Self Mortification

[FaithT]

What does the Lutheran church think about the Catholic practice of self mortification (self flagellation)? Do Lutherans do this? Pope St. John Paul II supposedly practiced it as well as Mother Teresa whom, I read wore a cilice. I find this creepy.

 

[Tolworth John]

What does the Lutheran church think about the Catholic practice of self mortification (self flagellation)? Do Lutherans do this? Pope St. John Paul II supposedly practiced it as well as Mother Teresa whom, I read wore a cilice. I find this creepy.

Our sins have been paid for by Jesus, so there is no point or purpose in self mortification.

 

[Not David]

Our sins have been paid for by Jesus, so there is no point or purpose in self mortification.

I don't think that's the point of mortification

 

[Johan_1988]

Any form of causing yourself bodily harm is not a biblical thing. It's actually a sin:

1Cor 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1Cor 3:17 If any man defile[corrupt,destroy] the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
1Cor 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

Unless God asks you to give up your body:

Phil 2:17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.

 

[tampasteve]

I don't think it has been directly addressed; I also think it would be frowned upon. Luther suffered from scrupulosity and likely participated in this in some fashion - he later denounced that practice (scrupulosity) and practices associated with it. The reasons behind doing it just don't square with Lutheran theology. Now, things like fasting or self denial are a different matter, but self flagellation are another category.