Asceticism.

 

It is clear that St. Paul retained some of the Asceticism that he learned in the strict sect of Pharisees in which he was trained.

Asceticism in the ancient world taught that abstinence from sex was necessary for spiritual development.

And this influence can be seen in Paul's writings.

But Jesus said, "'For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, "He has a demon"; the Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, "Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!"  Luke 7:33,34 (NRSV)

This indicates that John the Baptist was an Ascetic.

But Jesus himself is definite in his statement that he is not.

This is consistent with the scriptural assertion that the Way of Love which Jesus taught is greater than the Way of Asceticism or Self-Denial.

John the Baptist himself says, "'I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.'" John 1:27 (NRSV)

This inferior way survives as the Christian tradition of mortification of the body.

But this practice derives from the writings of St. Paul not the teachings of Jesus.

Jesus way is the Way of Love.

He did not practise or recommend Asceticism.

So Paul's writings about the body and sex, including his condemnation of homosexuality, can be dismissed because they are not consistent with the Way of Love.


[Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible. copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission.  All rights reserved.]

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