The Characteristics of A Carnal Christian
Part I
by A.W. Tozer
From his book “Reclaiming Christianity: A Call to Authentic Faith”
And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:1
Some people think of a spiritual Christian as being a rather tragic, anemic, mousey, soft-spoken, gentle and harmless person who walks about with a permanent smile and cannot be roused to any kind of spiritual indignation. I do not find this to be the scriptural definition of spirituality. If so, then Jesus Christ, John the Baptist and John and Peter could not be said to be spiritual men.
The carnal Christian is regenerated but is carnal and spiritually imperfect, retarded in his or her development. It is possible to be spiritually retarded just as it is possible to be retarded in our physical, spiritual and mental development, having the characteristics of a baby. Paul uses the word “babe” in 1 Corinthians 3:1, which is an anonymous description, such as the phrase “babes in Christ.”
The church of christ includes at least four classes. There is the average church person who comes all the time but never is converted. They come and seem to enjoy it and have friends among the Christian people, but they themselves have never passed from death unto life. That is one class.
There is another class, those who are trained to be Christians but are not. They appear as Christians because they have learned the language and are able to perform certain things, giving everybody the impression that they are in fact Christians. Usually, you find them in charge of all of the activities of the local church.
Then there are true Christians, but they are carnal. They have never developed into a mature, functioning Christian. They are where they were when they were saved.
Thankfully, there are also those who are true Christians and are spiritual. Unfortunately, this seems to be the minority in most churches.
What Typifies a Carnal Christian
I want to zero in on the carnal Christian. This seems to be the largest group in the contemporary church. They drain the church of power and influence while contradicting clear Bible teaching. Paul said those characteristics were unspiritual, they were carnal; and when those characteristics are in Christians, we find an unspiritual Christian. The best way to understand this is to compare the carnal Christian by noticing the characteristics of a baby.
Self-centered
Allow me to compare these carnal Christians with babies. Everyone is familiar with the delightful antics of babies. Personally, I love babies. In our home, we have had our share and then some of these delightful creatures. But the first thing I notice about a baby is its self-centeredness.
The baby has a little world all its own and has no idea there is any other world but its world. It is a self-centered little thing, and everything else – mother, father, brothers and sisters – revolve around that little central sun. All others are but bodies and are insignificant to the baby. He defines his world by “me,” “mine” and other such phrases.
This is Paul’s concept of a carnal Christian, somebody that is self-centered, living a self-centered Christian life. He is born again, certainly, but living so that everything revolves around him. The only meanings others have are in relation to the baby’s needs.
Feelings Oriented
Another characteristic of a baby is it is affected unduly by its feelings. A baby’s quality of life revolves around its feelings. The slightest change in its feelings will have great repercussions on life in general. Every baby demands a perfect environment, which simply means one that complements his or her feelings. One moment he is a happy little fellow and the next moment is crying as though his world had ended. Evidence always gives way to feelings and emotions.
Normally, we draw a conclusion based on evidence rather than go along with feelings. Carnal Christians tend to live by their feelings. First, they must have what they call a good atmosphere in the church and then they have a good time. If there is not a good atmosphere, they do not have a good time.
If this continues, they will look for a place more conducive to having a good time. They are more or less victims and fools of their environment.
A baby is a victim of its environment, a willing victim, because it hollers like a banshee when anything goes wrong. Although a baby’s finger may stop hurting, he cries long after it is forgotten or no longer hurts, because it is unduly affected by its fears; or it is too hilarious and too humorous, for no reason in the world.
I discovered with our little granddaughter Judith that if I put my nose down to her nose and mumbled, she mumbled and would go into hilarious laughter, and we had a good time together. I wonder what is so funny about that? I do not know what is so funny about it, but she thinks it one of the richest pieces of humor that had ever come to her little year-old circle of interest or attention. She and I do that now, that is our fun together. I do not think it is funny, but it is humorous to see her go wild about it.
Babies are either cast down for no reason or hilarious for no reason. They are victims of their feelings and senses, because they are carnal in faith. This also is the characteristic of a carnal Christian. He or she is too easily lifted up and too easily cast down. He cries when there is nothing to cry about and laughs when nothing is funny. After a while, a Christian should learn better.
