Thinking for Myself

Thinking for Myself

 

1 Corinthians 3:3–4, For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? 4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

Paul chastised these believers for being “carnal.” They were behaving like ordinary, worldly individuals instead of like Christians guided by God's reign in their experiences! These young believers were dividing themselves into competing supporter groups over Christian leaders like Paul and Apollos.

The believers were still in a carnal or fleshly state of soul. This was evidenced by the fact that there was envy and strife among them. Such behavior is characteristic of the men of this world, but not of those who are led by the Spirit of God.^[1]

“they were acting on a purely human level.”^[2]

“Carnal” means belonging to the flesh or governed by ordinary human impulses (selfishness, ego, and pride) rather than being transformed by the Spirit of God. Paul is not saying they are not saved, but that they are acting like spiritual infants (“babes in Christ”) who haven't grown up.

Instead of mature behavior characterized by humility and concern for others—obedience to God—the Corinthians were infantile, self-centered, and therefore divisive (v. 4; cf. 1:12). They wanted lives of exaltation (4:8) without lives of humiliation (4:9–13) because they did not understand that “Christ … crucified” was a message concerned not only with justification but also with sanctification (cf. Phil. 2:1–8). This misunderstanding was at the root of their disunity (cf. 1 Cor. 1:10; 3:4), which error Paul wanted to correct.^[3]

A sectarian disposition believes a person has been especially called and appointed by God to guard the true faith against false notions. Usually, pastors are responsible for this before God. Sectarianism encompasses belief that one is incumbently obligated to preserve certain ancient ideas while rejecting novelty, contemporary concepts, or new approaches. This is a little tricky because people have different preferences, opinions, and values. Certainly, unity around central doctrines is a fundamental responsibility of each NT Church, but certain values should characterize each ‘Christian’ congregation as well.

The kingdom of God centers on core moral and ethical values that shape how disciples live. These values, known as the Beatitudes, represent “the norms of the kingdom.” Rather than abstract principles, they define a radically different way of being in the world.

The Bible teaches us about the values and principles of the Kingdom of God. These values shape how believers are called to live and interact with each other and the world around us. Again, these values should govern all of God’s people. For instance, righteousness, love, justice, mercy, integrity, humility, compassion, forgiveness, peace, and joy should mark every kingdom subject.

In Romans 14:17 states: “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” The emphasis is on the essence of God’s kingdom transcending dietary laws and focusing more on spiritual qualities like righteousness, peace, and joy, because these are given power by the Holy Spirit.

Once more Matthew 6:33 states: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Jesus emphasizes the importance of prioritizing spiritual pursuits and aligning our life with God’s plan, indicating that material needs will be met incidentally.

“This kingdom is not a physical place, but rather a spiritual reality where God’s will is fully done. Jesus taught his followers to seek first the Kingdom of God and its righteousness. The idea of the kingdom also includes the future establishment of a new heaven and earth where God’s kingdom will be fully realized and visible to all.”—Bible Wisdom Hub

Many people will speak or post on a matter referencing their research mostly, others strictly from their opinion, and yet others will merely regurgitate what they learned in the university. There will be a few who dare to say what God said in the Bible on the matter at hand!

Critically, what matters most to Jesus is how followers practice kingdom values rather than merely understanding them—they must actively embody the kingdom’s message to usher it in. The kingdom welcomes all people regardless of social status or ethnicity, blesses the meek and poor, and creates a community where the humble are exalted, the poor are dignified, and justice, hospitality, and solidarity define relationships. When God’s people live by kingdom principles in any community, God’s kingdom becomes visible there—justice displayed, righteousness established. (See citations below)

Clearly evidence of disunity or division indicate God is not necessarily leading or guiding that endeavor. He is not on the throne of that life! Sometimes ‘kingdom’ subjects have allowed themselves to be influence by something besides God. Perhaps politics, ethnicity, culture, country, religion, identity, or university has cluttered the real issues, and kingdom values are lost in the conflict. The Bible speaks of behaving like mere men (1Cor.3:3, 4). When carnal behaviors (such as “envy, strife, and divisions”) are expressed they are undoubtedly relying on the basic nature of the weak, sinful, human flesh—selfish energy dressed up like ‘holy purpose’ must be the cause.

