Desert Fathers (and Mothers)

Our job as Christians is to take up our cross daily and follow Christ. I don't think there is only one way to do that. For some, it is monasticism.

Matthew 19:21 Jesus said to him, "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."
I dont think you can get more biblical than that.
Also St Paul implies that not all are teachers and apostles: Ephesians 4:11 And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers."
Having said that, who is to say that monastics don't spead the Gospel. The Desert Fathers and Mothers went out into the desert and the people followed them there, buiding towns and cities around them. Even today many monastics are involved in mission work.

ikonographics said:

Having said that, who is to say that monastics don't spead the Gospel. The Desert Fathers and Mothers went out into the desert and the people followed them there, buiding towns and cities around them. Even today many monastics are involved in mission work.

Click to expand...

And what exactly do those people think the lives of the Desert Fathers are doing now? Look how we talk about them, how we find inspiration in them, how many converts are the result of interest and being impressed in the lives of the Desert Fathers (and, of course, Mothers)?

More than one type of evangelization. The Monastics have just chosen a different (arguably more difficult) one. Theirs didn't only effect the time in which they lived on Earth, but is reverberating into our present time still.

(but really, I agree most with the others: that is not "our job" or, at least, not our primary one)

The idea that there is only one type of evangelism is short-sighted, to me. In addition, to say that everyone is called to preach is also a little constricting. I don't preach. I don't have the talent for it. The spreading of the Gospel was not meant to be only by means of preaching. In fact, very few are actually supposed to preach. We are called to live out the Gospel and that is will be much more beneficial, I think (after all, someone can preach until they're blue in the face, but are they still living out the Gospel?).

The Fathers taught both us and their contemporaries by living out the Gospel. As St. Seraphim says, "Acquire a peaceful spirit and thousands around you will be saved."

I like your quote, by the way!

Catholic Wife said:

Thank you for your quick responses. I mentioned what Ioannis and ikongraphics pointed out (Matt 10:37, Matt 19:21, Eph 4:11, along with other verses), yet this certain person won't hear what I'm trying to say. Up until now she has seemed rather open minded about things, and I didn't realize she had such a problem with the Orthodox (and Catholic) faith.

Click to expand...

Ask her if she sees the need for intercessory prayer. Real monastics don't become hermits because they hate people, they become hermits because they see the image of God in everyone and want to pray for them all the time.

..and (apart from genuine hermits) it isn't that the monastics are walled up with no contact to the world~I'm reading through St Silouan right now, I've read posts & blogs from monks, the writings from our ancient desert parents have stood the test of time to benefit the church for most of its existence. We'll not know all the effects of their prayers on this side of life...

...and I'm looking for a package in the mail from some West Virginia monks even as I write this

Ioannis said:

The idea that there is only one type of evangelism is short-sighted, to me. In addition, to say that everyone is called to preach is also a little constricting. I don't preach. I don't have the talent for it. The spreading of the Gospel was not meant to be only by means of preaching. In fact, very few are actually supposed to preach. We are called to live out the Gospel and that is will be much more beneficial, I think (after all, someone can preach until they're blue in the face, but are they still living out the Gospel?).

The Fathers taught both us and their contemporaries by living out the Gospel. As St. Seraphim says, "Acquire a peaceful spirit and thousands around you will be saved."

I like your quite, by the way!

Click to expand...

To be honest, how you live our lives is the greatest witness there is. Holy people draw people to them because people sense that there is something very different about them and they sense that this person lives what he/she is saying. Conversely, if there is a difference between what a person says and what they do, then people sense that also, and may be turned off by the Gospel message that they are trying to give. There's a lot to be said about working on yourself first before trying to tell others when you are still early in the process yourself.

Also, I look at how many people the Desert Fathers and Mothers have helped through their teachings and writings, both ancient and modern. All the books that are out either written by or about the modern monastic elders that show us what real holiness is and inspire us to strive to become holy.

Catholic Wife said:

What do you say to people when they insist that the life led by the Desert Fathers (and Mothers) wasn't biblical because our 'job' as Christians is to spread the Good News, not 'hide' in the desert?

Click to expand...

(ie) the particular meaning of a "journey" to those places.

There is a time for everything.
God will take you down many different paths and use it to teach you and others.
Perhaps she just doesn't know or understand the value in what you are embarking on
and is judging on limited knowledge and experience.....which is why it is good to hold one's tongue
and withhold opinions about others journey.

May you be blessed as you enter the desert.

What do you say to people when they insist that the life led by the Desert Fathers (and Mothers) wasn't biblical because our 'job' as Christians is to spread the Good News, not 'hide' in the desert?

Click to expand...

I would say that's a pretty weak view of the effectiveness of a holy person's prayer is for the world. if the prayer of a righteous person avails much, then their prayers for the coversion of the world and mercy to the world would be a very effective witness.