THE TEMPTATION TO ASCETICISM
MATTHEW 17:1-9
LET’S BEGIN BY A DEFINITION OF WHAT ASCETICISM IS.
NOUN
1. THE MANNER OF LIFE, PRACTICES, OR PRINCIPLES OF AN ASCETIC.
2. THE DOCTRINE THAT A PERSON CAN ATTAIN A HIGH SPIRITUAL AND MORAL STATE BY PRACTICING SELF-DENIAL, SELF-MORTIFICATION, AND THE LIKE.
3. RIGOROUS SELF-DENIAL; EXTREME ABSTINENCE; AUSTERITY.
SOME PEOPLE VIEW SELF-MUTILATION AS A FORM OF ASCETICISM, USING PAIN TO DENY THEM PLEASURE.
ASCETICISM IS NOT A RETREAT FOR A SHORT TIME. IT IS A PRO-LONGED WITHDRAWAL FROM PEOPLE.
A TIME OF RETREAT CAN BE VERY PROFITABLE TO A CHURCH. IT CAN ALLOW IT’S MEMBERS A TIME OF CONCENTRATED TEACHING, AND CAN LEAD TO A DEEP ENCOUNTER WITH EACH OTHER AND WITH GOD.
JESUS WOULD OFTEN HAVE TIMES OF RETREAT WITH HIS DISCIPLES FOR THIS PURPOSE. THE PASSAGE HERE IN MATTHEW IS ONE SUCH TIME.
ASCETICISM IS A MUCH DIFFERENT KETTLE OF FISH. SELF-MUTILIATION IS RARELY PRACTICED NOW, BUT THE IDEA OF WITHDRAWING FROM THE WORLD, AND BEING IN TOUCH WITH THE WORLD IS WIDESPREAD. THE TRAP OF ASCETICISM IS THAT IT CAN BE SAID THAT WE ARE DOING THIS WITHDRAWAL FOR PROPER CHRISTIAN REASONS.
IS ASCETICISM SINFUL?
YES, BECAUSE IT HAS AS IT’S BASIS AS DOES MOST THINGS A CONCEPT OF PRIDE. THE INDIVIDUAL IS WITHDRAWING TO ESSENTIALLY BENEFIT THEMSELVES.
ASCETICISM MAKES US LIKE A SPONGE. WE WIND UP TAKING IN GREAT AMOUNTS OF INFORMATION AND EXPERIENCES, BUT DO NOT SHARE THEM WITH ANYONE. THEY ARE JUST FOR US. SELIFISHNESS IS THEREFORE A BYPRODUCT OF ASCETICISM.
EVENTUALLY, LIKE THE SPONGE WE WILL BECOME WATERLOGGED. A SPONGE CAN TAKE IN ONLY SO MUCH WATER BEFORE IT NEEDS TO BE WRUNG OUT, WE CAN ONLY TAKE IN ONLY SO MUCH INFORMATION, WITHOUT PROCESSING IT AND SHARING IT.
THE PASSAGE THAT WE ARE STUDYING TODAY IS AN EXAMPLE OF ASCETICISM.
“1 ¶ SIX DAYS LATER JESUS TOOK PETER AND THE TWO BROTHERS, JAMES AND JOHN, AND LED THEM UP A HIGH MOUNTAIN TO BE ALONE. 2 AS THE MEN WATCHED, JESUS’ APPEARANCE WAS TRANSFORMED SO THAT HIS FACE SHONE LIKE THE SUN, AND HIS CLOTHES BECAME AS WHITE AS LIGHT. 3 SUDDENLY, MOSES AND ELIJAH APPEARED AND BEGAN TALKING WITH JESUS. 4 PETER BLURTED OUT, “LORD, IT’S WONDERFUL FOR US TO BE HERE! IF YOU WANT, I’LL MAKE THREE SHELTERS AS MEMORIALS-ONE FOR YOU, ONE FOR MOSES, AND ONE FOR ELIJAH.’’ 5 BUT EVEN AS HE SPOKE, A BRIGHT CLOUD CAME OVER THEM, AND A VOICE FROM THE CLOUD SAID, “THIS IS MY DEARLY LOVED SON, WHO BRINGS ME GREAT JOY. LISTEN TO HIM.’’ 6 THE DISCIPLES WERE TERRIFIED AND FELL FACE DOWN ON THE GROUND. 7 THEN JESUS CAME OVER AND TOUCHED THEM. “GET UP,’’\ HE SAID. “DON’T BE AFRAID.’’\ 8 AND WHEN THEY LOOKED, THEY SAW ONLY JESUS. 9 AS THEY WENT BACK DOWN THE MOUNTAIN, JESUS COMMANDED THEM, “DON’T TELL ANYONE WHAT YOU HAVE SEEN UNTIL THE SON OF MAN HAS BEEN RAISED FROM THE DEAD.’’\”
WHAT CAN WE SAY ABOUT THIS EXPERIENCE?
