Caught in a Cloud of Carnality - Part One

“For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?” 1 Corinthians 3:3 (KJV)

In this passage, the Apostle Paul was writing to the Corinthian believers in order to address behavior that was not Christ-like. The apostle called them out because did not behave like people that were taught by the Holy Spirit. Although they were believers, they acted like unbelievers by quarreling and being jealous, establishing cliques, gossiping , etc. Does that sound like a church near you? The Corinthians were caught in a cloud of carnality!

Let's consider the term carnal for our instruction.
carnal = sär-kē-ko's (sar-key-caus): having the nature of flesh, i.e. under the control of the animal appetites
1) governed by mere human nature not by the Spirit of God
2) having its seat in the animal nature or aroused by the animal nature

The Scriptures are clear that our flesh wars against the Spirit of God.

“Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.” - 1 Peter 2:11 (KJV)

In order to address this issue, Paul challenges the Corinthian believers about their carnal condition. The position that Paul expresses in his letter to the Corinthians is consistent throughout scripture because he also addressed the affliction of carnality in the Roman church as well.

“That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” Romans 5: 4-7 (KJV)

Paul’s position clearly indicates that carnality is not to be tolerated in the church. A church caught in carnality is always in crisis mode and captured in conflict (always putting out internal fires rather than putting out disciples of Christ). A carnal person is unable to run the race of Christ because he or she is crippled with carnal legs.

Carnality is also catastrophic to a church. It will always compromise and cloud the witness of Christ! We must capture it and crush it or it will cause spiritual death. 

“That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” Romans 5: 4-9 (KJV)

A carnal person operates in deliberate defiance to the purposes of God and is separated from God and His blessings.

In next week’s blog, we will discuss how you can evaluate if you are caught in a cloud of carnality.
 
For the Glory of God,
 
PBKSR