Asceticism: Can the Christian have interests outside the Bible?

I'm with you. Some can get very legalistic and others think they have a license to sin. I always think what Jesus would think and I do fail still. TV is my big problem.

 

Yes, I really have no issue with watching inappropriate stuff on the Internet, but it would be wrong of me to gloat about it and try to claim everyone should be like me. I'm sorry but this is done in pulpits across America every Sunday. It is a pride issue--and I guess I'm guilty even saying this...WOW

 

God never called us to be isolated from the world ("Go ye therefore...." [Mt 28:19 and 1 Cor. 5:10 {esp. the last part "....for then...."}]). We aren't called to be hermits or monks locked up in some remote monastery; but rather to be "salt and light" to a lost and dying world.

The problem isn't so much with having interests (legitimate hobbies, etc.) outside the strict confines of Bible study, prayer, and attending church services just so long as they meet the "Philippians 4:8 criteria" and don't become THE priorities of your life.

Yes, it's easy for things like TV, the internet, and even BB, to steal a person's time to the neglect of his/her family and his/her time with God and His Word. Maintaining a balance isn't always easy, but (with the HS's help) it can be done.

 

The one who shuts him/herself away, is akin to the servant who hid his talent in the dirt....

 

Asceticism can be taken too far, i.e. isolated monks, but the basic idea is to train ourselves, both our body and our mind, and that self control and discipline is a basic tenet of our faith. Thus while we are "in the world" we are not of the world, and that is demonstrated by exhibiting fruit of the Spirit, including self control. The idea of our daily battle, as we take up "our" cross and follow Jesus is that crucify ourselves, deny our ungodly fleshly desires, and set our minds on spiritual things, like expanding the ministry of Christ through example.

 

Just for the record....

I love the Lord and His Word, my wife, kids, grandkids and family and the fellowship of my fellow-believers in Christ, church, good Christian music and good Christian books on various topics. I love the good preaching of the Word of God by faithful men of God. The Lord is the focus of my life and my hope for all eternity. That said...for the record and while I'm still here....I'm also STILL fascinated and interested in railroads, ships, aircraft, military, maritime, aviation, railroad and world history, wildlife and the outdoors....and oh yeah...NASCAR/racing and motorsports history as well. Some of these things used to be somewhat "obsessive" for me but once I got right with God they became secondary interests that lost much of their importance and "luster". I used to tell people (and I still do sometimes) that "if it is big, flies, floats or rolls, then I LIKE IT"!:laugh: I strive now to enjoy the things in this world that there is nothing evil or wicked about while keeping a Biblical perspective and balance on that which the Lord desires for and of me in whatever time I have left here on this earth. Our "mission" here is to be faithful to God and spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world. We are to "redeem the time" and "set our affections on things above, not on things on the earth". I enjoy the "secular" things I listed above but I cannot allow myself to be caught up in or distracted by them so that they "impede" or hinder me from accomplishing that for which Christ saved me and left me here.

Bro.Greg:saint:

 

You know, in my 20+ years as a Christian, I've heard this phrase a lot, always in reference to someone else. I've never heard anyone say, "I have a license to sin." Nor have I heard anyone make any claims to any effect that would indicate they believe they have such a license.

I have to wonder: Do such people exist, or are they the "straw man" in a multitude of arguments?

 

I have hobbies like horse back riding and rabbit hunting. It is very easy with any hobby to get to involved to the point it is time and mind consuming. I have also learned when I lay these things aside and study more of his word it creates a closeness to the master and worldly things loose their flavor to the point i'm not interested in them any more. Christ told his Apostles "I have meat to eat that ye know not of". A person can feed the flesh and grow weak or a person can feed the spirit and grow strong.