IT WAS: INTENSE
PERSONAL
MEMORABLE
PRIDEFUL
WHEN A RETREAT IS PROPERLY OBSERVED IT WILL BE: MISSIONAL
BUILD PERSONAL COMMITMENT & TRUTH
LEAD TO EVANGELISM
PAUL SAID:
2 TIMOTHY 1:12: “THAT IS WHY I AM SUFFERING HERE IN PRISON. BUT I AM NOT ASHAMED OF IT, FOR I KNOW THE ONE IN WHOM I TRUST, AND I AM SURE THAT HE IS ABLE TO GUARD WHAT I HAVE ENTRUSTED TO HIM UNTIL THE DAY OF HIS RETURN.”
PAUL’S STATEMENT INDICATES A PROCESS BY WHICH HE DETERMINED FOR HIMSELF THE AUTHENTICITY OF CHRISTIANITY, AND MADE A CONSCIOUS DECISION TO GIVE HIS LIFE TO CHRIST. HE WAS PERSUADED TO BE COMMITTED. IT IS THROUGH THAT SAME TYPE OF PERSUASION THAT WE WILL BUILD THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
POINT ONE: THE TRAP OF ASCETICISM
LIKE MANY OF THE TRAPS OF SATAN, ASCETICISM COMES IN A BEAUTIFULLY WRAPPED PACKAGE. SATAN CAN WRAP THE TRAP OF ASCETICISM IN MANY THINGS, FAMILY, WORK, AND EVEN THE CHURCH.
CONSIDER THIS. ONCE YOU BECOME A CHRISTIAN, SATAN HAS NO MORE DOMINION OVER YOU. YOU ARE NOT HIS ANYMORE. HIS NEXT MOVE IS TO TAKE AWAY ANY VICTORY YOU CAN HAVE IN YOUR LIFE.
1 PETER 5:8 “STAY ALERT! WATCH OUT FOR YOUR GREAT ENEMY, THE DEVIL. HE PROWLS AROUND LIKE A ROARING LION, LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO DEVOUR.”
HE THEN WANTS TO MINIMIZE YOUR IMPACT ON THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW THE LORD. HE DOESN’T CARE IF YOU GO TO CHURCH, HE DOESN’T WANT YOU BRINGING ANYONE WITH YOU, WHEN YOU GO TO CHURCH. HE WANTS YOU TO BE SORT OF LIKE A “BUBBLE BOY”, SOMEONE WHO LIVES IN A PROTECTIVE BUBBLE AND DOES NOT HAVE ANY INTERACTION WITH ANYONE OUTSIDE THAT BUBBLE. THAT IS ASCETICISM. IF HE CAN KEEP ALL THE CHRISTIANS IN THE CHURCH, AND NOT BOTHERING THE REST OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE HIS, THEN HE IS HAPPY AND ACCOMPLISHED HIS GOAL.
LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION, HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE HEARD THIS STATEMENT:
“THAT PERSON IS SO HEAVENLY MINDED THAT THEY ARE NO EARTHLY GOOD?”
