The behavior pattern of the carnal christian cannot be distinguished from that of an unbeliever. In fact, he is sometimes worse, as illustrated by David at one point in his life. ( 2 Sam. 11) Saul, too was a believer, though he acted like an unbeliever most of his life. As far as God's Word is concerned, while the believer may act like an unbeliever, he is still a believer, but in status quo carnality and out of fellowship.
The " riotous living " of the younger son in the prodigal son also represents this category of carnality.
Your thoughts?
2006-07-11 04:18:55 · 18 answers · asked by proudmatriarch 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Are you saying that some Christians are better than others? That sounds dangerously close to judging to me. Besides, when the prodigal son returned, did not the father rejoice like crazy?
2006-07-11 04:21:30 · answer #1 · answered by Tact is highly overrated 5 · 1⤊ 3⤋
A person can't be both carnal and Christian. We are commanded by the Word that says, "Come ye out from among the world and BE A SEPERATE PEOPLE." We have to live in the flesh, but must maintain a spiritual understanding of God's Word. We do fall out of fellowship by not exercising our spiritual relationship, but when the desires of the flesh (carnality) enters in, it becomes sin and therefore seperates us further from God. A Scripture comes to mind that says something to the effect, "If a man knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin." In other words, if we fail to maintain the relationship we have with God AND allow our own thoughts and ideas to enter into the picture when it comes to interpretation of the Word, we no longer have salvation, but religion. Religion is MAN'S view of God. Man is carnal, so since carnality and spirituality can't exist in the same plane, we can only say that when we fall out of fellowship, we backslide. When we revert to carnality, we sin. David SINNED in your example. Saul SINNED in your example. We have "all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God."
2006-07-11 04:41:36 · answer #2 · answered by bigvol662004 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sure, you cannot lose your salvation. Though it is very conserversial if Saul was a believer or not. We would like to think he was, but mabbee not. The bible doesn't say. I do agree with everything else though. If you are a carnal Christian, please get back in church and in the Word of God. It's the safest place to be. We are to be "unspotted from the world".
2006-07-11 04:22:28 · answer #3 · answered by Miss America 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Many still cling to ancient mythes that were just as ineffective in explaining the natural world and the human condition four thousand years ago as they are today. We live in a highly complex world and face extremely difficult issues. While irrational, even "primitive," thinking may be comforting to some, it is highly unlikely to provide meaningful solutions to the world's problems. To the extent that religion continues to not only hold back human progress, but to also prevent many people from thinking clearly about the world they live in: religion then is a hindrance not only to our growth as human beings, but a threat to our very survival as a species.
2006-07-11 04:35:01 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can't be a christian if you are carnal. Yes, we all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. We are either for God or not.
We as christians have a long way to go.
2006-07-11 04:26:44 · answer #5 · answered by Pashur 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is the nature of man to be carnal. It is the nature of God to not. David actually repents and has written all of Psalms, he never stopped believing in God. He just put himself above God, the power got to his head. We will all be where is best suited for us, even David. We just need to learn from their examples, and pray for our souls, that we will be delivered and perfected, uncorruptible.
2006-07-11 04:24:34 · answer #6 · answered by Angel 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I like how you share your faith, a mother is saved through giving birth. I to love my wife very much. I find so much blessings in her.
I know you cant out give God. trust me, I have tried. The blessing he has given me is GREAT.
This fact that you speak of is like the saying > why is it he judges one guilty and another(who is a believer) for the same crime, Gets a pardon. some times in our life the answer we get is not allways clear.
2006-07-11 04:34:25 · answer #7 · answered by distroynot 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I need a working definition of "carnal" in this aspect, as I'm having problems with the whole question.
2006-07-11 04:22:14 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
John 14:15 --If you love Me, keep My Commandments.
John 14:21--He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.
John 14:23-24--Jesus answered to him, "if anyone loves Me, he WILL keep My word; and My Father Will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does NOT love Me does NOT keep my words, and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent Me.
We are called to a live of obedience. We who are now covered by the blood of Christ now must put off the old man and put on the new man, as we're called to do. Paul stressed this to many churches through the New Testament. Though we are not perfect, we must strive for perfection. Be quick to forgive and quick to repent.
2006-07-11 04:49:11 · answer #9 · answered by Miguel 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the carnivore christian? the carnival christian? the Cannibal christian?
what you msut understand is when you supress the spirit something has to give. and you come out as an extremist in your sexual activities because christianity supresses the spiritual and physical body. spirits have sex too why do you think God made sex pleasurable and not painful?
2006-07-11 04:21:52 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