Tony Evans: The Carnal Christian
by: DanielLaLondJr.
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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:
"I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to babes in Christ. 2 I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, 3 for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere 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 fleshly- minded Christian. Such people live only to please themselves-forget about serving or submitting to Christ."
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
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.
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 doctrine of Tony Evans The Lying Promise also critiques doctrines such as the carnal Christian.
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