Thursday, November 11, 2010

Ruling the Passions



Since the reformation, and Luther’s rejection of monastic life, western Christianity has considered monasticism to be an expression of Christian living that is to be rejected. As a consequence of this rejection, we in the post-protestant west have lost our understanding of asceticism in general. Below is a short excerpt from an article that explains the central role of asceticism in the life of the Christian.


ASCETICISM

Asceticism is practiced through the will in prayer to God and for life. On account of the centrality of the will if anything is going to change for the better in our lives it is the sin of pride that must be dealt with first if further progress is to be made. Pride places ourselves where God should be. It replaces His rule for ours. It subverts our relationships with Him and others through all manners of self pre-occupation. In short, pride has to be killed. In abject poverty of spirit we need to come to God and "throw in the towel" as it were and surrender ourselves to Him. Then, and only then can we hope to make progress with the other sins.

Sin

Sin's Target

Ascetic Task

Fruit

Pride

Will

Surrender to God

Communion with God

Anger

Control

Humility

Reconciliation, Forgiveness

Envy

Relationships

Thanksgiving

Contentment with God's Gifts

Greed

Possessions

Offering

Attachment to God alone

Gluttony

Food

Fasting

Strengthened body and will to serve God

Lust

Sex

Chastity

Depth in relationships

Sloth

Energy

Work discipline

Human development

From: Antiochian Orthodox UK


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