Can biblical ignorance make a believer a shame to God?
Yes, a believer's lack of biblical knowledge can bring shame before God. The carnal, fleshly condition described in 1 Corinthians 3 leaves believers as babes in Christ, unable to receive deeper truth. God desires spiritual maturity and the knowledge of God, which He commends as faithful service.
Les explains that 1 Corinthians 3 addresses a carnal, fleshly church, not spiritual believers. They were still babes in Christ, so they were fed milk and not meat because they could not bear deeper truth. Yet Les stresses that the Holy Spirit would not have prompted this heavy writing if it were too much for them; it is for every believer, even the babes in Christ. The problem was their carnality—they could not get excited about the deep things. God does not want people to remain fleshly and carnal; He wants them spiritual and enjoying the knowledge of God. The closing challenge is whether a believer is a shame to God because of biblical ignorance or is one whom God will call a good and faithful servant.