Carnality - The Hidden Danger.   The question was asked of me:  What is the number one problem in the church? 


Answer:  While there are many problems... the number one problem in the New Testament Church in my estimation is carnality and the toleration of it.   Carnality is the root cause to every downfall of churches, Christian homes, and church leadership.  Carnality stands in the way of every believer's godly potential.  

The Holy Spirit constantly works against carnality. Why? Shallowness is the monologue of carnality. It's testimony is contemptuous, having no genuine respect for Gods will. The means of nourishment for carnality is vanity and relies exclusively on human tendencies and always results in irrational and unpredictable resolve. 

The classic symptom of carnality is an unwillingness to listen and follow through with God's will (1 Cor. 3:1,2).    This is a dangerous problem!   Carnal believers are left  to  their  own  inclinations  while  lacking  the  ability  to  rightly  divide  God's Word.  This is why I believe carnality is the number one problem in the church. Carnal Believers are always vulnerable, even tolerant of the mis-representation and ill-interpretation of the Bible. 

Christians cannot afford to live in a constant state of carnality.  It results in reckless pursuits that undermines spiritual growth.  Discerning Believers understand that carnality is a perpetual state of counterfeiting God's will for selfish inclinations.  Churches that tolerate and even accommodate carnality inflict upon themselves the ultimate price of becoming irrelevant. 

There is nothing more essential to the Believer than spiritual growth. The alternative is a constancy of masquerade and bareness. Thank God we have the indwelling Holy Spirit who will never tolerate our personal indifference to spiritual growth, but is ever transforming us into the likeness of Jesus Christ. 

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Note differences between Carnality & Spirituality:

The apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 


While carnality is bondage to self-focus, spirituality is Christ-centered living.   Note the contrast: 

CARNALITY -------versus--------SPIRITUALITY 

Taker ---------------------------------Taken 
Assumes ----------------------------- Assured 
Complains---------------------------- Constrained 
Contentious---------------------------Content 
Competes---------------------------- Concrete 
Overcomed--------------------------- Overcoming 
Given To Change ---------------------Living Changed 
Divisive-------------------------------- Decisive 
Trust The Visible-------------------- Trust The Invisible 
Looks For Opportunity--------------- Looks To Importunity 
Independent-------------------------- Dependent 
Lives By Fearing -------------------- Lives By Hearing 
Wants To Survive-------------------- Wants To Submit 
Needs Excitement-------------------- Heeds Exactness 
Preference Oriented------------------Principle Oriented 
Needs Alternatives------------------- Heeds Ultimatum 
Makes Demands--------------------- Takes Commands 

Carnalities only purpose is to further the cause of one's self-interest. This is very dangerous. Because carnality is rooted in the process of thinking that is based on one's feelings which can only result in corruption. 

Being spiritual is the result of thinking based on facts and principles outlined in the Bible.   All that matters to the spiritually minded believer is the exaltation of the Lord Jesus Christ by conforming to the very likeness of Christ (Philippians 1:21).

Sincerely, Dr. Arthur Belanger