Dependent on the External
A third characteristic about a baby is its propensity to rest in everything external. A baby has no inward life at all. Psychologists say that a baby is born without a mind; and as he grows, his mind develops. I do not know about that, but I do know that they are born with a capacity but without anything in their little minds. Give a baby a brightly colored rattle and it will entertain itself for hours. As they get older, the capacity develops, but they have no inward life. They rest completely in the external.
This also is characteristic of a carnal Christian. He or she lives too much in visible religion and goes by things on the outside. Colored lights, and strange or pretty sounds, and garments or certain uniforms or decorations; anything that feeds their childish mind by calling it out from the outside, from the internal to the external.
We may be as sure of this as we live that in proportion to the way we are affected by external circumstances, we are carnal. For Jesus said, “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him” (John 4:23). There is no other way the external can worship the Father perfectly. The carnal Christian cannot worship without religious rattles and toys; otherwise, he gets bored and loses interest.
For the mature Christian, any unlovely place is suitable for worship if the heart is right and the Spirit dwells within. Worship and communion with God can be real and can be unaffected, and the tranquility can remain the same, because the spiritual Christian does not rest in the external.
To be continued…
In Part II: Without Purpose, Unproductive and Shifts Blame Away from Self
This was a very helpful and informative article. I am interested in part 2 please. I know that I am still considered a carnal Christian. I am unproductive, living with no purpose and often led by my emotions. I rededicated my life in 2011-2012. I know it will only sound like an excuse but I am not free from the deep scars of my childhood. I don’t want to continue to be a looser. Would you please advise when you will post part 2 of this topic? Thanks.
Dear Kenda,
I want to thank you for taking the time to read something here on “A Crooked Path,” and then taking time to contact me.
Here is a link to help you out:
There is also a part 3 to this series, and I will find that and get it sent to you as well. And I will resume and continue this series from the writings of A.W. Tozer in the near future.
With your permission, you can either reply to this comment, or send an email to me at: kennarrowgate@aol.com , I would like to write a column in response to everyone who can relate to this as you have, as you do, and all I would use in this column would be your first name which you provided here, and a remnant of your history, which you provided here. Nothing to embarrass or blame.
I, too, have many scars upon me from my past. I had a horrendous childhood. An abusive childhood at the hands of people who sincerely believed they were doing things right.
And we all are losers. When it comes to sin and having to humble ourselves before God and Jesus. We all have lost due to our sin and we all must submit and obey God and His Word. Serve the Lord.
And not this world and its ways, it offerings, and that is what being carnal is. We either serve ourselves, we refuse to surrender our will, and continue to believe we have control, we have power, and we cannot let go and remove ourselves from the offerings, the allure, the temptations of this world and we serve this world, and he who has dominion of this world for a season — the devil — or we seek the spiritual paths and ways of the One True God and His Son, God who came to earth as God-man to sacrifice Himself for our sake and offer His love, His grace, His mercy freely to us if we would only believe it, take it, and follow Him.
Follow Him. Not this world and its ways and teachings.
I hope you will continue to come to this place and discover new articles, new things to read and include in your life and in your renewed walk with the Lord. There is much here. Not because I’m wonderful. I’m just a vessel, just an minor instrument hoping to live and work according to God’s will. Do not attach the world’s definition of ‘loser’ or ‘winner’ to your life. God comes to those hurting in spirit. Weak. Troubled. Those who may not appear as much to another person. But each person is valuable, prized by God our Creator, God our Father Who art in heaven! You are not a loser in the sight of God if you believe Him, believe in His Son, Jesus the Lord and Messiah, and if you obey and make Jesus the Lord of your life. We all are only ‘loser’s and nothing more if we serve this world and follow its ways and deny God, and if we are embarrassed and refuse to live according to the Word of God and instead live according to the ways and teachings of men and this world. I am not wonderful. I was a grand loser until I saw God and heard God and submitted to God in my life. I could be the richest man on earth. I could be the best known. The most famous. I could have anything of this world I wanted. I could be praised and worshipped by other men and women. But if I did not have the belief of God Almighty? If I did not have belief and faith of God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and the inerrant Word of God? And I had everything the world could offer but did nothing regarding my soul? I only focused on this passing, temporary world and all it offers? And I gave God no mind? I gave God none of my time, my effort, my work, my devotion? And I cared not about my soul and spirit and eternity? THEN, THEN I would be among the biggest losers in the world even though I appeared the opposite to the great majority of people! No, I am not wonderful and this place is not of my doing— but solely and only because the Lord our God has richly blessed me and made this possible. So I hope you’ll explore the categories here on “A Crooked Path” and go through the contemplations section to read the writings of A.W. Tozer and other wise men of God. And let me know if you are looking for something specific, or if I can be of any help.
