Carnal Babes

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1 Corinthians 3:1–7 NKJV And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? For when one says, "I am of Paul," and another, "I am of Apollos," are you not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.

What it is speaking to me:

I am 10. I'm attending a church conference that my church is participating in. Several speakers are sharing. At the top of my notes from that conference, I gave each speaker a rating on a 1–10 scale. Looking back, I gave higher scores to the more dynamic, louder preachers — or the funnier ones.

I was 10 years old.

I am 20. I lead worship. People come to me and say they love when I lead, that I'm better than some of the others who lead. I don't affirm their criticism of others, and I feel awkward with the praise, but inside I am flattered.

I was 20 years old.

I am 30. I had started preaching a few years before, and I am not great. People are generally encouraging to my face, but in a community church you hear things, and it gets back to me that people really prefer when our senior pastor preaches. I agree with them (he is awesome), but it stings a little.

I was 30 years old.

I am nearly 40. People want to know when certain worship leaders or preachers are scheduled so they can decide when to show up. Christians I meet tell me why their church is best — best for worship, best for theology, or how their preachers are next level. Now I see all this for what it really is.

I am nearly 40 years old.

The questions, the preferences, even my own reactions to the praise and the criticism: these are the actions of the "carnal babes" Paul describes. People place their preferences in a worship leader, a music style, a favorite local or internet preacher, or even pet doctrines above the worship of God and the message of God. And it's all carnal. Paul, the apostle, says: "Who am I? I planted, another watered, God gave the increase. Neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God."

We should delight in the worship of God regardless of who leads the music. Our ability or desire to worship depending on the worship leader, the style of music, or the quality of the band says very little about them and a great deal more about us.

We should feast on the Word of God and His message for us regardless of who is preaching it. Our ability or desire to receive from someone based on their style or skill as a preacher says very little about them and a lot more about us.

We can worship with anyone. We can hear from anyone.

Otherwise, we are just a bunch of 10-year-olds handing out ratings.

What is it saying to you?

Have you been guilty of this in your past? When did you grow out of it?

Are you guilty of it now?

What are we going to do about it?

Don't be carnal babes.