Mystics, Monks and the Married Man

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ebdesroches

ebdesroches

Well-known member
#1
Aug 20, 2022
976
495
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#1
When God chose to let me know He loved me it left me in a lot of amazement. How did THAT happen? So in my
searching to figure out what had happened I discovered that many, probably thousands and thousands had
the same thing happen to them they were called mystics, ascetics and monks, nuns and others. It is likely
that Priests, monks, Nuns, Pastors etc. all have understood how much He really loved them.

So what would be a very normal human reaction to the highest pleasure you can have, the company and the
love of God? The probable normal reaction is to completely seek Him as an ascetic, monastic,
or pastoral occupation. In that way I could seek Him without distraction and enjoy Him in every way,
emotionally, spiritually, and intellectually with (and sometimes without) the support of fellow lovers of God.

For me the ascetic, mystic, and closed off life has appeal. After all ephesians 5:18 says
Do not get drunk with wine, for that is wickedness (corruption, stupidity), but be filled with the [Holy] Spirit and constantly guided by Him. Couldn't I love Him without distraction and be loved by Him without distraction? Yes, probably.

There is a flaw in my thinking! It does not recognize who God is. He is God!
Romans 8:38-39 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. He is able to do anything for me or to me no matter what my circumstances are. I can relax in Him. He has my best interest at heart. He has a loving concern for my development. Every moment, every second, He loves me and never fails to make the best out of the moment for my relationship to Him. Just as Mary and Joseph were brought to Bethlhem for Jesus Birth (fulfilling prophecy) by having to register for taxes, He can use my present circumstances anyway He wants to mold me, shape me, love me, and cause me to develop in the way He wants me to develop.

He is a gentle, loving Father, my challenge is to always love Him, never disappoint Him, serve Him and be ready for Him to change me. The nothingness I am and the greatness He is.
 
Lynx

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
#2
Aug 13, 2014
27,418
9,405
113
#2
The thing about people who close themselves off from the world... They're not very useful. They don't have much of an effect.

God didn't call us to get out of this world. He called us to be a force in this world, to be the salt that makes it good. As Steve Camp said, "Not of the world / But baby, you're in it / When will you take a stand?"
 
Eli1

Eli1

Well-known member
#3
Apr 5, 2022
4,783
2,070
113
46
#3
Lynx said:
The thing about people who close themselves off from the world... They're not very useful. They don't have much of an effect.

God didn't call us to get out of this world. He called us to be a force in this world, to be the salt that makes it good. As Steve Camp said, "Not of the world / But baby, you're in it / When will you take a stand?"
Click to expand...
‘Yes, this is one take which is common in US.
‘Another take which is common in US is that “my church or my view is always right, so I don’t follow anyone except Christ’.
‘So if you don’t like The Church or fellowship with other humans then why not become a monk since you’re alone?

But being a monk or a priest is not anti-biblical too.
So the bottom line is that we all have different callings in life.
 
ebdesroches

ebdesroches

Well-known member
#5
Aug 20, 2022
976
495
63
76
#5
ebdesroches said:
When God chose to let me know He loved me it left me in a lot of amazement. How did THAT happen? So in my
searching to figure out what had happened I discovered that many, probably thousands and thousands had
the same thing happen to them they were called mystics, ascetics and monks, nuns and others. It is likely
that Priests, monks, Nuns, Pastors etc. all have understood how much He really loved them.

So what would be a very normal human reaction to the highest pleasure you can have, the company and the
love of God? The probable normal reaction is to completely seek Him as an ascetic, monastic,
or pastoral occupation. In that way I could seek Him without distraction and enjoy Him in every way,
emotionally, spiritually, and intellectually with (and sometimes without) the support of fellow lovers of God.

For me the ascetic, mystic, and closed off life has appeal. After all ephesians 5:18 says
Do not get drunk with wine, for that is wickedness (corruption, stupidity), but be filled with the [Holy] Spirit and constantly guided by Him. Couldn't I love Him without distraction and be loved by Him without distraction? Yes, probably.

There is a flaw in my thinking! It does not recognize who God is. He is God!
Romans 8:38-39 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. He is able to do anything for me or to me no matter what my circumstances are. I can relax in Him. He has my best interest at heart. He has a loving concern for my development. Every moment, every second, He loves me and never fails to make the best out of the moment for my relationship to Him. Just as Mary and Joseph were brought to Bethlhem for Jesus Birth (fulfilling prophecy) by having to register for taxes, He can use my present circumstances anyway He wants to mold me, shape me, love me, and cause me to develop in the way He wants me to develop.

He is a gentle, loving Father, my challenge is to always love Him, never disappoint Him, serve Him and be ready for Him to change me. The nothingness I am and the greatness He is.
Click to expand...
Exactly right! You are pointing out number 2

1. Love God above everything else

Through His very present spirit in us we have a very passionate love for Him, always having the attitude of worship

2. Love Others as yourself

Through His very present spirit we cant help loving others and have the pleasure of knowing His love is flowing through us.

Post script: Many pastors, monks, priest, married, you? Pray for others, pray for the world, counsel, and are spiritual advisors for others.

I believe prayer is essential. Teaching and spiritual counsel of others is essential.
 
ResidentAlien

ResidentAlien

Well-known member
#6
Apr 21, 2021
8,318
3,619
113
#6
ebdesroches said:
When God chose to let me know He loved me it left me in a lot of amazement. How did THAT happen? So in my
searching to figure out what had happened I discovered that many, probably thousands and thousands had
the same thing happen to them they were called mystics, ascetics and monks, nuns and others. It is likely
that Priests, monks, Nuns, Pastors etc. all have understood how much He really loved them.
Click to expand...
You don't have to be a mystic, monk, ascetic, priest or nun to know and experience the love of God. He revealed his love to everyone in His word, hello.

ebdesroches said:
For me the ascetic, mystic, and closed off life has appeal. After all ephesians 5:18 says Do not get drunk with wine, for that is wickedness (corruption, stupidity), but be filled with the [Holy] Spirit and constantly guided by Him.
Click to expand...
Ephesians 5:18 says: "And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,"

Being filled with the Holy Spirit leads to sobriety and self-control, not intoxication. Ephesians 5:8 isn't saying to be intoxicated with the Holy Spirt but to be be sober in the Holy Spirt.

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." 1 Peter 5:8

"A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach;" 1 Timothy 3:2

"But the fruit of the Spirit is . . . self-control." Galatians 5:22-23

Christian mysticism is an aberration and a distortion of the truth of the gospel. Those monks, so-called ascetics, and nuns aren't exactly practicing what they preach a lot of the time either. If mystic experiences had that much power to stop the desires of the flesh, why do so-called celibate priests sill need to abuse children to get their jollies?
 
tourist

tourist

Senior Member
#7
Mar 13, 2014
42,598
17,062
113
69
Tennessee
#7
Lynx said:
The thing about people who close themselves off from the world... They're not very useful. They don't have much of an effect.

God didn't call us to get out of this world. He called us to be a force in this world, to be the salt that makes it good. As Steve Camp said, "Not of the world / But baby, you're in it / When will you take a stand?"
Click to expand...
Absolutely agree with you about people who close themselves off from the world. They are so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good. Not really useful at all.
 
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