Possible Factors leading to Carnal Christianity

For a few days, we have been looking into the differences in between a spiritual and a carnal person. Like when we go to a doctor and exams are asked to detect and solve an issue before it becomes untreatable, we also need to be able to diagnose what leads a person into being carnal.

The following factors or reasons are things which can lead to carnal Christianity:

1. Ignorance – We haven’t devoted ourselves enough to the topic of life with the Holy Ghost or we haven’t found the key for putting it into practice.

2. Unbelief or Small of Faith – Being filled with the Holy Ghost has the pre-requisite of completely surrendering our lives to Jesus Christ. This too could happen because of ignorance, or maybe because we are afraid that the Lord will lead us differently than what we want. This means that we don’t trust God’s love and wisdom enough.

3. Erroneous Notions – A person can think they are filled with the Holy Spirit, even though they aren’t in reality or not sufficiently. This seems to be the most frequent problem.

4. Being too Busy – People are so over burdened that they think they don‘t have any or enough time to maintain a relationship with Christ. Or they take the time, but don’t make any progress in connecting with God.

5. Hidden Sins, perhaps missing reparation – this is like a short-circuit, meaning there is no connection with God’s power.

6. Act mostly according to their feelings – God’s word says, “The righteous live by faith”. Do I make decisions by trusting God or according to my feelings? This statement from Roger Morneau really impressed me,

“The spirits would encourage people to listen to their feelings instead of the word of Christ and His prophets. In no surer way could the spirits obtain control of people’s lives without the individuals realizing what was happening.” Roger Morneau, A Trip into the Supernatural, Review and Herald 1982, p.43

BE ON GUARD AND GROW

We can move confident that the Spirit of God will help us in the process to become more and more like Jesus. It makes a huge difference to think that this Bible verse was written by Peter, someone who understood the importance of God’s infinite grace to restart and understanding of our Master!

“But you, friends, are well-warned. Be on guard lest you lose your footing and get swept off your feet by these lawless and loose-talking teachers. Grow in grace and understanding of our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ. Glory to the Master, now and forever! Yes!” 2 Peter 3:17,18 (The Message)

Peter comes to the conclusion that growing requires grace and understanding of the Master. Grace is a favor we don’t deserve and understanding of the Master is the knowledge of His life and teachings – the Great Commission (Matt. 28:19,20) has both: baptism, symbol of the new start; and, understanding, part of the Great Commission has to do with a biblical knowledge, knowing the truth about life and how to live like Christ.

Only by the work of the Holy Spirit we will be able to live with grace and understanding. What are you waiting to ask the Father to send His gift?

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, take from my life whatever is making me carnal. Help me to be graceful to myself and to others, receiving your forgiveness, remembering that You will never leave or forsake me. But infuse in my mind and soul the understanding of Christ, His teachings, and love for others. Because of your faithfulness, I come to you and I ask you the greatest promise, the promise of your presence through the constant presence of your Holy Spirit. In Jesus name I pray, amen.

QUESTIONS FOR MEDITATION & DEVOTION

1. Why is important to diagnose the carnal person in us?

2. From the six factors, choose one or two that are the “stone in your shoe” (the hardest ones for you)?

3. Grace and understanding, which one comes first? Why?