Asceticism - compatible with Christianity?

How is Jesus viewed by Christians? How does Jesus’ life support the idea that we must live an ascetic lifestyle?

Jesus is viewed as an example as how to live a godly life. If one focuses on trying to live the same way in which Jesus lived, then this could be argued to involve some form of asceticism, the denial of earthly pleasures in order to follow God's path

what aspects show that Jesus lived a strict ascetic life?

his time with 40 days of prayer and fasting in the desert, his poverty, his teaching about giving away one's possessions and his extreme dedication to the itinerant lifestyle as he spread his message about the kingdom of God

What other figures in early centuries of Christianity practiced this strict ascetic lifestyle?

John the Baptist who followed a strict liefstyle - arguably one that was more strict than Jesus’ lifestyle. Many also lived as hermits in the Egyptian desert, devoting their lives to prayer and reflection in the context of a simple life

What did this liefstyle and early movements develop into?

Monasticism, communal Christian living centering around rules of poverty, chastity and obedience. There were a variety of monastic movements with varying interpretations of asceticism, but with the shared emphasis that Christian living requires some sort of denial of earthly pleasures

What passages in the New Testament support the ascetic ideal, regarding the dangers of wealth?

• Mark 10: Jesus recognises that the man who had kept the Mosaic Law was rstless, so Jesus invited him to give up his possessions and join his movement. When the man refused, Jesus warned how wealth made it impossible to follow God's path

• Jesus’ appeal to the natural world in Matthew 6 seems to indicate that we spend far too much time devoted to clothing and food and too little time on spiritual matters

• Luke 12 - followers told to ‘sell your possessions’ - Ana action that we are told was lived out by the early Church (Acts 2)

What problems are there when looking at Jesus's teachings more closely?

Problems with turning this into a law for Christians - Jesus only offered the teaching to a rich man when the latter made it clear that keeping the commandments was not enough for his soul. This sugets that Jesus was not presenting a universal teaching but a prescription meant for one individual

What does Jesus approve of in Zacchaeus’ case?

For him to give up only half of his wealth; he doesn't refer to this theme in relation to others who are mentioned in the Gospels

What does Jesus make clear in the Gospel of Matthew?

It is not money or wealth itself which is the problem, but one's priorities. People need to be dedicated to the Kingdom of God; anything that gets into he way of this needs to be sacrificed

What did people in Jesus’ time believe about rhe difference in John the Baptist and Jesus?

‘For John the Baptist come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, ‘‘he has a demon’’; the Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘‘Look a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ (Luke 7:33-34)

What could be argued as a reason as to why Jesus adopted an ascetic life?

He believed that the world was about to end and that, thereofre, there was a heightened urgency to get out his message to as many people as possible (eschatological expectation). It might have made more sense for Jesus to receive hospitality rather to live a settled lofe given the fact that he wanted to soread his movement across Israel

Why might have Jesus taken more extreme forms of living, when looking at him as a eschatological figure?

He might ahve prescribed more extreme forms of living, thinking that hey would not be endured long term due to the fact that Jesus believed that the world would be ending soon in his time

What is a common form of asceticism? Why was this expected for Jesus?

Sexual abstinence. Jesus was celibate, but this could have been because of his eschatological expectations - it was normal for Rabis to be married in Jesus’ day

What does Paul explain?

Married Christians can live a spiritual life. He even urges some Christians to get married so that they will not be constantly distracted by the ‘flames of passion’

What may be argued about the ascetic ideal?

It detracts from the central theme in the Bible: the action of helping those who are poor and oppressed and supporting God's work in the ministry of the Church. To carry out this work, you should call yourself a ‘steward’ and act as one, instead of acting as an ascetic

What is not dediced on in Christianity?

A form of an ideal - this could mean that ideals are not important - what is important is living out God's words and helping the poor and doing good works - this links to Pelagius

What does Wimbush say about Asceticism?

‘For most of Christian history, the battle about Asceticism has been not whether Christian piety should be associated with it, but about the type, intensity of expression, and meaning of the ascetic that is appropriate or required.’

What does Blomberg say about Asceticism?

‘The Bible does not promote asceticism, except in small, temporary ways. (There are)…. An abundance of texts that speak of wealth and material possessions as good and wholesome, when used and kept in proper perspective.’