Wow! thank you so much for this one! I've been struggling for so long with a black and white mindset that I feel like I've been going crazy. I've been focused so much on my actions and proving my faith by my works that I started to forget Christ and feel like I wasn't saved at all. I see now, the question shouldn't be 'is this right? or is this wrong?' but 'does this exalt Christ?' I'm gonna focus on Him from now on.
The biggest problem in Western churches nowadays is that they go on and on and on and on about how a Christian is supposed to act, but they never explain how you get to become like that. They focus on the outward appearances and never identify the complex psychological processes that cause the external behaviours. The fact is that the only way you are ever going to be able to obey God is if your mind is saturated with wonder for Him, for who He is and all that He has done for us. Take the focus off of yourself and put it on God and your life will change. Stay away from people who go on and on and on and on about sin but hardly ever tell you about the love of God, about the beauty of this world, and the good things that come from following His commandments. For we don't obey God out of fear, we obey Him because our life will go well for us if we do. It is a completely different motivation.
“Enjoy God’s good gifts with thankfulness to make much of him and his grace and his generosity, and deny yourself in order to defeat sinful bondage, and show that the giver is more precious to you than the gift.”
Very good teaching. There is a place for asceticism in the Christian life, but there are also times when we should avoid asceticism and enjoy God's good gifts.
"But I bruise my body and make it my slave, lest possibly, after I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified." 1 Cor 9:27 The true believer understands that self-denial is for the purpose of sanctification, not salvation.
Read: St Anthony the great St Paul the Anchorite St Macarius St Moses the black St Nofer St Pachomius St Paphnutius St Shenote St Severus of Antoich St Athanasius St Samuel the Confessor Elijah Anna the prophetess John the baptist
I don't know that I would call it treating the body "harshly" in St Anthony's case, because when he emerged from his period of isolation after only consuming a so-called "harsh and simple" diet of bread water and salt everyone was amazed he was in excellent physical condition and in rude health.............so no for him it wasn't harsh in its effects.
Asceticism??? (me being a critic) What is the percentage of people that can give the right definition of asceticism? I can't. ( I am in the majority, I think) Is it self denial? You would do better to explain this up-front. kapeesh?
Pastor John please answer this, Does God choose some for heaven and throw some to hell? I don't think so, it based on every individual's choice. Does God calls us Repented sinners? Are we still have free will? I think we have free will. What do you say?
The Bible both says we have free will, and that we have been predestined from before the creation of the world. Both are true. It's like having the free will to choose your course through a maze; God chose to make you and the maze, and knew how you would act when He made you, so He chose what the outcome of creation would be before it even started- but you, not having God's perspective of seeing the entirety of time before it began, must choose for yourself what you will do and are responsible for your actions. Your choice is affected by God's design.
Col 2 ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ ²⁰ If you died with Christ to the elemental forces of this world, why do you live as if you still belonged to the world? Why do you submit to regulations: ²¹ Don't handle, don't taste, don't touch"? ²² All these [regulations] refer to what is destroyed by being used up; they are human commands and doctrines. ²³ Although these have a reputation of wisdom by promoting ascetic practices, humility, and severe treatment of the body, they are not of any value against fleshly indulgence.
You need to work on this one. You said asceticism has a place in Christian life but I think most viewers missed it. I feel like you danced around the issue because so many are gluttons of everything in this world.
"Is There a Place for Asceticism in the Christian Life" Kind Sir, I would say "NO!". With NO disrespect atoll; to you or any others... Please consider this: Matthew 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. Matthew 22:38 This is the first and great commandment. Matthew 22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Matthew 22:40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. Now let's ask this Brethren, "WHO: from Adam and Eve until today; that has EVER really fulfilled these Jesus' words?". I would say NO to be truthful. Yes there is some that are close to that; as I tried for 84 yrs (90 April 5th). But I believe Jesus would say, "Sorry, you didn't make it pat! And that is why I came to this earth to Save you and all others. Because I knew BEFORE Creation; that satan's power to tempt you to sin; would cause you to never come close enough to me; where i would totally remove satan's powerful temptational Sinful 'desires'; forced on you and all the others" Thus "I ask ONLY that you believe IN me, my child; that 'I AM' the Messiah (Savior in English); even though most others say I am NOT. But 'I AM that I AM who sent you Moses'! And I told you that I WAS the only way...And I also inspired John to write these verses too"... Exodus 3:14 And God (who IS Jesus) said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. John 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Again kind Sir...No disrespect towards you and others...But This is what I believe: "To the 4 corners of the World!". Could I be wrong? ABSOLUTELY YES! But all others could be wrong ALSO... In any case Brethren, Please Pray OFTEN and Praise Jesus OFTEN; for He is the ONLY true "God Almighty"; there will ever have been. And may Jesus bless you and yours always. AMEN!
Ascetic in a minimalist lifestyle. Suffering, as in believing in and living in faith. It is not easy. Developing "will power" and having discipline. Athletes are ascetic in nature and many spiritualists "will" with there mind, the ability to believe in yourself. That is the main gospel on the Bible right? The ascetic lifestyle is taken way out of context when referred to as "mutilation of the body". That's bogus.