You are not alone. You are never alone when you walk with and follow along the side of Jesus the Lord and Messiah and live according to the will (God reveals His will to us through His Word, the Bible) of God more than the will of self and the ways of this world.
Being a true believer, a true Christian vs. a worldly Christian in name only takes daily effort. To get stronger in the Word of God. To rely more and more upon the will and Word of God. To strive for the spiritual of God — not the spiritual of this world which now mingles and corrupts the spiritual of the One True God — but to strive for the spiritual wisdom and ways of God which we learn through prayer and continued diligent study of His Word, the Bible.
Know that the Adversary, that old dragon the devil, Satan and his minions will attack and battle and attempt to cause each of us to doubt, to try and get us to defeat ourselves, to get us to return to the past and live there rather than living in the present a new person, renewed in mind and spirit by the Spirit of God.
There is a constant spiritual war taking place all around us. It is an invisible world we cannot see now in the form we are in, but it is more real than what we can see, what we can touch, what we can taste since this world we know is only temporary — but the spiritual realm will go on for eternity.
And Satan and his fallen angels, his minions, the people he has in power in this world work day and night without ever taking a break in their attempt to lead people of faith astray. To cause them doubt and fear. To get them to be weak and backslide and follow them and the teachings of man and this world more than following the ways of the Lord.
Let me know if you grant me permission to write a “Ken’s Column” titled “Response to Kenda” in the coming days.
Also know you can contact me at any time and if I can be of any help I pray to God He will direct me how to be of specific help to each individual coming here.
And lastly, thank you for finding this place. I hope you return. I hope you find words of help here and “A Crooked Path” is a good source for you and worth your time. If you have any suggestions as to how I can make this place better for folk’s just tell me your idea, or ideas. And if they bear the test of consideration put before the Lord and are according to His Word and they feel right within my soul I may incorporate them here.
Thank you, Kenda. Know God is with you and wants you to follow His Son which is the only way to eternal life and real peace, real love, real understanding.
I will pray for you. I will pray the Lord our God keeps you in His protective wings, and that you gain strength in your trust and understanding of His ways, His will in your life, His Word to increase your wisdom and discernment and may you eat the meat of the Word to become strong and stronger in the faith daily.
Sincerely,
Ken Pullen
P.S. I will find part 3 of this series and get that to you within a day. And I will resume and continue the works and writings of A.W. Tozer on this subject.
I continually feel that I foul up. My father passed last year and Isaid that I quit smoking cigs but then started again after he passed,and I drink sometimes, never was a heavy drinker and still do not drink a lot. But I feel that I miss alot, I even asked for suns off from work so I can goto church, which I do try Togo every sun , i miss at times, confused about where to read in the bible of the proper ways to live? What book should I read to scare me straight?
Hello Rick,
If a person came to me, or I heard them say something along the lines of; “I’m a Christian and my life is wonderful and I go through each day blameless before God and Christ, I do not fall short because I’m a Christian!” that is a person I would seriously question as to how truthful they were being, or if they had any real grasp or understanding of what “being a true Christian” really is.
