For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. (Romans 8:5-8)
This makes perfect sense to me for the first time.
To "mind" is to be mindful, conscious or obedient. When it says "after the" refer back to 8:1 where those who are not condemned ...walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit and go back further to understand what this means. Romans contrasts two groups of people. Those who are "after the flesh" and those who are "after the Spirit". This passages explains this contrast a little.
The "after the flesh" group are mindful, conscious and obedient to tangible (fleshly) things. They are mindful of their reputation among their community. They are conscious of "how well" they are doing compared to other people. They are obedient to the rules and mores of their community. In an upstanding community these people will seem very "Christian" in a "Gangsta" community these people will seem abhorrent.
The "after the Spirit" group are mindful, conscious and obedient to intangible (spirit) things, this passage may be referring specifically to the Holy Spirit. Either way, they are mindful of their reputation with the ruler of the universe and the rest of its inhabitants though they cannot see them or hear them. They are conscious of their complete failure to live up to God's perfect standard but also conscious of the fact that Jesus is their only sure hope for restoration. They are obedient to the laws and counsel (advice) of God although they are not as obedient as they know they should be, but they want to change. In every community these people are recognised as "weird" and "too religious" and frequently as "legalistic" but by those who truly know them they are loved and respected (unlike those who deserve these descriptions) because of their practical demonstration of genuine love. Sometimes they are not yet this distinct, but everyone who is "after the Spirit" will be as peculiar as this soon enough.
To be carnally minded, to think like the world, to intentionally "fit in" to your community, is death. It will surely lead you to lose the chance for eternal life, even if your community is a monastery. You must not be led by your community, you must be led by God.
To be spiritually minded, to take unseen things into account, to intentionally "fit in" to God's kingdom even though it hasn't reached us yet, is life and peace. It may lose you your life now, but it will win you a future life of peace that will never end, and also a present life of peace that nobody can take away.
So the carnal mind is enmity against God, even those who live in a "Christian" bubble and like to fit into their "Christian" community are enemies of God for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. Even if you are in a Seventh-day Adventist bubble where the community does actually respect God's law rather than man's law, the person who keeps God's law out of a desire to conform to their community is not subject to the law of God. No matter how obedient your community is to God's law, you must not focus on your community for your sense of self-worth/salvation/goodness/morality. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
If you want to please God, Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. (Colossians 3:2) Read the Bible for yourself praying for the Holy Spirit to teach you, and think about what it means. Then when you have an idea of something relevant to you, get out there are do it! Amen.
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