As there is a harsh and evil zeal which separateth from God and leadeth to hell, so there is a virtuous zeal which separateth from vice and leadeth to God and life everlasting.Let the monks, therefore, practice this zeal with most ardent love; namely, that in honor they forerun one another (cf Rom 12:10). Let them bear their infirmities, whether of body or mind, with the utmost patience; let them vie with one another in obedience. Let no one follow what he thinketh useful to himself, but rather to another. Let them practice fraternal charity with a chaste love. -- Rule of St. Benedict
Can modern-day Protestants learn anything useful from the monastic tradition?
5 comments:
John,
I actually believe we can. I think we get so caught up in the affairs of the world that it clouds our Christian Faith and our connection to Christ. We often forget to separate ourselves from the details of the world so that we can focus on the affairs of God. That is what a monastic life does. My only problem with it is that if lacks balance and forgets we are to be lights in the world, beacons to the lost. We don't do that by hiding behind the wall of a monastary, we do that by being Christian tradesmen, retail workers, engineers, doctors, lawyers, etc, etc. But, most modern western Christians need to take the time and disciple to focus inwardly on the things of God while we shine outwardly to a lost world.
I think Protestants can touch upon that monastic tradition by taking regular retreats and extended times of spiritual meditation and contemplation.
However like Keith, I think that the introverted nature of monastic life is not actually that healthy in the long run. It is the ultimate "holy huddle".
i certainly believe so, i think i reference that by varied posts on "st. benedicts view of the megachurch" the "youth minister as abbot" and i weekly teach the role of the porter to my youth and a wednesday night church service that i head up. monastic principles also have a great wealth of knowledge in the administration of a church..
yet, st. b does do something things, like physical punishment of congregants, that could be left out. other than that, it's something we all should have a knowlege of.
I'm not sure what modern monasticism is like, but it used to be more dynamic than we may think. I've been reading the 'Saint of the Day' at www.americancatholic.org as part of my daily devotionals. Many canonized saints were monks and nuns who fed the hungry, clothed the naked and cared for the sick. A good number were martyred for their faith. In addition, their cloistered life gave them opportunity to write inspirational poetry and devotional works that still inspire today.
Reading this site has challenged my caricature of a monk as a guy with a bad haircut who doesn't do much except pray.
I think we must. Part of the reason I felt compelled to resign my pulpit was due to the fact that I was burning the candle at both ends. Now that I've slowed down just a tad, it occurs to me that I still do not take time to simply be alone to think, pray, and read. Some pastors have tried to suggest that I use my commute time to commune with the Lord, but that just doesn't quite cut it.
Like Keith, I also believe that there has to be balance. While we are compelled to separate ourselves from the things of the world, we are equally compelled to "go" and "do" as "sheep among wolves".
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