"For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?" (1 Corinthians 3:3-4)
My daily reading was in 1 Corinthians 1-4, and the first few verses of chapter 3 perfectly capture the issue at hand—carnality. Throughout these chapters, Paul contrasts the wisdom of God with the wisdom of man, urging us to live by God's wisdom rather than the world's. The carnal man may be wise in business, prudent in financial affairs, and careful with his assets, but worldly wisdom is not the wisdom of God. Paul goes on to show that those who live by God's wisdom will be regarded as fools by those who live by the world's wisdom. In chapter 4, he even demonstrates that he is a fool for Christ.
This struggle continues in the church today. We see it in the plans and programs of the modern church. How do we grow a church? The wisdom of the world says: through marketing, social media campaigns, tailoring the message to appeal to the masses, and becoming a "seeker-friendly" church. But this is worldly wisdom—a sure way to fill a building with lost people while bastardizing the entire process. The gospel ceases to be the focus, and churches become filled with people who leave just as lost as they came because marketing, persuasion, and campaigns are not sufficient to convict and convert souls.
We also see this struggle in our own hearts. The wisdom of the world says: save for the future, take care of yourself first, serve Christ once your life is more stable, and give when you are in a better position. But the wisdom of God is absolute foolishness by those standards. God commands us not to worry about what we shall eat, wear, or where we will sleep, but to trust Him. He commands us to go when He bids, not later when it feels more convenient. This battle between worldly wisdom and God's wisdom determines what kind of person we will be—a carnal man or a spiritual man.
A carnal man operates by the wisdom of the world, while a spiritual man operates by the wisdom of God. One will always see the other as foolish, but in the end, it is not the opinions of men that matter, but the judgment of God.
Finally, Paul presents two questions that reveal whether we are carnal or spiritual:"For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?"
Paul asks these questions to expose their carnality, and they serve the same purpose today. Is there envying, strife, and division among us? If so, it is a sure sign of carnality—a life lived by the wisdom of the world. Are people forming factions? "I’m with Paul!" "Well, I’m with Apollos!" Do you see how self-interest crept in?
Envy is covetousness on steroids—it’s not just wanting what someone else has, but resenting them for having it, and it has led to murder many times. Strife is fighting, contention, and constant friction. Proverbs tells us: "Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease." (Proverbs 22:10) Strife often doesn't come by blows with fists but words—that’s what a scorner does, constantly wounding others with their tongue. Then Paul mentions divisions. In another place, this same word is translated as "sedition"—disunity. These are the fruits of a life lived by worldly wisdom. It’s expected in businesses and corporations that operate by these principles, but to see them in the church of Christ should appall us.
When we operate by God's wisdom as spiritual men, there is unity, flowing from our Head, Jesus Christ, down to the lowest members of the church. Living by God's wisdom is no longer about putting ourselves first, but others. It is no longer about making ourselves look good but making Christ look glorious. Yes, this wisdom is foolishness to the world, but it is the way to please God and to live in peace with His body, the church.
In closing, each of us—myself first—must lay these questions before ourselves and ask: "Are ye not carnal?"
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