Am a carnal Christian?

on Jun 26, 2026

Holy Spirit, stained glass, church window. Dreamstime/TCA

From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham

Q: A friend of mine described me as a carnal Christian. I’m not sure if she was putting me down or giving me a compliment. When I asked her, she told me to look it up, and when I did, I wasn’t very encouraged. The Bible is too complicated for me to read. Is there a carnal way to understand its meaning? Because if it is really bad, I don’t want to be in that category. – C.P.

A: A carnal Christian is a person who continually grieves the Holy Spirit by living a worldly life. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian church, “I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:1, NKJV).

For many that fall into such a category, there perhaps was a time when they lived as a consecrated Christian. A great fire burned in the heart for God and the things of God, seeking after the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Then something happened along the way, greatly disturbing the relationship with God – no longer knowing the joy, having the peace, and walking with Him daily.

How does this happen? Many times, it’s because a person has truly never repented of their sin and received Christ as Savior and Lord. For others, they may have ceased from communing with God in prayer, stopped reading Scripture, and desiring to walk with Him every step through life – causing interest in the things of God to wane. When there is an aching in the soul, it is the Holy Spirit disturbing your thoughts and convicting your heart. Listen to the voice of the Lord saying, “Come back to Me.”

It is the Holy Spirit who brings about conviction of sin. Repentance cannot take place unless first there is a movement of the Holy Spirit in the heart and soul.

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(This column is based on the words and writings of the late Rev. Billy Graham.)