The question was asked of me: What is the number one problem in the church today?  Good Question!

Answer:

While there are many problems... the number one problem in the local New Testament Church in my estimation is carnality and the toleration of it.

The Holy Spirit constantly works against carnality. Why? Shallowness is the monologue of carnality. It's testimony is contemptuous, having no genuine respect for Gods will.   The means of nourishment for carnality is vanity and relies exclusively on human tendencies and always results in irrational and unpredictable resolve.

The classic symptom of carnality is an unwillingness to listen and follow through with God's will (1 Cor. 3:1,2). This is a dangerous problem! Carnal believers are left to their own inclinations while lacking the ability to rightly divide God's Word. This is why I believe carnality is the number one problem in the church. Carnal Believers are always vulnerable, even tolerant of the mis-representation and ill-interpretation of the Bible.

Christians cannot afford to live in a constant state of carnality. It results in reckless pursuits that undermines spiritual growth. Discerning Believers understand that carnality is a perpetual state of counterfeiting God's will for selfish inclinations.

There is nothing more essential to the Believer than spiritual growth.   The alternative is a constancy of masquerade and bareness. Thank God we have the indwelling Holy Spirit who will never tolerate our personal indifference to spiritual growth, but is ever transforming us into the likeness of Jesus Christ.

Note the differences between Carnality & Spirituality:

The apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

While carnality is bondage to self-focus, spirituality is Christ-centered living. Note the contrast:

CARNALITY -------Verses--------SPIRITUALITY

Taker ---------------------------------Taken
Assumes ----------------------------- Assured
Complains---------------------------- Constrained
Contentious---------------------------Content
Competes---------------------------- Concrete
Overcomed--------------------------- Overcoming
Given To Change ---------------------Living Changed
Divisive-------------------------------- Decisive
Trust The Visible-------------------- Trust The Invisible
Looks For Opportunity--------------- Looks To Importunity
Independent-------------------------- Dependent
Lives By Fearing -------------------- -Lives By Hearing
Wants To Survive-------------------- Wants To Submit
Needs Excitement-------------------- Heeds Exactness
Preference Oriented------------------Principle Oriented
Needs Alternatives------------------- Heeds Ultimatum
Makes Demands--------------------- Takes Commands

Carnalities only purpose is to further the cause of one's self-interest. This is very dangerous.  Because carnality is rooted in the process of thinking that is based on one's feelings which can only result in corruption.

Being spiritual is the result of thinking that is based on facts and principles as outlined in the Word of God. All that matters to the spiritually minded believer is the exaltation of the Lord Jesus Christ (Phil. 1:21). Amen!

Sincerely, Dr. Arthur Belanger 

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