Such immaturity often evidences a weak and frustrated Believer accompanied by an inferior prayer life, failure to studying the Bible, and limited quality Christian fellowship. A carnal lifestyle increases our vulnerability to temptation and sin even on social media platforms.

A good question to ask ourselves is “Am I living honorably according to God's reign in my life?” One of the best ways to defend the truth is to live the truth. My verbal defense of the gospel will accomplish very little if my life contradicts what I say. How I live out the grace of God is just as important as what I say. We really must return to an open Bible in front of us as we open our minds to God’s Word and our hearts to the truth of the Spirit.

 

 

 

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^[1] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 1754.

^[2] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 1754.

^[3] David K. Lowery, “1 Corinthians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 511.

        4. Bitrus A. Sarma, Drums of Redemption: A New Testament Theology for Africa (Bukuru, Plateau: Hippo Books: An Imprint of ACTS and Langham Publishing, 2023), 83–85.

        5.  Africa Study Bible (Oasis International Ltd, 2016), 1429.

        6.    Joshua T. Searle, Theology After Christendom: Forming Prophets for a Post-Christian World (New York, NY: Cascade Books, 2018).

God Created the Human Race

 

Genesis 1:26-28

Have you thought much about the singular human race lately? With all the talk about race these days you would think there are multiple races. While there are many ethnic groups, there is really only one race—the human race. God only created one! In Genesis 1 and 2, the focus is on how the universe and human beings came into existence and why God created humanity in the first place. In addition Moses also explores how people can conduct themselves and please God with their lives. In this light, let us entertain three questions, why did God create us? How did God make us like himself? How can we please him in everyday living?

Consider what Moses wrote in Genesis 1:26-28,

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. ²⁷ So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. ²⁸ And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.^[1]

In order to answer these questions, we may begin by exploring the use of the word “Man” to refer to the human race. Certainly it refers to the male individual, but it is also used as a broader all-encompassing idea—humanity (Gen. 1:26). It is appropriate to refer to the human race in this manner because the Scriptures do so. With this precedence the term man will represent humanity both male and female. There is no intent to offend the female reader, but simply a desire to be consistent with the biblical usage of the term (Genesis 5:1-2; 1:27). It should also be noted that God did directly create man—he did NOT evolve as some have theorized.

Then let us explore the reason mankind was created. The first thing to understand is that God did not need to create man. God was fulfilled relationally within the fellowship of the Trinity. This was true of God from all eternity (John 17:5, 24). God was and always has been free of any need or unmet desire. Still it is equally true that God created mankind for His glory. This truth is mention several times over in Scripture and communicated in several ways (Isa. 43:7; Eph. 1:11-12; 1Cor. 10:31).  This reality guarantees and gives significance to every human life regardless of ethnicity. All human beings share this all essential purpose and meaning for life. It directly indicates that we are important to God himself; this is the most significant purpose for human life. Again glorifying God is the purpose of human life and by extension the varied ethnic diversity that we have. This truth is rehearsed in a number of the Psalms where the pleasure of man is found in the fellowship and presence of the Lord (Ps. 16:11; 27:4; 73:25, 26; 84:1, 2, 10). When believers realize and explore the purpose of God for their very existence, they will experience an intensity of joy. Giving glory to God is the most right thing any human being can engage in doing. He is worthy of all glory (Rev. 4:11). When people seize glory for themselves it must clearly be considered wrong because people are not worthy of this honor. However, it is entirely right for God to seek his own glory. He is the only one that is worthy.  Each person should invest their entire strength to render glory to him (Mark 12:30).