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
THE TRAP OF ASCETICISM IS THAT IT LEADS US TO WITHDRAW FROM BEING EVANGELISTIC AND MISSIONAL. WE BECOME ENGROSSED AND IMPRISONED BY OUR CHRISTIANITY, NOT ENGAGED AND CHALLENGED BY IT. WE ARE DEFINITELY NOT FREE IN CHRIST AS WE SHOULD BE.
JOHN 8:32-36:
“32 AND YOU WILL KNOW THE TRUTH, AND THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE.’’\ 33 “BUT WE ARE DESCENDANTS OF ABRAHAM,’’THEY SAID. “WE HAVE NEVER BEEN SLAVES TO ANYONE. WHAT DO YOU MEAN, ’YOU WILL BE SET FREE’?’’ 34 JESUS REPLIED, “I TELL YOU THE TRUTH, EVERYONE WHO SINS IS A SLAVE OF SIN. 35 A SLAVE IS NOT A PERMANENT MEMBER OF THE FAMILY, BUT A SON IS PART OF THE FAMILY FOREVER. 36 SO IF THE SON SETS YOU FREE, YOU ARE TRULY FREE.”
WE HIDE IN OUR CHURCH PROGRAMS AND IN OUR OWN PERSONAL DEVOTIONS. WE PUT ALL OUR TIME IN ON THEM. IF WE DON’T HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS IN A PARTICULAR STUDY WE CONTINUE WITH IT UNTIL WE DO. THE PROBLEM IS THAT WE NEVER HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS. EACH ANSWER BRINGSX WITH IT A NEW SERIES OF QUESTIONS. WE CAN NEVER REACH THE POINT OF SATISFACTION. SHOULD WE EVER REACH THE POINT OF SATISFACTION IN OUR STUDY, WE WILL FEEL GOOD, AND KINGDOM GROWTH WILL BE STAGNANT.
POINT TWO: ASCETICISM – WITHDRAWAL FOR RELIGIOUS REASONS.
WHEN I ATTENDED ACADIA DIVINITY COLLEGE IT HAD THE REPUTATION OF BEING THE “HOLY HUDDLE ON THE HILL.” DIVINITY STUDENTS WOULD GO THERE TO STUDY, FOR CLASSES, TO WORSHIP, BUT HAD VERY LITTLE TO DO WITH THE REST OF THE UNIVERSITY.
LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION. HOW MANY OF YOU WOULD LIKE TO LIVE IN A MONASTERY, A PLACE TOTALLY SHUT OFF FROM THE WORLD?
WITHDRAWING FOR A TIME IS NOT ASCETICISM, NOR IS IT WRONG. WE WITHDRAW FROM THE WORLD DURING OUR SERVICE TIMES, AND WE USE THIS TIME FOR VARIOUS ASPECTS OF OUR LIVES:
CHALLENGE COMFORT
REFLECTION WORSHIP
ENCOURAGEMENT FELLOWSHIP
TRAINING
JUST TO NAME A FEW.
TO THINK OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH AS ONLY A TIME TO WITHDRAW TO WORSHIP IS ASCETICISM. WE ARE MERELY LOOKING TO LIVE INSIDE THE HALLOWED HEAVENLY HALLS OF HOLINESS.
THE DANGER OF THE WITHDRAWAL IS THAT THE INDIVIDUAL BELIEVES THERE IS CHRISTIAN GROWTH HAPPENING. HOW CAN WITHDRAWAL BE WRONG IF IT LEADS TO CHRISTIAN GROWTH?
WITHDRAWAL GOES AGAINST THE VERY CORE OF CHRISTIANITY.
MATTHEW 7:16-20:
“16 YOU CAN IDENTIFY THEM BY THEIR FRUIT, THAT IS, BY THE WAY THEY ACT. CAN YOU PICK GRAPES FROM THORNBUSHES, OR FIGS FROM THISTLES? 17 A GOOD TREE PRODUCES GOOD FRUIT, AND A BAD TREE PRODUCES BAD FRUIT. 18 A GOOD TREE CAN’T PRODUCE BAD FRUIT, AND A BAD TREE CAN’T PRODUCE GOOD FRUIT. 19 SO EVERY TREE THAT DOES NOT PRODUCE GOOD FRUIT IS CHOPPED DOWN AND THROWN INTO THE FIRE. 20 YES, JUST AS YOU CAN IDENTIFY A TREE BY ITS FRUIT, SO YOU CAN IDENTIFY PEOPLE BY THEIR ACTIONS.”