I continually fall short and foul up, too, Rick. I don’t know how much you’ve visited A Crooked Path, and what you may have read or not read, but since the beginning I have always stated every single day the Lord blesses me with I fail more times each day than I can count. Flesh can never be perfect. We are perfected by Christ as true believers in our faith, our trust and belief. We are forgiven our sins and blessed with salvation in the shed blood and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Wise King Solomon in the Book of Proverbs wrote:
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 1:7 — King James Version
Not to get to involved here, but the transliteration of the Hebrew word “Fear” in that verse is yir’ah. It has a few meanings. One is fear as we know it. Terror. Fear. But it also means reverence, piety and respect.
First we must fear the Lord. Know and acknowledge He will judge each of us, me, you, everyone in the world based on how we lived. What we said. What we believed. What we did.
Know this also — just as all people have a lot of similarities all people are truly unique and different. No two are alike. Even identical twins have their own minds, their own thoughts, their own spirits and souls and lives.
God created us this way.
So we also have unique and individual ways in which He will bring us to Him and His Son, Jesus, and to His Word. And God has unique ways He will measure out and have each individual serve their purpose in this life. Do not attempt to imitate anyone you may see, or anything you may hear.
If we are to imitate any other? We are to imitate Jesus Christ our Lord.
I would suggest you take time to find quiet time, a quiet place, and do not be anxious or troubled. And you pray as you are moved to pray and ask God purely and sincerely to allow His Spirit to lead you, teach you, instruct you, show you, and to hone you as God plans. Believe. Trust. Have faith.
Do not be overly hard on yourself.
And read every word Jesus spoke in the New Testament in each of the Gospels — Matthew, Luke, Mark, and John. Think on, pray on, meditate on the words of Jesus Christ. God come to earth in the form of man to sacrifice Himself for us. And take to your heart your spirit the words spoken by our Lord.
Then I would suggest you read the letters the Apostle Paul wrote to the various churches, and to his great helpers and fellow brothers in the faith, Timothy, Philemon and Titus. But read Romans, Corinthians, Ephesians, Philippians, Galatians, Thessalonians, and Colossians, along with the three letters I mentioned to Timothy, Philemon and Titus.
Also, read in the Bible about the men of God and their shortcomings and failures. Their being human and falling short. Their lapses in faith. Their disobedience and the consequences thereof and how they then placed their faith in God — or they didn’t and the consequences. Read of Noah, and Abraham, Moses, all the prophets. King David and King Solomon. The Apostle Peter denied our Lord three times yet the Apostle Peter is in heaven with Christ and God as I sit writing this and you sit reading this.
Does that mean we allow ourselves to sin, fall short, be weak, and allow this world and the devil to overcome us? Heaven forbid! But learn the lessons of the men of God within the Bible. The lessons of the faithful men and women of the Bible.
Also, to help a bit, get yourself something like a Halley’s Bible Handbook to help you out in the beginning. To learn a bit more about the people, the books, the places, the times and history of the Bible.
If you do not have in your possession a very good study Bible I strongly suggest buying one and taking the time to learn how to use its helps and aids. Personally I find the Thompson Chain Reference Bible and the Companion Bible to be great helps. I also use The Standard Full Color Bible. Personally I only use the King James Version. For many reasons. One it is sound doctrine. It has not been watered down or had doctrine massaged and or omitted or changed to placate and appease modern-day people. The language is not difficult and is actually poetic and beautiful. It is a different language to some, but it also then feels more like something distinct and from God in that respect.
I also strongly suggest praying. Sincere, honest, fervent, HUMBLE prayer. To God. And confess your sins. Ask forgiveness. And BELIEVE. Believe in the Bible in its every word as being inerrant and like no other book on earth. Trust in the Lord.
Here is something very key — trust in the Lord and not in yourself. Relinquish power and control and allow God to work in you, with you. Allow room and place for the Spirit of God to come into you and make you a renewed man, a new creature, born anew, renewed of mind and spirit.
Is smoking bad? Yes, it is. Health wise and I sincerely doubt God approves of us smoking. Will smoking condemn someone to eternal damnation? I do not think so. The rest of their life and beliefs and ways will do that to them.
