HoHum:
A famous sportscaster said that, for him, the start of the Indianapolis 500 was the most spectacular event in sports. To see those turbocharged automobiles roaring around Turn 4 and zooming across the starting line at 200 miles an hour to start the world’s most famous race is an incredible event. But of those supercharged cars that start the race, how many finish? Many times, over half the cars get knocked out of the race by either a wreck or by mechanical difficulties. In some instances, something as minor as the failure of a $10 bolt could force a car out of the race. As impressive as the start is, the important part of the race is finishing. The financial rewards and honors do not go to those who start well, but to those who finish well. So the driver and pit crew are constantly watching gauges and evaluating the performance of the car so they can prevent breakdown and make necessary adjustments along the way.
WBTU:
Many people who start in the Christian life do not finish well. One of the saddest characters in the Bible is Solomon. He began his life with noble motives, but he wrecked along the way in indulgence and compromise. In the New Testament, Paul speaks of Demas, who dropped out of the race. “Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me..” 2 Timothy 4:10, NIV.
It’s not enough to start the Christian life well. We need to plan to finish well. The reward is not given at the beginning, but in the end. “Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.” Revelation 2:10, NIV.
A Christian may drop out of the race dramatically because there is a wreck in his life along the way. Many just kind of coast to the sidelines because something has gone wrong and they fizzle out. But whatever the cause, we all need to be alert to the telltale signs that trouble is brewing in our lives, and we need to make the adjustments that are necessary.
“You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly?” 1 Corinthians 3:3, NIV. The word translated worldly really means “fleshly.” It’s the word the King James calls carnal. These carnal Christians were selfish; they wanted blessings without sacrifice; they wanted power without restraint. They were more concerned about the things of this world than they were with the things of the Spirit.
Paul was constantly warning them about these issues. In 2 Corinthians 12:11-21, he had to warn them again. This time, he mentioned 4 telltale signs of a carnal Christian.
Thesis: 4 telltale signs of a carnal Christian from 2 Corinthians 12:11-21
1. Lack of appreciation for Spiritual Leaders
Paul said he has made a fool of himself. He was talking about having to give his credentials. I feel a little foolish when I have to do that, and so should everyone who is a Christian. vs. 11
These Christians should have commended Paul. He was a humble man. All the time he had labored among them, he had never bragged about himself or thrown his weight around. He was humble, and they took him for granted. Paul was an apostle- read vs. 12. Paul had done all of those signs among them, and he had done them consistently.
He was generous. He served Corinthian church without a salary. Vs. 13. Other churches that Paul had started supported him financially, so he labored in Corinth without taking their money
He was loving. “Now I am ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you.” 2 Corinthians 12:14, NIV. They could not accuse Paul of exploiting them. He loved them and he treated them with integrity. He said the reason he didn’t take support from them was that he felt like their spiritual parent. “After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.” 14
Vs. 15- In spite of all of this, the Corinthians had taken Paul for granted and many of them even spoke poorly of Paul. They suggested Paul wasn’t really good enough to be paid. They were giving all kinds of compliments to “super apostles” and were taking Paul for granted. Big sign of carnality. This happens today- doing things behind the scenes- week after week, year after year. At the same time, those who are self promoting and exploitive are given much acclaim and adoration. Mark of spiritual maturity is appreciation for the people who have contributed to our lives. Christian leaders should not be idolized, but they ought to be regarded with a sense of gratitude. Bible says we are to give honor to whom honor is due- Romans 13:7
2. Immediate Suspicion of Other People’s Motives
Not only had they taken Paul for granted they were suspicious of his motives. Some were suggesting that Paul did not take money from them initially so that he could fleece them now. Paul was promoting an offering to be taken to the poor in Jerusalem. They thought he was going to pocket the money. Vs. 16-18. These carnal people suspected the worst from Paul.
Now let’s admit there are con artists in the church; there are people on an ego trip; there are people who exploit for money or to take advantage of others. We need to be alert and aware; and we should not be naive. But if our first reaction to people is always suspicion, if we are skeptical of everyone, if we are cynical about everything that goes on, that’s a sign of carnality. “Love always trusts” 1 Corinthians 13:7. Look for the best in people. Sometimes our suspicions can come back to bite us. A tough minded manager walked through his shipping department and saw a young man lounging around a shipping crate, almost asleep. He said, “Young man, what do you make a week?” “I make $150 a week.” The manager took $150 out of his wallet and gave it to the boy. “Now get out of here and don’t come back,” he said. Then he went directly to the head of the department and demanded, “Who hired that young man?” “Nobody,” said the supervisor. “He’s just a delivery boy waiting for some packages.”
We have a slogan in this country, “Innocent until proven guilty.” Trust people (especially someone like Paul who has proved trustworthy time and time again), until proven otherwise. “To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted.” Titus 1:15, NIV. If we always suspect the worst in people, it may be that our own heart and mind are corrupted. We say, “It takes one to know one.” Some in Corinth probably thought that if they were in Paul’s shoes they would pocket the money, speaking from their own hearts and minds...
3. A Sour Disposition that Divides the Church
When we became Christians, that is supposed to make us sweeter in spirit. I wish more Christians understood this. Vs. 20. These 8 unholy attitudes are signs of carnality in the life of a church or an individual. Left unchecked, they are devastating to the harmony of the church.
The church and the Christian home ought to be places of cooperation with leaders in a spirit of peace and tranquility. But carnal Christians have a sour, mean disposition. And they never grow out of that. They never made the connection between being born into the family of God and being changed in attitude. Galatians 5:22- the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,...
4. Continued participation in the sins of the flesh
Vs. 21- The Corinthian church was made up of people from the most corrupt backgrounds imaginable. The city of Corinth was a seaport town in ancient Greece- a link between 2 major commercial and military sea routes. The sailors loved the port at Corinth because it was where the action was. To “live like a Corinthian” in the 1st century was synonymous with hedonism.
Debauchery means a rebellious spirit that has lost all sense of shame. Debauchery means to disobey without a twinge of conscience. In the middle of this cesspool, Paul started a church. It was rather like a flower growing out of a dung heap. People were converted to Christ in Corinth out of a debauched lifestyle. “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, NIV. Notice, “that is what some of you were.” It was wonderful the way Christ had changed them. Paul was concerned that they really hadn’t repented of those things- they hadn’t really changed the direction of their lives. Paul did not want them to get sucked back into their former lifestyles, into their old and familiar ways. The church is winning people to Christ out of the background of drug abuse, immorality, violence, and dysfunctional families. Hallelujah! But we should be praying for them too, the devil wants to win them back. “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8, NIV.
A little lamb and his mother passed the pig pen every day on their way to the pasture. The lamb looked longingly at the pigs wallowing in the mire, and he asked his mother if he could go and play in the mud. She’d say, “No, sheep don’t wallow.” But he would look over at those pigs in that mud. It looked like so much fun; on hot days, the mud looked cool. One day, when he was older, he let his mother go on a little bit ahead of him. He jumped over the fence and started playing in the mud. The cool mud on that hot day felt so good around his ankles, so he went in a little deeper. It got up on his belly and he was cooling off. But wool and mud don’t mix well, and it began to cake on his wool until he realized he was stuck; he couldn’t get out. His pleasure had become his prison. He began to cry for help, and finally the farmer came and took him back out to pasture. His mother said, “Sheep don’t wallow.” Christians aren’t to wallow in the mire of sin, either. It may look appealing, but remember where it leads. It traps, it addicts, it enslaves, it destroys. “If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning.” “Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.”” 2 Peter 2:20, 22, NIV.
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2, NIV.
