1 Corinthians 3:3 - "Carnal Christians"

For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? (KJV)

Then: This word carnal slings across the room as the absolute worst epithet in Christianity. A carnal Christian is a contradiction. Paul means that the Corinthians are on the edge of not being Christian at all. The accusation hits them as Paul delineates: envying, strife and divisions. They have blocked the wisdom of the Holy Spirit from their hearts and minds. It's high time they grew up, passed the toddler stage and walked like those who were followers of Christ. Baker (p. 52) defines "carnal" as sinful nature." The word means flesh (meat as in the word "carnivorous"). For Paul, it describes a moral, ethical failure (Morris, p. 62).

Now: Sometime in Bible study and spiritual growth, every believer learns to abhor being carnal or fleshly. The goal is knowing the mind of Christ and serving him accordingly. It is a shame to exhibit actions close to Paul's description - not in the beginning, the initial stage of following him, but later, after years of calling on his name. All Christians have access to his strength and his wisdom and can do what is right. They can grow up. They want to do that and Christ wants it.

Extra Source: Cornerstone Biblical Commentary 1 Corinthians (William Baker), 2 Corinthians (Ralph Martin & Carl Toney), ed. by Philip Comfort. Carol Stream: Tyndale House Publishers, c2006.
The First epistle of Paul to the Corinthians: an introduction and commentary by Leon Morris (Grand Rapids MI: Eerdmans Pub., c1985, 2002) on line at http://books.google.com/books?id=lNc0AYIqQvAC&dq=Corinthians+Morris&printsec=frontcover&source=bl&ots=NwNTeWfd4I&sig=XgqcdeZIJ7jIfOrxTT7PUqQqo_4&hl=en&ei=F-MkS82TPIvWlAfW55D-CQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CAwQ6AEwATgK#v=onepage&q=&f=false