PT-2 "Asceticism" (Col. 2:20-23)

 

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 they wore to bring about holiness in their lives.  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 self-restraint 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, page 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