SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 4/4/2017
11:31 PM
My Worship Time Focus: PT-2 “Asceticism”
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Colossians
2:20-23
Message of the
verses: “20 If you have died with
Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in
the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, 21 “Do not handle, do
not taste, do not touch!" 22 (which all refer to things destined to perish
with use)-in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? 23 These
are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made
religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no
value against fleshly indulgence.”
First thing we want to do here is get some info from Dr.
Warren Wiersbe and then we will get a quote from John MacArthur that I’m sure
that you will agree is very unusual to say the least.
In Wiersbe’s commentary he states that the first thing we
need to understand about these rules that these false teachers are bringing up
did not come from God. 1 Timothy 6:17
states “Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited
or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things
to enjoy.” Now when I listened to
a sermon from John MacArthur on this subject he stated that there were people
in the Roman Catholic church that would wear something around their mid-section
that had things like nails in it which he wore to bring about holiness in his life. When you compare that with this verse in 1
Timothy you know that that is not necessary.
Dr. Wiersbe says that “The commandments and doctrines of
the false teachers replaced the inspired Word of God (see Mark 7:6-9). The doctrines were what the false teachers
believed; the commandments were the regulations they gave in applying their
doctrines to practical daily life.” Now
we have mentioned many times that the theme of the letter to the Colossians was
the completeness of Jesus Christ as He has provided salvation, sanctification,
and victory for all believers and nothing needs to be added to it. I am not saying that people have not suffered
for the cause of Christ because many have given up the ultimate sacrifice, but
this was in the will of God for them and they did not do it to add holiness to
them for that came from Christ.
Dr. Wiersbe concludes his comments concerning verse 21 “Many
of us are quick to criticize the ancient monks, the Oriental mystics, and the
Hindu or Muslim fakirs; but we fail to see this same error in our own
churches. While there are automatic
connections between physical discipline and health, there is no connection
between such discipline and holiness. If
we deliberately abstain from some food or drink to keep from hurting a weaker
Christian (Rom. 14:13ff), that is one thing.
But we must not say that our abstinence makes us more spiritual than
another brother who partakes of that food and gives thanks to God (Rom. 14:6).”
Now I want to give this interesting quote from John
MacArthur to end up this SD.
“As already noted, the false
teachers taught a form of philosophical dualism. They practiced asceticism in an attempt to
free the spirit from the prison of the body.
“The view that the body was
evil eventually found its way into the church.
According to the church Father Athanasius, Anthony, the founder of
Christian monasticism, never changed his vest or washed his feet (Life of Anthony, para 47). He was outdone, however, by Simeon Stylites
(c. 390-459), who sent the last thirty-six years of his life atop a fifty-foot pillar. Simeon mistakenly though the path to
spirituality lay in exposing his body to the elements and withdrawing from the
world. Their feasts have been emulated
by monks throughout church history. Even
Martin Luther, before discovering the truth of justification by faith, nearly
wrecked his health through asceticism.”
All I can say about things like these is that I am
thankful that the Spirit of God, through the Word of God, and through many
spiritual leaders in my life have taught me the truth, the truth that I am
complete in Christ, and for that I am thankful.
Who would want to spend their life on top of a pillar? I assure you that would not be something I
would want to do to obtain holiness when Christ has provided it already for me.
4/5/2017 12:00 AM
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