Orthodox Christianity for Absolute Beginners

orthodoxresource.co.uk/christianlife/asceticism.htm

Asceticism
Closer to God

Key Facts and Ideas

Why Asceticism?

Definition: The practice of self

denial in the power of the Holy
Spirit in order to bring everything
human, body, mind and spirit, back
into communion with God.

Orthodox Christianity affirms the

inherent goodness of all creation. Did
not God survey his creation and
declare it "good" [throughout Genesis
1]? Orthodox Christianity has
historically fought against all forms of false spiritualism that would seek either to deny
goodness to creation (eg., Gnosticism, Manichaeism) or marginalise earthly realities as
mere shadows of a truly real heavenly realm perceptible to an enlightened intellect, (Plato -
The Cave). So, Christians do not fast or practice chastity, (to take just two examples),
because food or sex is "bad." Far from it; they do these things in order that food and sex
might glorify God according to the proper use and purpose of each.

Christianity inherited from Judaism a strong affirmation of the goodness of the physical
realm, locating evil not in creation but in the alienation of humanity from God, a primal
rebellion that took our eyes off Him and locking us into deadly disordered passions.
However, every disordered passion, be that emotional, mental, psychic or of the body, is a
human distortion of something GOOD. Evil arises out of the heart not from the natural
world itself. Jesus taught that it is to the heart that we must look if we are to confront evil
and uproot it.

18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a
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man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts,
false witness, blasphemies. 20 These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with
unwashed hands does not defile a man.” [Matthew 15:18-20]

The "heart" in Hebraic thought is neither our cherished but abused blood pump not the seat
of soppy sentimentality in a greetings card. It is not simply "feelings" nor is it something
invisible and fluffy. The heart is the seat of who we are as persons and that includes the
body, the intellect, emotions, will, conscience, personality. Moreover the heart is its ALL
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encompassing reach is the point of contact with God and the spiritual realm. It is the heart,
therefore, in BOTH its physical and spiritual aspects that must be brought back into
communion with God. This is what asceticism is all about. It is a means not an end. It is
the way of bringing us entirely and entire back to God. The fruit of asceticism is no less
than the fruit of the Spirit.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. [Galatians 5:22-23]

How is Orthodox Christian Asceticism Practised?

The first step toward the healing of our rift with God is repentance. The second step is to
offer our life entirely to God. We have covered these in the first two sessions. The third
step, asceticism, becomes necessary because we soon realise at step 2 that there is an
inner resistance, a heaviness inside, even a distracted or disorientated confusion that
prevents us giving ourselves wholeheartedly to God. If we don't face up to these obstacles
and deal with them, our growth back to God, our salvation will untimely abort and the devil
will have won. If repentance and consecration is true it MUST lead to asceticism as a
means of bringing forth the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. Such self denial and right ordering
and integration of our faculties through the heart to God is what will lead to theosis,
deification. It saves us from the charge of hypocrisy, false witness, that what we say with
our lips we deny in our lives. So, bearing in mind its vital importance for all Christians, how
is asceticism practised?

Asceticism is practised through the 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. How we make progress depends on the sin. This table is given as a guide
only for our lives cannot be as neatly categorised as this traditional list might suggest. For
a start there are inextricable links between all the sins. Envy and greed are "joined at the
hip" as it were. Other combinations are also colour coded but there are other connections
as well.

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

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 Gluttony Food Fasting Strengthened body and will to serve God

Lust Sex Chastity Depth in relationships

Sloth Energy Work discipline Human development

What this traditional table does leave out - although it is there, it just needs bringing out - is
that "pride" can just as much concern our intellectual, technological and psychological
hubris as the usual focus for that sin, which tends to concern our personal life issues. This,
particularly in the modern context, needs some ascetical attention by Christians.

Finally, a warning! The experience and teaching of the great ascetics in the Orthodox
Church shows that the devil can subvert even asceticism by taking hold of idealism and
pushing it beyond nature. Many have ruined their health, physically and spiritually by being
caught unawares of this trap. It is absolutely vital, therefore, that a Christians consults
regularly with his or her spiritual father or mother to determine the right and Godly balance
in asceticism that will bring fullness of life rather than a prideful and morbid misery
masquerading as sanctity ... over which the devil of course rejoices.

Key Principle

Bring your life into good order with God and you will know life with no end.

Key Question

What are the main obstacles in my life that prevent me from getting closer to God?

Resources

1. Ascetic Struggle (Orthodox Christian Information Centre)

2. Fasting (Orthodox Christian Information Centre)

Your Own Questions Answered Here

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