Tony Evans" Carnal Christian
Counterfeit, errant dogmas always creep around the Christian church. In fact, Revelation chapter two records a warning from Jesus against dangerous doctrines that led His people astray. In the contemporary church the "carnal Christian," a sin-friendly doctrinal hybrid, is worming its way into Christian orthodoxy.
Trumpeting this "carnal Christian" theme around the globe is Dr. Tony Evans. All of the quotations from Dr. Evans' contained in this article are excerpted from his pamphlet The Carnal Christian. In opposition to historic Christianity Dr. Evans gathers his carnal Christian theory from three solitary verses in first Corinthians chapter three:
"Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly-mere infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men?" 1 Cor 3:1-3
"Notice that Paul calls them brethren," wrote Dr. Evans, "which means that he believed they were a part of the family of God...it is possible," insists the learned Dr. Evans, "to be on your way to heaven but be of no earthly good because you compromise your faith." Tony Evans is correct dear reader, Paul did call the Corinthians "brethren" and this does indeed mean "that he believed they were a part of the family of God." From this passage, however, Tony Evans dives headlong into a gurgling cauldron of scripturally unfounded assertions:
- "The author is writing to Christians. He's also talking about people with hard hearts-the kind of person who, while stealing a car, would kill the woman sitting in it."
- [The carnal Christian] "is a sick Christian, attempting to keep one foot planted in two mutually-exclusive worlds."
Because Paul called the Corinthians "brethren" and "carnal" (or worldly) does it follow that they had the option to remain such and still enter the kingdom of God as Tony Evans assumes? The answer is plainly - No. Carnality was not an option for the Corinthians or for us. Paul's rebuke to the "carnal" in 1 Corinthians 3 is further clarified later in the same book (though Dr. Evans does not mention it):
"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
The inspired writers aren't the only teachers to snub the "carnal Christian." No trace of this teaching can be found in any writer or historical church creed that I have examined. From the Ante-Nicene believers such as Polycarp, Clement of Rome or Ireneaus to the Westminster Confession no carnal Christian belief can be established. And from James Arminius to John Calvin no carnal Christian affirmation may be seen. And from Jonathan Edwards to John Wesley or from Charles Finney to George Whitefield no carnal Christian doctrine is included. Dr. Anthony T. (Tony) Evans' carnal Christian is simply false.
Trumpeting this "carnal Christian" theme around the globe is Dr. Tony Evans. All of the quotations from Dr. Evans' contained in this article are excerpted from his pamphlet The Carnal Christian. In opposition to historic Christianity Dr. Evans gathers his carnal Christian theory from three solitary verses in first Corinthians chapter three:
"Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly-mere infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men?" 1 Cor 3:1-3
"Notice that Paul calls them brethren," wrote Dr. Evans, "which means that he believed they were a part of the family of God...it is possible," insists the learned Dr. Evans, "to be on your way to heaven but be of no earthly good because you compromise your faith." Tony Evans is correct dear reader, Paul did call the Corinthians "brethren" and this does indeed mean "that he believed they were a part of the family of God." From this passage, however, Tony Evans dives headlong into a gurgling cauldron of scripturally unfounded assertions:
- "The author is writing to Christians. He's also talking about people with hard hearts-the kind of person who, while stealing a car, would kill the woman sitting in it."
- [The carnal Christian] "is a sick Christian, attempting to keep one foot planted in two mutually-exclusive worlds."
Because Paul called the Corinthians "brethren" and "carnal" (or worldly) does it follow that they had the option to remain such and still enter the kingdom of God as Tony Evans assumes? The answer is plainly - No. Carnality was not an option for the Corinthians or for us. Paul's rebuke to the "carnal" in 1 Corinthians 3 is further clarified later in the same book (though Dr. Evans does not mention it):
"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
The inspired writers aren't the only teachers to snub the "carnal Christian." No trace of this teaching can be found in any writer or historical church creed that I have examined. From the Ante-Nicene believers such as Polycarp, Clement of Rome or Ireneaus to the Westminster Confession no carnal Christian belief can be established. And from James Arminius to John Calvin no carnal Christian affirmation may be seen. And from Jonathan Edwards to John Wesley or from Charles Finney to George Whitefield no carnal Christian doctrine is included. Dr. Anthony T. (Tony) Evans' carnal Christian is simply false.
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