I do know from my firsthand experience that when I was truly converted, truly born anew I ceased using a lot of language I used to use. I ceased listening to music I used to listen to. I ceased spending so much time with movies and TV and I did not cease doing these things because I felt a Christian ought to do this and not do that! I lost desire for those worldly activities. It was just a change within me that took place. But each person is unique to God as He created them.
Losing a loved one, losing a father, a close friend, a relative can be quite a serious shock to our systems. Does this mean we are given a free pass to sin and be carnal? Heaven forbid. Not at all. We should not make excuses and continue to live weakly.
But do not beat yourself up so much.
What is occurring in your life I know without even knowing you other than in this initial comment you sent to me.
You are now a participant in the greatest and longest ongoing war in world history. The spiritual war. The war between flesh and spirit. The war between God, Christ, the Holy Spirit and Satan.
Satan will work continually to confuse you, berate you, tell you you’re not good enough to be a Christian. You fail! You fall down! You smoke cigarettes and we all know if you light up a Marlboro you aren’t going to heaven!
You are a soldier in the most important war taking place.
Until you realized you wanted and needed God and Christ you were a diligent foot soldier of the devils. Now that you are questioning the most important parts and matters of each life on earth, and you know you are God’s and want to be God’s, and seem to desire to be saved and be a true Christian putting the carnal aside and being a disciple of Christ’s? That brought you to Satan’s attention. And he is going to speak within your spirit as often and loudly as he can to dissuade you, cause you to doubt and fear. To not believe. To waver in your faith.
Tell Satan you are no longer his and to get behind you, away from you. Literally speak this either aloud or within your heart and mind. In the name of Jesus Christ the Lord flee from me Satan, for I desire to be the Lord’s!
Try that. Every single time your hear him trying to lower you to his level and cause you doubts and pain and fears.
Truly fear the Lord knowing He determines whether you are with Him for eternity in heaven, or in hell for eternity. But also know this — you make the decision, you place your feet one step at a time on either path and pursue either course.
You either pursue God and Christ in earnest. Or you waver. You play at “being good” and going to church and trying to be a Christian.
Being a true Christian is a daily battle. It’s us against the world. And we are outnumbered. Big time.
But you know what? We have God the Father, Almighty God the Creator. We have Jesus Christ. We have the Holy Spirit. And the three individuals which make up the One and Only God are all-powerful, all-capable, all-knowing, everywhere. They are more powerful than Satan. They can help you overcome ANYTHING. God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit can help you overcome ANYTHING and EVERYTHING in this life.
Believe. Place your trust in them. Pray. Be diligent. Spend as much time in the Word of God as you can.
Trying to “live a good life,” and or “going to church” is not salvation and being a true Christian, a disciple of Jesus Christ the Lord.
Churches, especially in these days, are filled with apostate, false folks thinking they are pleasing God and they are doing the exact opposite.
Showing up in a church every Sunday doesn’t necessarily change a person or please God.
God and Jesus showing up in your heart and spirit, in your life daily please the Lord.
Take it one step, one hour, one day at a time.
Knowing there is going to be suffering. Troubles. Problems. And days where you feel the least “Christian,” or the most failed believer on the face of the earth.
Learn to repent. Truly ask forgiveness of your sin and as Jesus told the adulteress who the self-righteous angry mob wanted to stone to death? And Jesus without speaking wrote in the dirt as they all wanted to kill her for her sin? (See John 8).
The modern-day New Age apostate church uses this to give the impression all sin is always forgiven and we can continue on sinning without consequence, but they omit the most important part of what Jesus did and said in this passage.
“Go, and sin no more.”
Jesus did not mean do not commit any more sins of any kind in your life. Jesus said He forgave her, and everyone in the mob had sin and was not without sin nor blameless that is why they all put down their stones and dispersed. They were convicted within their hearts by His words. But Jesus said, “Go, and sin no more,” instructing the woman she would be forgiven her sin of adultery if she repented and did not commit adultery again. Repent is to turn away.
Maybe today, or next week you’ll smoke some cigarettes. You’ll have a few drinks. Personally? I drink beer. I drink wine. But never to excess. I have at most 2 beers and one glass of wine, sometimes 2 with a meal and that’s all. Never to drunkenness though because drunkenness can lead to lots of troubles and problems we create we live to regret.
