I Just Don't Get Monks..........

[Tim Myers]

I have never fully understood the idea of monasticism.....

To me, it seems to be a direct contradiction and a direct violation of the "go-into-the-whole-world-and-spread-the-gospel" command issued by Christ.......

Jesus never once ever remotely implied the idea of "go encloister yourself somewhere far off in the desert, away from people and the secular world."

Needless to say, I just don't get monks.......

Does anybody else feel that monasticism contradicts the whole idea of Christ's message....or even the entire New Testament itself?

Anybody feel even more strongly about it and see it as a direct violation of the "Great Commission"?

 

[Faith24]

I have never fully understood the idea of monasticism.....

To me, it seems to be a direct contradiction and a direct violation of the "go-into-the-whole-world-and-spread-the-gospel" command issued by Christ.......

Jesus never once ever remotely implied the idea of "go encloister yourself somewhere far off in the desert, away from people and the secular world."

Needless to say, I just don't get monks.......

Does anybody else feel that monasticism contradicts the whole idea of Christ's message....or even the entire New Testament itself?

Anybody feel even more strongly about it and see it as a direct violation of the "Great Commission"?

A legit answer I can think of is this: The monks does not say that the world is evil and therefore separate themselves away from the world. The world is wonderful in it's delight. Therefore, the monks gave the world up to show how much they love God.

 

[.Iona.]

I thought the same about Nuns a while ago. I always thought they would be much more help if they were out in society, not locking themselves away in a convent. I guess it is more to do with personal sacrifice for God, and devoting themselves entirely to Him.

There is something about Nuns and Monks though, can't really explain what but I get a very peaceful feeling when I see them.

 

[Yarddog]

I have never fully understood the idea of monasticism.....

To me, it seems to be a direct contradiction and a direct violation of the "go-into-the-whole-world-and-spread-the-gospel" command issued by Christ.......

How is monasticism a direct violation of this? Christians did go out and spread the Gospel. How does some man being called into a life of prayer a violation? God's calling is God's calling.

Jesus never once ever remotely implied the idea of "go encloister yourself somewhere far off in the desert, away from people and the secular world."

Where was John the Baptist before his time came to announce the coming.

Needless to say, I just don't get monks.......

Do monks get us? We should not judge another's calling.

Does anybody else feel that monasticism contradicts the whole idea of Christ's message....or even the entire New Testament itself?

How is devoting one's life to worship of God contradictory to the Gospel?

 

[jlmagee]

How is monasticism a direct violation of this? Christians did go out and spread the Gospel. How does some man being called into a life of prayer a violation? God's calling is God's calling.

Where was John the Baptist before his time came to announce the coming.

Do monks get us? We should not judge another's calling.

How is devoting one's life to worship of God contradictory to the Gospel?

I think this is a great point.

Richard J. Foster wrote a book called Streams of Living Water:Celebrating the Great Traditions of Christian Faith. it has been several years since I read it. It helped me understand differences of traditions. It is a good read.

 

[rockytopva]

I have never fully understood the idea of monasticism.....

To me, it seems to be a direct contradiction and a direct violation of the "go-into-the-whole-world-and-spread-the-gospel" command issued by Christ.......

Hello Mr Meyers:

I spent years in the Virginia Tech Library researching the church ages. Not only are monks not good in spreading the word but are also not good in defending a nation. I read the history of the Roman Empire by an Italian guy who loved the empire. He would have a preacher write within his volumes of the persecution of the church, but he himself did not. He lamented that of all the monks writings during the fall of the Roman Empire, not one of them mentioned the suffering of the humanity around them. The monks were in their mountain monasteries writing about God knows oblivious to the suffering around them!

Rockytopva

 

[revanneosl]

You guys clearly know very little about monastics. Here are some things that monastics do:

1. They teach school (elementary, secondary, college and graduate school)
2. The are nurses, doctors and medical technicians
3. They run soup kitchens
4. They run clothing banks
5. They preach
6. They run retreat houses, where Christians can "come away for a time" of prayer and reflection
7. They operate clinics where addicts can detox and receive rehabilitation treatment
8. They PREACH THE GOSPEL (both the mendicant Order of St. Francis and the Order of St. Benedict were founded specifically as preaching orders

 

[Walter Kovacs]

Given that we are discissuing monks many years after they have passed, I'd say they contributed to society quite well.

 

[seashale76]

Given that we are discissuing monks many years after they have passed, I'd say they contributed to society quite well.

Eh? They've hardly passed. Monastics are still out there and they are in constant prayer. Prayer is THE most important work a Christian can do. Everyone is always devaluing the efficacy of prayer- and that is something that I don't understand. There are some monastic elders out there, who despite not being of the world any longer, attract people to them from all over. People flock to them for spiritual advice and prayer. Monastics are the back-bone of the Church. There are monasteries within driving distance of you right now. There are monastic communities that are very ancient which have survived from the earliest eras of Christianity until now. St. Catherine's at Mount Sinai and Mount Athos in Greece are but two such places.

 

[revanneosl]

There's a wonderful documentary that came out recently called "Into Great Silence" about a monastery of contemplative brothers (Cathursians) in France.

 

[Tim Myers]

"How is devoting one's life to worship of God contradictory to the Gospel?"

Where in the Gospels does it mention "devoting one's life to the worship of God"??

God does not need our praise. He needs us to love and help others, especially those who are lost and have no hope.....

 

[MrPolo]

To me, it seems to be a direct contradiction and a direct violation of the "go-into-the-whole-world-and-spread-the-gospel" command issued by Christ.......

But you know about them praying and living lives of poverty. And so do all their critics. So in essence, you admit that they are witnessing to the world.

 

[Tim Myers]

"But you know about them praying and living lives of poverty. And so do all their critics."

Lots and lots of people pray and live in poverty...I will admit that......

 

[revanneosl]

And they also teach, and preach, and care for the sick and those who are abandoned by society. Their witness to the gospel way of living is a light in a very dim and selfish world.

 

[Incariol]

since when does prayer not count as helping?

 

[Tim Myers]

"....and care for the sick and those who are abandoned by society. Their witness to the gospel way of living is a light in a very dim and selfish world."

I will concede to your point, revanneosl......

 

[Walter Kovacs]

Eh? They've hardly passed. Monastics are still out there and they are in constant prayer.

I don't recall saying that there are no monks out there anymore.

Prayer is THE most important work a Christian can do. Everyone is always devaluing the efficacy of prayer- and that is something that I don't understand.

I don't recall ever saying anything to the contrary here.