God created mankind to live and flourish bodily. In part one, we considered the popular misconception that “you have a body, but you are a soul.” This ancient belief negatively influences our enjoyment of life because we disregard the body (License).
There is another religious community that influences our thinking about the body: The Monastics.
“Monastics” – A religious community based on a vow of asceticism that focuses on meditation and work.
Instead of license, we get legalism…or more technically, asceticism.
“Asceticism” – A severe form of disciplining the body where pleasure is rejected and pain is welcomed.
Let’s consider how this belief negatively influences our embodied life...
The Monastic Problem: Legalism
Legalism is often a “buzzword” in Christian circles. No one wants to be called a legalist. But, what is legalism? Legalism occurs anytime we pursue God’s acceptance through good works (holiness). Of course, this temptation is much older than Monasticism. Jesus exposed this belief in the Pharisees (Mk. 7:5-8). But this takes a certain form in an ascetic lifestyle. Asceticism is a form of legalism with the body. Physical pleasure is bad. Disciplined pain is good. This shows up in how we think about food, exercise, sleep, sex, and more.
Let’s consider two examples.
Two Examples
1. Monks pursued celibacy—abstaining from sex and marriage. Today, this may look like Christians believing that all sexual desire is wrong outside of marriage or that sex is only instrumental for creating children.
2. Monks fasted regularly for lengthy periods of time and ate only basic meals. Today, this may look like Christians thinking certain food groups should be avoided (fats, carbs, etc.) or that food is only instrumental for other goals (gaining muscle or having energy).
Let’s consider the Bible’s response.
The Bible’s Response: Moderation in Christ
Put simply, the Gospel frees us from legalism. God accepts us solely based on Christ’s work of salvation. We can’t add to it or take away from it by “laws.”
So, live in the freedom of Christ by God’s Spirit and love your neighbor with your body (Col. 3:20-23; Gal. 5:13-16). More specifically, practice moderation through self-control by God’s Spirit. Moderation is the “middle” between legalism and license. We embrace physical pleasures as gifts from God (in his way) and also learn self-control in areas of temptation.
Conclusion
The Monastics have lots to teach us positively. They cared deeply about disciplined meditation (Jos. 1:8) and self-control (Gal. 5:22). They took seriously God’s warning not to love the world or the things in the world (1 Jn. 2:15).
However, their concern for holiness blinded them to the goodness of enjoying life in God’s creation, particularly bodily (Eccl. 2:24-26). Let’s acknowledge their strengths and learn from their weaknesses to live as whole people.
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