Live to minimize regret. Don’t expect to achieve this in a day, a week, or a month. One day at a time.
If you sincerely commit your life to God and Christ? Trust in Their power, trust in Them to work in your life to have you overcome those things which you cannot overcome of your own doing or efforts. Place your faith in God and Christ.
Don’t get distracted about the cigarettes or having a few drinks sometimes.
Get absorbed in pursuing God. In growing closer to God and Christ and absorbing and obeying the inerrant Word of God.
And you will find some of these things you are so troubled about leave you. And you grow spiritually. You go from sitting, to crawling, to standing, to running. No longer weak and only taking milk, but taking the meat of the Word.
I do not know if any of this helps. I do not know if I went on too long or made matters worse for you. I hope and pray not.
Please feel free to contact me if you want to. I do not know if I can be of help to you, but I will certainly pray to God I am led as to what to say to you to offer up any help I can.
Everything any person needs in life in any situation, any circumstance is found in the Holy Bible.
Within the Holy Bible a person will find a circumstance or situation or event or trial or problem which covers everything and anything which can or will happen to anyone in life.
The Bible is not some dusty old ancient book. It is living and active. There is no problem, no circumstance, no situation any person will find themselves in today which cannot be found somewhere in the Bible faced by someone there. Take the time to walk with God and Christ and listen to Them. Listen to Them move within your heart and direct you. God calls us and touches upon our hearts, offering His mercy, grace, forgiveness and love — it is up to each person to heed this call, heed this touch and respond in kind. To commit one’s life to God and Jesus Christ is the most important and greatest decision and act a person can undertake — but it must be real, true, and the most serious commitment a person ever makes. One cannot play at being a Christian. Being a Christian is not akin to being in a club, organization, or select worldly group such as the Shriner’s or Jaycee’s although that is how it sadly is approached and lived by so many. Take the time to pursue God and learn what He is and what He expects and what He wants of you. And the decision to commit your life to God and Christ, when one is true in their pursuit and faith, is the most amazing any person can ever undertake. What is happening here? Cigarettes? Alcohol? Women? Our jobs? What we think is so important and permanent and real? It is all fleeting and will disappear. What is really REAL? The spiritual life. Our spirits and souls which go on through eternity. So we out of desire and care and love and respect and awe and reverence and fear and THANKFULNESS then live to please and serve God and Christ — because we can have eternal life with Them in heaven. And if we don’t? And if we live according to this temporary fleshly life and temporary world? And we ignore God and Christ? We ignore the instruction of the Holy Bible? We ignore the calling of God? We continue to live in sin a slave to Satan instead of finding life and liberty in the Lord? Then we will spend eternity with Satan in hell. It’s that clear. That plain. That simple.
As for a book? Turn to God, Christ and the Holy Bible.
If you desire a book written by a man thinking it will be of help? I strongly urge you to then either buy, or see if your local library carries books written by A.W. Tozer. I also strongly advise you, and any person inquiring to avoid and do not seek out any book written by any man or woman after 1970 with regard to what being a Christian is, or a “how-to” book, and stay away from all so-called “Christian novels” and such. Avoid fiction. Live in reality. Live in faith. Live in the pursuit of God. Live in the salvation afforded each person who comes to God and the Son, Jesus the Lord and makes Jesus Lord of their lives and become His disciple.
Be Theirs and you will find yourself leaving the ways of the world more and more. You will rejoice in pleasing and living for the Lord.
This is more than enough; probably too much for now.
Contact me if you want. I will do my best as it is measured out in me to help if I am able.
Ken
Dear Kenda,
Here is part 3 in this series:
I hope this helps you. Parts I, II, and III comprise the entire chapter regarding being a carnal Christian from the book written by A.W. Tozer titled: Reclaiming Christianity – A Call To Authentic Faith
It is my hope and prayer all believers read the Word of God daily. And not only read it but make the effort to glean its wisdom and discern its meaning. It’s life-giving words of instruction from God Himself to us.
