Anthony T. (Tony) Evans: Carnal Christianity
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by: DanielLaLondJr.
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Word Count: 520
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
Dr. Evans writes, "Notice that Paul calls them brethren, which means that he believed they were a part of the family of God...it is possible to be on your way to heaven but be of no earthly good because you compromise your faith." Indeed, Paul did call the Corinthians "brethren" and this does mean "that he believed they were a part of the family of God." From this isolated text, however, Dr. Anthony T. (Tony) Evans jumps head first into a bubbling vat of biblically baseless claims. Dr. Evans describes the characteristics of this unbeliever masterfully cloaked in "carnal Christian" attire:
- "Simply defined, carnality is a spiritual state in which a born-again Christian knowingly, willingly, intentionally and persistently lives to please and serve self rather than Jesus Christ."
- [The carnal Christian] "is a sick Christian, attempting to keep one foot planted in two mutually-exclusive worlds."
Does Paul's reference to the Christians at Corinth as "brethren" and "carnal" (or worldly) automatically mean that they might remain carnal and unrepentant and yet be welcomed into paradise as Dr. Evans imagines? The answer: not a chance. Remaining in an unrepentant, carnal state wasn't an alternative for the Corinthians. Paul's reproof of the "carnal" in 1 Corinthians 3 is spelled out in greater detail soon after in the same book (note that Tony Evans ignores this passage):
"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 "carnal Christian" isn't taught in the bible and not even a hint of this doctrine may be seen in any confession or teacher that I have studied. It's not found in the Ante-Nicene writings, the Westminster Confession or the Baptist Confession of 1689. Neither is it found in the works of Luther, Arminius, Calvin, Edwards, Whitefield, Wesley or Finney. Dr. Anthony T. Evans' "carnal Christian" is fantasy not theology.
About the Author
Daniel LaLond Jr.'s book, The Lying Promise, has 400 pages, over 800 footnotes and 3 appendices. In it LaLond tests the teaching of Tony Evans The Lying Promise also debunks dogmas such as the carnal Christian.
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