As you know, there are three
types of people – Spiritual – Carnal – and natural.
Very often it is impossible
to discern between the last two. Paul addressed
the problem of carnal living with the church in Corinth.
(1 Corinthians 3:1-3) “Brothers and sisters, I could not address you
as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere
infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready
for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there
is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting
like mere humans?”
There are some who believe
that there are only two states a person can be in – Spiritual or Natural
(carnal). They believe that it is possible to lose your salvation and, once
again, be hell-bound. I do not – I believe that once you are adopted – nothing can
change that. Like “All sales final – No Returns”. As Christians, we were “bought with a price.”
(1 Corinthians 6:19-20) “Do you not know that your bodies are temples
of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not
your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”
Carnal Christians have yielded
to their flesh – their old nature and no longer walk in submission to the
leading of the Spirit. Indistinguishable
from those who are lost. There are a lot
of reasons why they choose to do that – none of them eternally good. But, they are given over to their former way
of life. They may wear a smile on Sunday
as they pretend to be spiritual – their hearts are far from God, and once out
of the door – they take off the mask and revert to the life they prefer. Remember the devotion from yesterday about discernment
verses judgement. Some times when a friend or family member is living that
way – their life choices become the “white elephant in the room”. No one wants to talk about it – no one wants
to offend the offender. And if this is a
child – the parent’s heart is so heavy.
We know what the “flesh” yields and it’s not good. Reread the devotion from yesterday.
Our place is not to condemn
but to encourage to repentance. We can’t
“fix” the one has stumbled in their walk with the Lord. We can love them and encourage them but must
be careful to not enable them by suggesting that the life they have chosen is
OK. Listen – this world is a dark place. Those who used to sin in secret are now
brazen – flaunting their sin – daring someone to say it is wrong – ready to
condemn them as intolerant. Actually it
is God who is intolerant with respect to sin.
He will never say it is OK. We
all need spiritual understanding – spiritual perspective – spiritual strength –
spiritual wisdom. That only comes from the Spirit of God.
Oh – and if you choose to
talk about the elephant that is lounging on your sofa – don’t expect to be
embraced. In your unwillingness to accept
a carnal lifestyle as OK, you may face rejection as a penalty for standing for
Truth and as a ploy to convince you to yield to the idea that carnal living is
acceptable – at least for those you care about.
So what do you do – treat them
as if they are carnal. How do you do
that? The same way you treat the
majority of the people you meet – work with – spend time with. You are not “in their face” over their sin –
but you don’t participate in it.
Remember – Jesus spent time with sinners but did not sin. He was insulated not isolated. Christmas is approaching – be salt and light
to those who have wandered and to those who remain slaves to sin. CHARLEY
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