For Thought and Meditation - Tuesday, October 10

[Pine Baron]

Good morning all.The struggle is real and constant. Stay focused on God. have a safe and blessed day.

The Carnal Christian At Church
by Dr. Robert Jeffress

What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members?
–James 4:1

What are the characteristics of a carnal Christian? First of all, carnal Christians are slaves to their old nature. Even though the power of that old sin nature has been broken, its influence in our lives remains. And carnal Christians have become enslaved to the selfish desires of their old nature.

Second, they are self-centered. When you think about it, there is no one more self-centered than a baby–all she cares about is getting her needs met. And it is the same way with carnal Christians. Look at 1 Corinthians 3:3: “Since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?” These carnal Christians in the Corinthian church, whom Paul called “infants in Christ” (v. 1), all wanted their own way. And whenever there are immature people in a marriage, in a friendship, or in a church who are each intent on getting their own way, you are going to have conflict. James 4:1 says, “What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members?”

When you hear people in the church who are always complaining about the music or the sermons or the programs, you are dealing with baby Christians. They think the church exists to do everything the way they want it done. But the church is not Burger King–you do not get to have it your way all the time. The church is not about you or me; it is about the Lord Jesus Christ.

The third characteristic of carnal Christians is they are focused on other people instead of God. Look at 1 Corinthians 3:4: “When one says, ‘I am of Paul,’ and another, ‘I am of Apollos,’ are you not mere men?” Paul was the founding pastor of the church at Corinth, and Apollos was the current pastor. Paul continued, “What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth” (vv. 5-6). Paul was saying, “Do not get hung up on your pastors. We are all simply servants of God–He is the one who produces a spiritual harvest.”

The same is true for us today. Do not focus on the servants of Christ; focus on God. Because if you focus on the pastor, you are going to be disillusioned and disappointed. Our focus ought to be not on people but on God. That is why the writer of Hebrews said, “Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith” (12:1-2).

[dverna]

We are struggling with this. The new music director can be a bit "irritating". The first 20 minutes of the service has become less than pleasant for us.

Before he was hired, the volunteers did a very good job. It seems like we are going backwards...paying for a full time position that is not as "entertaining" as what the volunteers did.

The message is basically the same, but the delivery is different. Yes, we are "wrong" to be bothered by this. But we are.

Our church caters to the congregation. We have a classic service where the first 20 minutes starts with singing of traditional hymns and then the sermon is played in their chapel on a screen. The main service in the main chapel is new songs. Our church may be "wrong" in catering to the "old timers" as most of the folks in the classic service are over 65 and prefer the old hymns.

The OP should be taken into context. During the time of Paul, the Word was spread by preaching as the bible did not exist. Who delivered the Word was less important than getting the word out to people.

Today anyone can get a bible. Almost anyone can find resources on the internet to expound and give greater understanding of what is in the bible. The need to deliver and interpret the word in person is maybe less important.

Like it or not, the modern church is in the "entertainment" business. If people do not like how the message is delivered, or the message, they will not come. It seems some churches are changing their long held traditional views on things like abortion, women as pastors/bishops, gay pastors/bishops, same sex marriages, etc etc to accommodate the "needs" of their congregations. Are we to continue to attend services where the message goes against what we think is "right"?

Things are not as simple as some think, or maybe I overthink stuff.

[USMC87]

Amen, our service and duty is to God.

[ioon44]

"The OP should be taken into context. During the time of Paul, the Word was spread by preaching as the bible did not exist. Who delivered the Word was less important than getting the word out to people."

They did have a bible it is called the Old Testament and a lot of it is quoted in the New Testament.

The true Church will be preaching Jesus Christ and Him Crucified.

[dverna]

"The OP should be taken into context. During the time of Paul, the Word was spread by preaching as the bible did not exist. Who delivered the Word was less important than getting the word out to people."

They did have a bible it is called the Old Testament and a lot of it is quoted in the New Testament.

The true Church will be preaching Jesus Christ and Him Crucified.

The common man did not have books. The printing press was not invented until 1400 years after the birth of Jesus and the new covenant.

In the time of Jesus, even the teachings of the OT were essentially presented orally at sermons. Very few people would have hand printed scrolls to refer to.

[ioon44]

The common man did not have books. The printing press was not invented until 1400 years after the birth of Jesus and the new covenant.

In the time of Jesus, even the teachings of the OT were essentially presented orally at sermons. Very few people would have hand printed scrolls to refer to.

Around 300BC Hebrew scrolls were translated to the LXX and were used for hundreds of years before that. The written word has been around a long time, wherever it is written on a scroll or in book for we use now.

The scrolls were read in Synagogue's every week and still are.