Not only should we understand how the term “man” is used in Scripture and why man was created, but we can also understand what it means to bear the image of God. The image of God (Gen. 1:26) can be defined as the fact that “man is like God and represents God” (Grudem, 1994, p. 442). Walvoord and Zuck of Dallas Theological Seminary, observed in The Bible Knowledge Commentary, 

Human life was created in (lit., “as,” meaning “in essence as”) the image of God (v. 27). This image was imparted only to humans (2:7). “Image” (ṣelem) is used figuratively here, for God does not have a human form. Being in God’s image means that humans share, though imperfectly and finitely, in God’s nature, that is, in His communicable attributes (life, personality, truth, wisdom, love, holiness, justice), and so have the capacity for spiritual fellowship with Him.

God’s purpose in creating human life in His image was functional: man is to rule or have dominion (Gen. 1:26, 28). God’s dominion was presented by a “representative.” Egyptian kings later, in idolatry, did a similar kind of thing: they represented their rule or dominion by making representative statues of themselves. However, because of sin all things are not under man’s dominion (Heb. 2:8). But Jesus Christ will establish dominion over all the earth (Heb. 2:5-8) at His second coming.

So the image of God involves humanity’s, intellect, emotions, volition, and morality. In the fall of man, the image of God was marred and distorted, but not lost. Even though man is sinful, governed by selfishness, and does not constantly glorify God, he still bears something of God’s image. Salvation is redemption in Jesus Christ is actually an effort to progressively recover God’s image in each believer. This is taught in Colossians 3:10, which says, we are “renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.” Then 2Corintians 3:18, says, “with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the spirit of the Lord.” And Romans 8:29, spells out clearly what the goal of redemption is, “to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the Firstborn among many brethren.” In fact at Christ’s return, the image of God in the believer will be completely restored “we shall also bear the image of the heavenly” (1Cor. 15:49). In the Lord Jesus we see human likeness to God as it was originally was intended to be (Col. 1:15; Rom. 8:29; 1Jn. 3:2).

Furthermore, our great dignity as bearers of God’s image gives us a profound sense of dignity and significance that transcends that of the sun, moon, and stars. We are more like our Creator God than anything in the entire universe including angels. Every human life then should be treated with the dignity and respect no matter how lowly there station in this world. This must be observed especially with the elderly, unborn, mentally retarded, and seriously ill. All of these deserve the full protection of the law and the honor of all human beings. Humans are not animals, but far higher creatures as bearers of the image of an infinite God.

Finally, regarding race and ethnicity, such distinctions should not be over emphasized or underscored. The idea of multiple races is actually rooted in human pride as one ethnic group seeks glory for its members. All the chatter these days about racial distinctions ignore the fundamental fact that God created only one singular race, the human race, with great ethnic diversity. We all descended from Adam and even more specifically, from Noah. Beloved, God created for His glory and not ours nor for any ethnic group. It would be great if we all stop spouting off ill-informed statements like “Black Pride,” and “White Supremacy.” What would be even better is to stop weaponizing race during election cycles to manipulate people to vote a certain way. The unfortunate reality is politicians gain power or remain in power by such abuses; if racial problems cease to be an issue then the race baiters and profiteers will lose their income source and purpose. So, they continue to promote hate, pride, resentment, jealousy, division, and conflict to ensure their relevance for years to come. These people clearly are not interested in real solutions! They view people as victims who need them to rescue them from society at large. These intellectual elites do not care about your needs nor your pain; you are an object to be exploited to their personal advantage. This may be hard for some to read without being frustrated. I have no desire to frustrate you; and yes, sometimes the truth is very uncomfortable. I personally have chosen to live for God’s glory as a member of the human race; my first devotion is to Him and not the ethnic group I belong to. Though that may seem a little strange to some folks, a Christian seeks first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. This is where my deepest loyalties lie...with an eternal people, an eternal kingdom, and a forever King. I invite you to join me in this righteous purpose which has eternal significance.   

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^[1] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Ge 1:26–28). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.