We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man’s judgment:

1 Corinthians 2:12-15

We must be clear.  We are not to judge those outside of the church, but we are called to judge those inside it (1 Corinthians 5:12).  Those outside are sinners, and we expect them to act like sinners.  If they sin, it is their nature to sin, and we do not do well if we point fingers at the unregenerate, just as we do well not to fit into them, for there is no fellowship between light and dark.  Likewise, when we enter into soulish, or carnal, judgement against a brother, failing to discern the Lord’s body, we do sin.  Jesus said, “I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.” (John 5:30).  He did not use His own mind or understanding to judge, but He judged according to the Spirit, and was right when He prophesied judgement on the Pharisees, on Jerusalem, and on the cities that would not hear His Gospel.

Yet, Paul made it clear that the man of the flesh cannot receive the things of God, for they are spiritually discerned.  Not will not, cannot.  Jesus said it this way, that those who are not born again cannot see nor enter the Kingdom of Heaven (John 3:3-5).

When we, therefore, attempt to make a thing of the Spirit “relevant”, that is to the spirit of the world, the culture, or even the nominal, or non-spirit-filled believer, we forfeit the grace of living by the Spirit.  As Paul said, He could not talk to some as spiritual, but as babes, as carnal.  Not having learned to discern the Spirit from the flesh, they lived in constant quarrels, factions, and other works of the flesh.

When we attempt to be “relevant” to anything other than the Gospel, and to the Spirit of Christ, we lose our spiritual eye-sight.  By esteeming the spirit of the world and the age as higher than that of the Eternal, we enter into the idolatry of unbelief, believing in the wisdom of men, rather than that of God.

This is the basic heart of the Gospel, to free us from this life.  Jesus said, unless we hate this life, we cannot be His disciple (Luke 14:26).  And,

He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal.

John 12:25

We cannot be “relevant” or fit in with this age.  We must exist, and be in this world, but the Gospel is of the Spirit of God, and is not the flesh (John 6:63).

All focus that sets the eyes of the heart and mind primarily upon the things of this age, the structure, the format, and the feel of a service or corporate body to the soul and how much it appeals to us is flawed from the get-go.

We must be a spiritual people.  We must be about the things of the Spirit.  For, if we live by the flesh we will die, but if by the Spirit, we will live.

This, of course, will not make sense to someone who is more accustomed to living by their flesh and what their eyes can see than by the Spirit.  Just as above, the things of the Spirit are spiritually discerned.  But, it must be seen, eventually, that those who have the working of the Holy Spirit in their midst, that regularly have His presence, and whose Word comes forth not as a man, but as Spirit and Life, with the anointing and unction of the Holy Spirit, have a marked difference.  The activity of God in their midst can be seen demonstrated in the signs and miracles, but is most clearly distinguished from the rest (Biblically) by their love for one another.

That is, the church without it can make a great deal about love, and they can and may make it further than some, but even the world can sing “All we need is love”, and then kill their brother.  Ignore their brother.  They can hold benefit concerts for “the poor”, but really, it is just a concert.  It is just to make themselves feel good.  But, when the cross comes, who can stand?

The only “relevant” that is pleasing the Lord, and the same is said of pure and undefiled religion, is this, to look after widows and orphans in their time of distress and to keep oneself unspotted from the world (James 1:27).

The Spiritual man makes judgement about all things, and is judged by no one.  The whole substance of “relevance” is relevant to the humanistic nature of man.  The whole purpose of attempting to be acceptable to another human makes the whole of any organization that claims it an enemy with God (James 4:4)!  Any church or group that claims or endeavors to be relevant is not following the Spirit of Christ.

When you enter the land which the LORD your God gives you, you shall not learn to imitate the detestable things of those nations.

Deuteronomy 18:9

The point is not a soulish judgement, or a railing accusation, but a right appraisal of the Spirit of Truth.  Jesus said that these signs would follow those that believe, they would heal the sick, cleanse the leper, raise the dead, and cast out demons.  How many groups, claiming to be churches that are relevant, even believe in the power of God to heal? (2 Timothy 3:1-5).

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.

Galatians 5:16

Until we learn to live by the Spirit, discern both good and evil (Hebrews 5:14), and learn to walk in true Faith, not only for salvation but for life, we are yet babes.