It would seem that "holy" men like Mahatma (Mohandas) Gandhi or the Dali Lama of Tibet have reached a level unattainable by the average person. But religiosity is not what God seeks. Asceticism is condemned by Paul in Col. 2:23 and its show of holiness because the person thinks he is giving up something for God and doing Him a favor by impressing Him of his holiness--these types have a "holier-than-thou" attitude condemned in Isaiah 65:5. Severe denial of pleasures or the good things in life is not the answer--God has given us richly all things to enjoy (cf. 1 Tim. 6:17) and we are not to refuse anything if received with thanksgiving--God is the source of all good things and blessings.
We are not any better because we give up something. But fasting is a temporary abstinence of something for the sole purpose of humbling oneself to God and seeking His guidance or deliverance in a trial or difficult time or decision time--not to be practiced for its own sake as a measure of spirituality. The purpose is to learn and practice self-control in all things, not just our eating habits as some allege. Martin Luther practiced extreme self-flagellation, and if anyone could've benefited by such a lifestyle it would have been him--he took it to its logical conclusion and found out it didn't work nor impress God.
Faith is what pleases God, not religiosity--He tests our faith as if by fire and brings trials our way to force action. There are plenty of athletes who have a lot of bodily self-discipline but aren't even saved. Jesus didn't come to make us good people who have good habits, but to make dead people alive who enjoy the more abundant life He promised. Abstinence of pleasure or the good things in life is not taught (I'm not talking of sin); for instance, there is no case for teetotalism. Soli Deo Gloria!
We are not any better because we give up something. But fasting is a temporary abstinence of something for the sole purpose of humbling oneself to God and seeking His guidance or deliverance in a trial or difficult time or decision time--not to be practiced for its own sake as a measure of spirituality. The purpose is to learn and practice self-control in all things, not just our eating habits as some allege. Martin Luther practiced extreme self-flagellation, and if anyone could've benefited by such a lifestyle it would have been him--he took it to its logical conclusion and found out it didn't work nor impress God.
Faith is what pleases God, not religiosity--He tests our faith as if by fire and brings trials our way to force action. There are plenty of athletes who have a lot of bodily self-discipline but aren't even saved. Jesus didn't come to make us good people who have good habits, but to make dead people alive who enjoy the more abundant life He promised. Abstinence of pleasure or the good things in life is not taught (I'm not talking of sin); for instance, there is no case for teetotalism. Soli Deo Gloria!
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