | | | | Then he mentions the first symptom of Carnality |
| sympathetic ears (and gossiping mouth too) to | | | | : they were babes in Christ ! It means non-growth |
| spread your 'discovery' like a wildfire! Apparently, | | | | is the first symptom of Carnality. Imagine a |
| this subject has become so subjective that a | | | | person 20 years old, but lying in cradle and crying |
| pastor speaking objectively on this matter will | | | | for bottlefeed ! This is the spiritual condition of the |
| himself be labeled Carnal or at least immature. | | | | Carnal Corinthians. They cannot absorb deeper |
| The reason are obvious: many people do not | | | | Biblical truths ! So childishness in spiritual matters is |
| care to use the Bible as the text when they | | | | the first symptom of Carnality. |
| speaks on this subject. Instead they rely on their | | | | The second symptom is named as envying in |
| feelings, prejudices, background, and 'inner voice' | | | | verse 3:5. Envying means to grudge others good |
| (which usually becomes intense when they see an | | | | fortune, success or qualities. This means it is a |
| opponent!), to decide what Carnality is! It is my | | | | symptom of Carnality when a believer cannot |
| aim in this article to examine what Carnality is | | | | stand the prosperity of another believer. If the |
| according to the Bible, examine its symptoms, and | | | | latter progresses materially, the Carnal believer will |
| then line up the remedy (from the Bible itself!) | | | | label him a show-off. If they grow in spiritual life, |
| The word Carnal in the Bible means 'fleshly' or a | | | | the carnal believer will label them as show offs. In |
| person who walks according to the desires of the | | | | short, the carnal believer grudges against the |
| flesh. Flesh in such contexts refers to the | | | | good of everyone else. [you should not wonder if |
| Adamic or old sin nature. This old nature remains | | | | you happened to see him in your Church too ! |
| with us even after our salvation, and is removed | | | | They are cosmopolitan from nature ! ] |
| only at our death. Inside us our old and new | | | | The third symptom is strife ( verse 3:3). This is |
| natures fight each other to gain control over us | | | | the obvious result of envy. If you do not like |
| (Galatians 5:17). If the old sin Nature (or flesh) | | | | someone's prosperity and success (Materially as |
| wins, it will dictate us how to walk. At this point | | | | well as spiritually), strife is inevitable. Such people |
| we become fleshly or Carnal, because we are | | | | do not NEED a subject for quarreling. They |
| under the control of our flesh (ie our old sin | | | | themselves will INVENT one! They help to multiply |
| nature). Hence, Biblically speaking, a person | | | | Churches (by division, that is), inform others about |
| becomes carnal when he controlled by the old sin | | | | Church activities (because they dislikes remaining |
| nature (or the flesh). | | | | silent), and drive new believers away (because |
| Having defined carnality, we will study the | | | | these new believers never expected strife among |
| symptoms of Carnality. It is amazing how people | | | | Christians). |
| mix up their prejudices with a Bible doctrine, to | | | | The fourth symptom is walking like men (verse |
| come up with ludicrous ideas about Carnality. | | | | 3:3), It means a Carnal believer imitates the |
| Recently a balanced and mature believer related | | | | unregenerate mankind, in strife, envy, and |
| an incident to me. A speech was scheduled for | | | | conduct. Boasting about one's spiritual affiliation is |
| him during a missions tour. A little while before the | | | | the fifth symptom (verse 3:4-5). It is a common |
| meeting the pastor sensed some talcum powder | | | | practice to boast about one's denomination, |
| on this brother's face. (He had applied it innocently, | | | | affiliation and spiritual lineage but it is merely |
| to avoid the sweat !). Immediately that pastor | | | | another symptom of carnality. |
| canceled the programme, labeling this believer as | | | | |