I am only four years old in Christ. My first year in the faith was such a blessing to me because God surrounded me with mentors and also provided opportunities for me to learn so much about Him in a very short amount of time. My spiritual mentors tell me that I have grown in the faith more in my first few years that many do in a lifetime. I don't know why God kindled such a desire in me to know Him, but for that "fire" I am most grateful!
When I first learned that God was pointing me to a major life adjustment four years ago I was excited. He was asking me to leave my job, my home, and the church I was "born" in. He was sending me to the "bible belt" and this was exciting! (Scary, but very exciting!) I envisioned a whole new community of believers to embrace me and guide me. I was starving to know God and I figured He was sending me somewhere that I would be able to learn about Him by watching and living among Christians who are very "serious" about their faith.
He sent me to TN and boy have I learned a lot! My whole first year here was quite educational about Christianity in general. I saw first hand that the "bible belt" is simply a term. I don't know where it came from, but what I have learned is that, just because there is a church on most every corner and a bible in the hands of many, it doesn't mean that Christ is living in the hearts of people.
Jon's blog brought back to me the term "carnal Christian". I have had discussions with some of the mentor's God put in my life here in TN, and that they disagree with me that there is such a thing as a "carnal Christian". Basically, I understand what they are saying, that "carnal Christian" is a contradiction in terms. A Christian lays aside carnality and once we cross over the line into the kingdom, we are no longer "of this world". We are "in" it but not "of" it.
Jon put it so well. He said that there is a difference between a carnal Christian and an immature Christian. I agree with him. I can be an immature Christian. I have been in the faith for four years and I am still learning more and more. I have a long way to go! I am always growing. I have great spurts of growth now and then, but I am continually growing in the faith. I am being transformed by the renewing of my mind.
A carnal Christian is someone who is not growing in the faith. Someone who is not allowing their mind to be renewed. They conform to the pattern of the world. They choose not to follow the decrees and laws that God set and have conformed to the standard of the nations around them. Unfortunately, I found that this is a major problem in the "bible belt". I see it almost daily at work when a Christian buys gospel CDs along with the latest gangsta rap CD. (I don't get that!) One day a woman was upset that we were out of stock on a certain gospel CD and believe it or not she said "I can't believe you are out of the G_ _ D_ _ _ CD!" I believe this is one reason why many who do not know Christ as their Savior get such a misconception about Christianity. They see the behavior of "carnal Christians".
As Christians we are called to be set apart from the world. This should be obvious by what we say and what we do. When it is not obvious, I question if that "Christian" is truly seeking Him. I wonder if that "Christian" is immature, or lost? A new Christian may not automatically put aside the ways of the world, but a carnal Christian is perfectly satisfied in the world and adheres to its patterns. Because of this, they are missing out on some of the awesome blessings God is just waiting to pour out on them!
There are times where my behavior is carnal. Katie has reprimanded me on more than one occasion about thinking "carnally", and then I can choose to put those thoughts away and "hold my thoughts captive to Christ".
There is a difference between an immature Christian and a carnal Christian. Although, I could argue that the carnal Christian is at a certain level of immaturity, one that that choose to stay at.
**Addendum**
Tony shared this at his blog I Am Always Right which touched on this same subject. The quotes are from "Revolution Within" by Dwight Edwards, a book he is reading in his small group:
"We haven't given people the true gospel until we point out a Person to receive and fully trust, rather than a lifestyle to follow."
"We are no longer who we used to be, and, we are what we never were."
"The Christian life is simply the process of becoming who we are."
"We don't change our living in order to become godly; we change our living because we've already been made godly."
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