Who do we find in church?
1. The Heathen
a) The Seeker
This is the typical sinner. He or she comes to church, not desiring to become part of the fellowship, but for the sake of attendance.
The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14)
b) The Destroyer
This person seeks to destroy the church, perverting the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. (Jude 1:3-4)
2. The Hypocrite
The Actor. The classic "religious" person: clean on the outside, dead on the inside.
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. (Matthew 23:27)
3. The Holy
a) The Immature Christian
These are the believers who haven't grown, or never grew, up. They are easily harassed by sin, and are frequently identified as Carnal Christians.
But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? (1 Corinthians 3:1-3)
b) The Mature Christian
Examples of mature Christianity are obvious, and few. Rev. Billy Graham may fall on one end of the spectrum, while a Bible teacher at the local church might fall on the other end. Regardless, they are obedient, hopeful, and loving. They speak the faith, think the faith, and live the faith.
When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. (1 Cor. 13:11)
