Carnal Spirituality

How can spirituality be termed “carnal”? It’s like saying “dry water” or “weightless rock”. In the KJV, the term “carnal” is used for things related to the BODY, that is, physical, temporal, matters (as opposed to spiritual, Rom 15:27; 1Cor 9:11; 2Cor 10:4;). It’s also used, by extension, to refer to fleshly desires (1Pt 2:11).

In 1 Cor 3, however, Paul uses the term to refer to spiritual immaturity – the state of not growing up in Christ but instead living pettily. It’s this use that makes the oxymoronic phrase “Carnal spirituality” possible.

What, then, is “Carnal Spirituality”? Carnal Spirituality is being immature and petty about matters of spirituality. Carnal Spirituality is making an exaggerated show of spirituality in our behaviour.

Carnal Spirituality is judging people who laugh in conversation, dance in church, or watch TV at home. Carnal Spirituality is considering any sermon that does not make people cry as “uninspired”. Carnal Spirituality is assessing people’s dressing in church and judging the pastor’s style of preaching. Carnal Spirituality is looking down on Believers who are struggling with sin or showing no understanding for those who are not as dedicated to God's work as we are.

Carnal Spirituality is starting to pray in tongues when someone knocks on the door, or leaving our study bibles open so they should know that we’re ‘deep’.

Carnal Spirituality is majoring on issues that are minor (or even absent) in scripture and minoring on clear doctrinal truths. Carnal Spirituality is calling every expression of humanness “carnal”.

Furthermore, Carnal Spirituality is having a brother or sister in your mind to forward this message to, because THEY are the ones who need to hear it, not you, (obviously J).

(Do still forward it please; I added that  line so they'll not think you forwarded it to them because you feel they're guilty of it).

We are all carnally spiritual at some point in time. The problem only arises when we refuse to grow out of it.

AMEN.

More Blessings await you today; you’ll not miss them in Jesus’ Name.

GREG ELKAN