Yes—because Scripture says the carnal mind is enmity against God.
Romans 8:7 states that the carnal mind is enmity against God and cannot be subject to His law. Romans 1:21 and 1:28 add that people refused to glorify God or retain Him in their knowledge, so God gave them over to a reprobate mind. Les Feldick explains that even those who claim to love God have an old Adamic nature that is a natural-born rebel.
Romans 8:7 — This verse directly states that the carnal mind is enmity against God—the core biblical reason people hate Him.
Romans 1:21 — It shows the root: people knew God but would not glorify or thank Him, so their hearts became darkened.
Romans 1:28 — It shows the judicial result: because they refused to retain God in knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind.
Scripture is explicit about the natural hostility of the human mind toward God. Romans 8:7 says, "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." The carnal mind is not merely indifferent—it is actively opposed to God and unable to submit to His law. Romans 1 describes the path of that hostility. When people knew God, they "glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened" (Romans 1:21). They did not want to retain God in their knowledge, so "God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient" (Romans 1:28). The natural mind's rejection of the truth results in divine judgment and a mind given over to unnatural conduct.
Les Feldick teaches that people do not usually stand on a street corner and announce that they hate God. The hatred is rooted in the old Adamic nature, which Romans 8:7 calls "enmity against God." Les says the carnal or old Adamic mind is a natural-born rebel that refuses to admit sin or obey God's commands, and a rebel is an enemy. He points to Romans 1 to show the beginning of that rebellion: a person may not bow to an idol, but an idolatrous heart and anti-God attitude put something else in God's place. When they refuse to retain God in their knowledge, God acts judicially and gives them over to a reprobate mind. Even respectable, law-abiding citizens were enemies of God before grace, Les explains, because their old Adamic nature could not please God. Les uses a real example—a woman who said "I hate God" when confronted by God's demands—to show that people can maintain a good outward veneer, but when pressed, their true enmity surfaces. He stresses that God hates the sin but loves the sinner and stands ready to save.
The Bible says the carnal mind is "enmity against God" (Romans 8:7). Les explains that the carnal or old Adamic mind is a natural-born rebel: it refuses to do what God says, refuses to admit sin, and refuses to acknowledge a spiritual need. That rebellion makes a person an enemy of God, even if they would never say "I hate God." Les further explains that people can keep old Adam under control with a good veneer, but when they are confronted by God's demands, their true colors appear.
Les teaches that the lifestyle described in Romans 1 begins with an idolatrous heart and an anti-God attitude. That does not require bowing to a Buddha or an idol; rather, something else takes God's place in a person's thinking. Romans 1:21 shows the same truth: people knew God but did not glorify Him or give thanks, and their foolish heart was darkened. This suppression of the truth is what moves into outright enmity.
According to Les, yes. He notes that many good people in Oklahoma or anywhere else will say, "No, I don't hate God; I love God; I believe in Him." But Les says the book does not lie: their old Adamic nature is still a rebel, and a rebel is an enemy. Whether they know it or admit it, the Bible says their carnal mind is at enmity with God. Les is quick to add that this is not a judgmental attack; it is simply what the Word of God says about the natural man.
Romans 1:28 says that when they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind to do things that are not natural or normal. Les explains that this is a judicial act of God—God steps back and lets the mind go beyond the bounds of what strengthens a community or society. The verses that follow give a vivid description of what the community looks like when that happens.
Idolatrous Heart and Anti-God Attitude
Les explains that a lifestyle of rejecting God begins with an idolatrous heart and some form of anti-God attitude, even if there is no literal idol.
Beneath the Veneer: 'I Hate God'
Les uses a woman's outburst 'I hate God' to show that people may keep the old Adamic nature under control, but when confronted by God's demands, their true enmity surfaces.
Mankind's Failure to Glorify God
Les points to Romans 1:21 showing that although people knew God, they did not glorify or thank Him, and their foolish heart was darkened by a judicial act of God.
Rebellion Makes an Enemy
Les equates the rebellious carnal mind with enmity against God—people are God's enemies because they refuse to admit sin and obey Him.
Claiming Love While Being an Enemy
Les says many people insist they love God, but the old Adamic nature is a natural-born rebel, and the book says such people are enemies regardless of their words.
The Carnal Mind Is Enmity
Les shows from Romans 8:7 that the unsaved carnal person is at enmity with God, even though they would deny hating or detesting Him.
Even 'Good People' Were God's Enemies
Les reminds listeners that before grace, even honest, respectable citizens were enemies of God because the carnal mind is not subject to His law.
God Gives Over to a Reprobate Mind
Les draws attention to Romans 1:28 as the judicial consequence for those who refuse to retain God in their knowledge—God gives them over to a reprobate mind.
Romans 8:7: Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
This is the core biblical statement that the natural mind is hostile to God and unable to obey His law.
Romans 1:21: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
This shows that hatred of God begins with refusing to honor and thank Him, leading to a darkened heart.
Romans 1:28: And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
This is God's judicial response to those who suppress the knowledge of Him.
Scripture says the carnal mind is enmity against God (Romans 8:7). People are born with old Adam's rebellious nature, and when they refuse to glorify God or retain Him in their knowledge, that hostility shows itself—sometimes openly, sometimes only when God's demands confront them.
Yes. Les Feldick points out that before grace, even law-abiding, respected citizens were enemies of God because the carnal mind is not subject to God's law. Their outward behavior may be good, but their old Adamic nature is still a rebel.
Romans 1:28 says that when people do not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gives them over to a reprobate mind. It is a judicial act that removes restraints, leading to conduct that is not natural or normal.
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