Carnal Christian

Last week I caught up with a friend whom I have not seen in a few months. When we meet each time, I usually ask him, " how's your spiritual walk? " His answer would be, " I have been praying and reading the bible. " Then I would reply that I was asking about his state of being, his relationship with Jesus and not what he does. Strangely enough, my friend will looks at me confused at this stage. We will then have to observe a minute of awkward silence before 'normal' conversation continues.

That is, until last week. When his reply was simply, 'I think Eric, I have not grown, at all."

The simple confession was powerful and I was almost at a lost for words. Almost. I said, in a most candid way, "I know. We all know. We could tell. " He replied, "You all did?" And then we all laughed. I know because I've fooled myself many times this way too. Many of us do. And if we're honest to ourselves, we all do.

You see, I think my friend was loving Jesus in an 'intellectual' way but he wasn't able to 'feel' him. What I told him next may make you fall down from a chair... I told him that he should be a carnal christian.

He was shocked beyond belief. Are you kidding? All these years we were taught that christians are meant to avoid lust, greed, sloth... etc and here I am saying that you should be carnal.

And by carnal, I don't mean lust, greed and sloth... but almost. You see, being a christian has a lot to do with EATING. Eat from the Tree of Life god says. Eat the bread of life and drink the forgiveness of sins. TASTE and SEE that the Lord is Good. It also has a lot to do with carnal feelings. More than once, God has told us to ask that our JOY be made complete. LOVE Him, Love people. Rejoice. Shalom peace. Feeling words. Carnal words.

No one can tell you how delicious a meal is until you have experienced it yourself. It's like a kiss, it's like a bite of cheese, or that first bite of steamy nasi lemak or ckt. I can show you pictures but it ain't the same if you haven't experienced it yourself.

I think the christian walk is like that too. Taste and see that the Lord is good. Taste Him. Experience him. Don't just 'think about it'. Live life. Live life. Experiment with Him. And when we have drunk the best wine - the son of God, Jesus - before we know it, we'll be drunk in the Spirit.