Along with this diligent, making an effort, putting time in with the Bible and less in the things of this world I recommend reading the writings of A.W. Tozer.
Mr. Tozer died in 1963. But his writings are as relevant and necessary today, probably more so, than when he wrote them back in the 1950’s.
I hope you’ll also seek out the books of A.W. Tozer and add those to you growing and diligent study of the inerrant Word of God.
And personally? I do not lean towards or go to the modern-day translations. With each new translation of the Bible which is sold and put forward to people as to being easier to read, easier to understand, each translation becomes more corrupted, watered down and perverted from the true Word of God. The Bible is becoming a book to appease people rather than teach people in the ways of God.
Do not be into appeasement or what feels easy according to the world.
Have faith. Have faith in the Living God that He cares about you. That He loves you. He created you after all! He has you here for a REASON! And one of those reasons is to honor Him, worship Him, obey Him.
And this is not about rules or acting a certain way. It is about true repentance. Truly being renewed of mind and spirit and having the spirit of God reside within our hearts so that we desire to live our lives according to His ways and instruction. For our good. For our eternal life.
Have faith in the infinite power of God. Have faith in the Spirit of God to teach you. You may open the Bible and not understand what lies before you. But have faith the Spirit of God will help you, guide you, teach you. Let the Spirit of God teach you. Show you the ways and how to gain insight, understanding, and the wisdom of God from what you’ve read. Seek out sound doctrine and sound sources to help you. They still exist even in this time of the great apostasy and of false teachings and false teachers becoming so prevalent.
Have faith. Have complete trust in the Lord our God and His infinite power and the infinite power of His Son, Jesus the Lord, Redeemer, and Messiah.
Have the faith of Abraham.
And study and read the whole Bible as given to us, God-breathed by the Spirit of God. Read from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21. Omit nothing. alter nothing. Every word of the Word is there for a reason. And Yeshua, Jesus the Lord, God come to earth in the form of man said not one stroke, not the smallest mark in the Word of God should be omitted or changed, and that He did not come here to abolish the Word but to fulfill it.
Place your focus upon the Lord and He will provide you in every way.
And do not confuse being a Christian with having and leading a charmed and easy life.
It is the exact opposite. And will become more difficult in the coming days as true believers will be tested, persecuted, and tried. There will be daily trials. Temptations will not cease. It is not bliss and singing birds and butterflies and cute little sayings on the picture of a sunset or a kitten.
It — being a true Christian vs. being a worldly Christian in name only — takes sacrifice.
But think on this through each trial. Each persecution. Each temptation. Every time you are tested…
Jesus Who was and is God went through every temptation and was sinless. Spotless. Blameless. So He could be the propitiation for our sins, and we all are sinners contrary to what the people of the world say. Not only was He sinless and blameless, but He went through trials we will never have to experience and endure.
He was ridiculed. He was abandoned. All His disciples abandoned Him for a time. He was falsely accused. He was falsely tried in an illegal court. He was beaten beyond recognition. He was nailed to a tree to die.
For us. For you. For me. For every person who has ever lived or will ever live.
He came here and made Himself the Supreme Sacrifice.
Cannot we sacrifice for Him? For what He has done and does each day for us? Are we not capable of making sacrifices for Him and God our Father towards the eternal life of our spirits and souls?
Or are we so weak, so mired in the past, so easily controlled by Satan we cannot gain understanding and wisdom and strength of and from God and His Word and we cannot overcome and become victorious?
I hope you’ll return to “A Crooked Path” at times.
I hope and pray you will be renewed of mind and spirit and live each day, every hour here for the Lord our God.
I hope and pray you realize the only true losers are those who refuse the truth of God, refuse the truth of Jesus the Lord and Messiah, refuse the truth of the Holy Spirit, and refuse the truth of the whole inerrant Word of God and they continue to live more concerned with pleasing themselves, their lusts, their desires, and the people of this world above pleasing the Lord and submitting in obedience unto God.
I hope and pray if I can be of any help in the future the Lord measures my days and I can be.
Sincerely,
Ken Pullen