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Shalom,
Is it possible to join a monastery? Is there such a concept in Christianity, or is it only in buddhism?
Thanks,
Elysian
Luther was a monk of monks before discovering the Gospel.
He afterward regretted the affair. Read some of Luther before tromping off.
Well here are just a few excerpts from "What Luther Says" Concordia Publishing House
3036:"This is the chief abomination:we had to deny the grace of God and put our trust and hope on holy monkery"
3037: "Ask the monks who earnestly labor to attain peace of conscience by their traditions whether they can be sure that their way of life pleases God and that they are in favor with God because of it."
3050: "The truth is that the most pious monk is the worst rogue, because he denies Christ, the Mediator and High Priest, annd makes a judge of Him. ...Ah if the article of justification had not fallen, brotherhoods, pilgrimmages, Masses, the invocation of saints and such things would never had found any place in the church. But after this article (justification by faith alone) has fallen again---which God may avert---these idols will come back again."
The bottom line is that Luther discovered the Gospel despite the monasteries and his eyes were opened to the crazy practices that went on there.
Yes Luther had some quirks e.g. antisemitism but the issue is the romanticizing of monasteries. Luther clearly saw the trappings.
BTW, just as Paul after being a Pharisee of Pharisees discovered the grace and liberty of the Gospel ended up being hated by that group, so I find Luther after being a monk of monks rediscovers Christian freedom under the doctrine of justification by faith alone (something Rome had strayed far from) ends up also being hated by the persecuters of his day e.g. issuance of a Papal Bull.
Shalom,
Is it possible to join a monastery? Is there such a concept in Christianity, or is it only in buddhism?
Thanks,
Elysian
It isn't God's will that anyone join anything that separates someone from the world. We are to allow Him to equip us to live in the world and to be of service to people who need Jesus. Sequestering oneself away from the world is not what Jesus has modeled for anyone.
Luther had a big mouth and it was his idealism, not the romanticism of the monastery that lead to him adding the word 'alone' to the Bible and deciding that the Book of James may not be inspired because it didn't fit his desperate need for God to accept him.
It isn't God's will that anyone join anything that separates someone from the world. We are to allow Him to equip us to live in the world and to be of service to people who need Jesus. Sequestering oneself away from the world is not what Jesus has modeled for anyone.
Putting these two verses together justifies his word 'alone'.
For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
(Rom 1:17)
But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
(Rom 3:21)
Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
(Rom 4:6)
So, by faith-without the law-without works- sounds like 'faith alone' to me.
What about st Anthony and st Paul the hermit?
What about st Anthony and st Paul the hermit?