Where did the idea that there are two kinds of Christians, carnal and spiritual, come from? It apparently originated in the mind of a dispensationist, yeah, that's right, a dispensationist. His name? L.S. Chafer.
Two kinds of Christians? Might just as well rewrite Romans 8 - you know, like put a whole lot of qualifying statements in there. For example: Romans 8:14 - For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God... should read "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God (though some might go on to be carnal, and therefore this verse should not necessarily be used to define all Christians) these are the sons of God".
You get the point.
A great paper on the subject can be found here...
http://electexiles.wordpress.com/2008/05/06/history-of-the-lordship-salvation-controversy/
Happy reading!
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From the paper...
"Hence, Chafer saw two great spiritual changes taking place in Christian’s lives: “the change from the ‘natural man’ to the saved man, and the change from the ‘carnal’ man to the spiritual man” (He that is Spiritual, 8)."
Some more from the paper...
"Chafer’s theology reflects the movement of removing repentance from the gospel call and placing it in the arena of sanctification. (Randall Gleason, “B. B. Warfield and Lewis S. Chafer on Sanctification,” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 40.2, 250)."
Yeah, a great contribution. The FGT movement stands proudly on his shoulders.
No wonder regeneration gets minimized. A new nature? Not necessarily.
Thanks, Lewis!
Mark,
Good post. I think this carnal Christian concept is shown to be ridiculus in our June 30 and July 1 posts where a real live atheist left comments on our blog. According to this carnal Christian nonsense, this atheist is a saved man. He mocks Christianity and actively blogs to refute it at every opportunity and yet Zane Hodges and his zealous followers assert that he is saved and eternally secure.
If this is true this would be total failure on the part of the Holy Spirit to regenerate, indwell, and sanctify this man!
I agree with what you are saying but wonder what you would have called David if you were his neighbor. My guess is you would have condemned him to hell? He didn't commit adultery and have the husband killed on a weekend?? His "sin" or carnality went on for a long time.
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