For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.–Romans 8:6,7

There is a difference between being carnally minded and having a carnal thought.  All have carnal thoughts, but not all are carnally minded.  Every unbeliever is carnally minded and every believer is spiritually minded.  What is the difference between a carnal thought and a carnal mind?  To be carnally minded means to have a heart for carnal things; to be agreeable to carnal ways; to approve of carnal values; to have a purpose for carnal goals.  A believer cannot be of a carnal mind!  Carnal thoughts may invade his thinking, but he cannot have a heart for them, agree with them, approve of them, or guide his life by them.  Why?  Such thoughts are offensive to him; he is of another mind! the spiritual mind.

This holds true whether the carnal thoughts be of a moral or immoral nature; religious or irreligious.  In the passage from Romans 8, the issue one's approach God.  There is a carnally minded approach to God and that approach is deadly.  This approach is contrary to God's law of "the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus (that is, the gospel) and is a hostile assault against the glory, justice, mercy and love of God.  It is the carnal mind of self-righteous works under the law of Sinai.  Such a one may look very spiritual, indeed, to those who see him; but the heart of one who follows this fleshly approach to God is full of sin, guilt, and God-hatred.  His life is death and conflict.

But, the one who believes, whose entire hope of glory is Christ and him crucified, is spiritually minded.  His approach to God is honoring to God, in complete agreement with God, submissive to His "Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus," and, his heart is pure and free from guilt for the blood of Christ has set him free from the law of sin and death.  His spiritual approach to God is life and peace.  He is not in conflict with God, and, being justified by faith, he has peace with God.  This is the spiritual mind!