False teaching has always been in the Christian church. In the first century church the doctrine of Jezebel (Rev. 2) crept into the minds of unwary believers. And in contemporary Christian circles spurious doctrine assumes the form of a doctrinal crossbreed dubbed the carnal Christian.
The popular and respected Dr. Tony Evans perpetuates this dangerous teaching. The quotations of Dr. Evans found in this article come from his booklet entitled The Carnal Christian. In opposition to Christian church history, but in keeping with his university, Dallas Theological Seminary, Dr. Evans gleans his carnal Christian teaching from first Corinthians chapter three:
And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? 1 Cor 3:1-3
"It is possible," insists Tony Evans, "to be on your way to heaven but be of no earthly good because you compromise your faith...notice that Paul calls them brethren." At the time of this rebuke Paul did include these Corinthians in the family of believers. From this passage, however, Dr. Evans continues his slide down a slippery slope of unsupported claims. Consider Dr. Tony Evans' carnal Christian:
"The carnal Christian is characterized by rejection of the Christian faith."
"Committed Christians may fall into sin, but a carnal Christian bathes in it. He has the mindset, motivation and methodology of sin."
Because Paul used the term brothers and carnal (or worldly) to refer to the Corinthians is it necessary to conclude that they could remain as much and ultimately enter God's holy, eternal kingdom as Tony Evans maintains? Not if the scriptures are our rule. If the Corinthians remained in a carnal or worldly state they would be in serious trouble. Consider Paul's admonishment to these "brothers" later in 1 Corinthians (Dr. Evans overlooks this passage though it clearly bears on the subject):
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Cor 6:9-10
Paul isn't the only one to disavow the "carnal Christian." Not even a hint of this dogma can be found in any teacher, confession or catechism that I have researched from Christian history. From the Ante-Nicene Fathers to the Westminster Confession and the Baptist Confession of 1689 no carnal Christian dogma may be found. From Martin Luther to James Arminius or John Calvin no carnal Christian dogma may be found. From Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield to John Wesley or Charles Finney no carnal Christian dogma may be found. Tony Evans' carnal Christian is not true.
Daniel LaLond Jr.'s latest book, The Lying Promise, examines the gospel according to Tony Evans. For more on doctrines like the carnal Christian, eternal security and free grace please visit Defending The Gospel.org.
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