Indicators of Carnality: When We Are Lacking in Spirituality
Text: 1 Corinthians 3:1–3; Galatians 5:16–25
Introduction
A. Conduct as the True Measure Spirituality and carnality are not measured by the eloquence of our prayers or the depth of our theological vocabulary. They are measured by our conduct. A person may speak the language of Canaan fluently but live according to the patterns of Egypt.
B. Reflection of the Heart What we truly are before God is reflected in our daily deeds. Our public "spirituality" is only as authentic as our private obedience.
C. The Evidence of the Flesh The Apostle Paul warns in Galatians 5:19 that "the works of the flesh are evident." Carnality is not a hidden mystery; it manifests itself in ways that are clear to God and often to those around us.
D. The Corinthians: A Warning of Inmaturity In 1 Corinthians 3:1–3, Paul delivers a stinging rebuke. He could not speak to the believers in Corinth as spiritual people, but as carnal—as infants in Christ. Despite having all the spiritual gifts, they were lacking in spirituality because they were still walking according to human standards.
Today, we will examine several practical areas that reveal when we are lacking in spirituality, with the urgent goal of seeking growth and pleasing God.
I. Neglecting the Gatherings of the Church
Our commitment to the local body of Christ is one of the most visible indicators of our spiritual temperature.
• A. Constant Tardiness Scripture teaches that "for everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven" (Ecclesiastes 3:1). When we are habitually late to service due to negligence, we demonstrate that God’s presence and the edification of the body are not our priorities. It is not merely a matter of punctuality; it is a heart attitude that lacks reverence.
• B. Absence Due to Comfort or Sloth Staying home because of a desire for more sleep or personal ease reveals misplaced priorities. The church is not a secondary option or a social club; it is the Body of Christ (Ephesians 1:22–23).
• Doctrinal Principle: The fellowship of the saints is an essential command for the Christian life (Hebrews 10:25). To neglect it is to intentionally cut oneself off from the means of grace God has provided.
II. Lacking Reverence in Worship
Spirituality is evidenced by how we treat the "holy ground" of our communal worship.
• A. Distractions During Adoration In an age of constant connectivity, the use of cell phones, unnecessary whispering, and a lack of attention during the Word are marks of a carnal mind.
"The Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him" (Habakkuk 2:20). The church is the pillar and buttress of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15). If we cannot focus for one or two hours on the Eternal, it suggests our hearts are tethered to the temporal.
• B. Constant Coming and Going Unless there is a physical necessity, constantly leaving the sanctuary during service shows a lack of honor. Worship is a holy encounter, not a casual social act. God deserves a reverence that reflects His glory (Hebrews 12:28).
• C. Sleeping During the Service While we may occasionally be physically exhausted, a pattern of sleeping through the preaching of the Word reveals a superficial heart (Isaiah 29:13). We recall the case of Eutychus in Acts 20:9—a physical sleep that warns of spiritual lethargy.
◦ Question: What kind of worship are we offering if our bodies are present but our hearts are asleep?
III. Neglecting Spiritual Responsibilities
True spirituality is active; it takes responsibility for the welfare of others.
• A. Failing to Exhort a Wandering Brother Galatians 6:1 commands those who are spiritual to restore a brother caught in sin with a spirit of gentleness. Hebrews 3:13 tells us to exhort one another daily so that no one is hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Spiritual indifference toward a brother’s spiritual danger is a sign of carnality.
• B. Unwillingness to Forgive The spiritual believer forgives because they are acutely aware of how much they have been forgiven by Christ (Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13). A heart that harbors bitterness and refuses to forgive is a heart that is acting as if it has never experienced the cross.
• C. Ignoring the Needy 1 John 3:17–18 teaches that love is not just a matter of words but of deeds. Spirituality manifests in practical service. If we see a brother in need and close our hearts against him, the love of God does not abide in us.
IV. The Root of the Problem: Carnality
Paul’s diagnostic for the Corinthians was simple: "For you are still of the flesh" (1 Corinthians 3:3).
• Spiritual Immaturity: Spiritual immaturity is evidenced when we continue to act like children, tossed to and fro by our own impulses (1 Corinthians 13:11).
• The Key Doctrine: The believer’s life is defined by a choice: "Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh" (Galatians 5:16). You cannot do both simultaneously. Carnality happens when we stop feeding the spirit and start indulging the ego.
- Why Are Christians So Heavily Criticized? Matthew 11:18–19
- Four Fundamental Qualities of Jesus Matthew 22:16
- How to Respond to Criticism
Conclusion
Spirituality is not an emotional "high" experienced during a song; it is a consistent practice of the presence of God. It is seen in our punctuality, our reverence, our forgiveness, and our service.
Let us examine our lives today. Are we walking as spiritual men and women, or are we still acting like infants in the flesh? God calls us to grow, to mature, and to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit.