OUR FAITH WILL BE MADE KNOWN BY WHAT WE DO FOR THE LORD, NOT BY RUNNING TO A SOLITARY PLACE AND STAYING THERE. THE MARK OF CHRISTIAN GROWTH AND MATURITY IS NOT WITHDRAWAL BUT ENGAGMENT. THIS IS THE WHOLE POINT THAT JAMES TRIES TO GET ACROSS IN HIS BOOK.
JAMES 2:14-26:
“14 ¶ WHAT GOOD IS IT, DEAR BROTHERS AND SISTERS, IF YOU SAY YOU HAVE FAITH BUT DON’T SHOW IT BY YOUR ACTIONS? CAN THAT KIND OF FAITH SAVE ANYONE? 15 SUPPOSE YOU SEE A BROTHER OR SISTER WHO HAS NO FOOD OR CLOTHING, 16 AND YOU SAY, “GOOD-BYE AND HAVE A GOOD DAY; STAY WARM AND EAT WELL’’ -BUT THEN YOU DON’T GIVE THAT PERSON ANY FOOD OR CLOTHING. WHAT GOOD DOES THAT DO? 17 SO YOU SEE, FAITH BY ITSELF ISN’T ENOUGH. UNLESS IT PRODUCES GOOD DEEDS, IT IS DEAD AND USELESS. 18 NOW SOMEONE MAY ARGUE, “SOME PEOPLE HAVE FAITH; OTHERS HAVE GOOD DEEDS.’’ BUT I SAY, “HOW CAN YOU SHOW ME YOUR FAITH IF YOU DON’T HAVE GOOD DEEDS? I WILL SHOW YOU MY FAITH BY MY GOOD DEEDS.’’ 19 YOU SAY YOU HAVE FAITH, FOR YOU BELIEVE THAT THERE IS ONE GOD. GOOD FOR YOU! EVEN THE DEMONS BELIEVE THIS, AND THEY TREMBLE IN TERROR. 20 HOW FOOLISH! CAN’T YOU SEE THAT FAITH WITHOUT GOOD DEEDS IS USELESS? 21 DON’T YOU REMEMBER THAT OUR ANCESTOR ABRAHAM WAS SHOWN TO BE RIGHT WITH GOD BY HIS ACTIONS WHEN HE OFFERED HIS SON ISAAC ON THE ALTAR? 22 YOU SEE, HIS FAITH AND HIS ACTIONS WORKED TOGETHER. HIS ACTIONS MADE HIS FAITH COMPLETE. 23 AND SO IT HAPPENED JUST AS THE SCRIPTURES SAY: “ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND GOD COUNTED HIM AS RIGHTEOUS BECAUSE OF HIS FAITH.HE WAS EVEN CALLED THE FRIEND OF GOD. 24 SO YOU SEE, WE ARE SHOWN TO BE RIGHT WITH GOD BY WHAT WE DO, NOT BY FAITH ALONE. 25 RAHAB THE PROSTITUTE IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE. SHE WAS SHOWN TO BE RIGHT WITH GOD BY HER ACTIONS WHEN SHE HID THOSE MESSENGERS AND SENT THEM SAFELY AWAY BY A DIFFERENT ROAD. 26 JUST AS THE BODY IS DEAD WITHOUT BREATH, SO ALSO FAITH IS DEAD WITHOUT GOOD WORKS.”
QUESTION: CAN CHURCH GROWTH ACTUALLY BE A FORM OF ASCETICISM?
YES: WHEN WE DEPEND ON THEM FOR GROWTH.
WHEN WE AS INDIVIDUALS HIDE IN THE PROGRAMS.
POINT THREE: PERSONAL SALVATION CAN BE A FORM OF ASCETICISM
SALVATION, ALTHOUGH PERSONAL, IS NOT SELFISH. IT IS NOT SEEKING SOMETHING FOR YOURSELF. SALVATION IS BEING RIGHTLY RELATED TO GOD, AND TO FELLOW HUMANS.
QUESTION: WHO WOULD WANT TO GO TO HEAVEN IF IT MEANT HAVING EVERYONE ELSE GO TO HELL?
POINT FOUR: OTHER WORLD ASCETICISM
THIS IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE WE THINK SO MUCH ABOUT OUR HEAVENLY HOME THAT WE FORGET WE LIVE IN THIS WORLD WITH THESE PEOPLE.
OTHERWORLDLINESS IS ASCETICISM WHEN IT CAUSES US TO LOSE INTEREST IN THIS WORLD AND ITS PEOPLE.
POINT FIVE: DEVOTIONAL LIFE
OUR DEVOTIONAL LIFE SHOULD STRENGTHEN US TO MINISTER TO OTHERS, NOT BECOME AN END IN ITSELF. LOOK AT THIS STORY JESUS TOLD.
LUKE 10:29-37:
“29 THE MAN WANTED TO JUSTIFY HIS ACTIONS, SO HE ASKED JESUS, “AND WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR?’’ 30 JESUS REPLIED WITH A STORY: “A JEWISH MAN WAS TRAVELING ON A TRIP FROM JERUSALEM TO JERICHO, AND HE WAS ATTACKED BY BANDITS. THEY STRIPPED HIM OF HIS CLOTHES, BEAT HIM UP, AND LEFT HIM HALF DEAD BESIDE THE ROAD. 31 “BY CHANCE A PRIEST CAME ALONG. BUT WHEN HE SAW THE MAN LYING THERE, HE CROSSED TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD AND PASSED HIM BY. 32 A TEMPLE ASSISTANT WALKED OVER AND LOOKED AT HIM LYING THERE, BUT HE ALSO PASSED BY ON THE OTHER SIDE. 33 “THEN A DESPISED SAMARITAN CAME ALONG, AND WHEN HE SAW THE MAN, HE FELT COMPASSION FOR HIM. 34 GOING OVER TO HIM, THE SAMARITAN SOOTHED HIS WOUNDS WITH OLIVE OIL AND WINE AND BANDAGED THEM. THEN HE PUT THE MAN ON HIS OWN DONKEY AND TOOK HIM TO AN INN, WHERE HE TOOK CARE OF HIM. 35 THE NEXT DAY HE HANDED THE INNKEEPER TWO SILVER COINS, TELLING HIM, ’TAKE CARE OF THIS MAN. IF HIS BILL RUNS HIGHER THAN THIS, I’LL PAY YOU THE NEXT TIME I’M HERE.’ 36 “NOW WHICH OF THESE THREE WOULD YOU SAY WAS A NEIGHBOR TO THE MAN WHO WAS ATTACKED BY BANDITS?’’\ JESUS ASKED. 37 THE MAN REPLIED, “THE ONE WHO SHOWED HIM MERCY.’’¬THEN JESUS SAID, “YES, NOW GO AND DO THE SAME.’’\”
CONCLUSION:
JESUS REFUSED TO HAVE THE DISCIPLES BUILD THE SHELTERS ON THE MOUNTAIN BECAUSE THE GOSPEL WAS NOT TO STAY ON THE MOUNTAIN. IT WAS TO BE SHARED WITH ALL WHO WOULD LISTEN.
THE EXPERIENCE WAS THERE TO DEEPEN THE FAITH OF THE APOSTLES TO GO OUT AND WITNESS TO OTHERS ABOUT WHAT THEY HAD SEEN, NOT TO KEEP IT TO THEMSELVES.
THE CHRISTIAN FAITH IS NOT ASCETIC IN NATURE, IT IS EVANGELICAL AND MISSIONAL IN ACTION.
