WHEN SELF-DENIAL MALFUNCTIONS

Asceticism. That’s the word for the day. It means “The practice of strict self-denial as a measure of personal and especially spiritual discipline”. Typically, we think of asceticism as the life of a monk or one detached from society. It is often viewed through the lens of “works righteousness” and a “performing of religious duties to get nearer to God”. Is this a good or a bad thing? Let me start by saying that Jesus calls His followers to practice self-denial. Mark records the clear words of Jesus discipling His disciples in Mark 8:34, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” The life of a disciple of Jesus, at every era of human history, involves saying no to the flesh and yes to the Spirit. Call it ‘dying to self’, ‘self-denial’, or a ‘spiritual discipline’, if you love Jesus and choose to follow Him, you’ll live this way! Where these kinds of choices malfunction are when they are done to earn something from God rather than simply as a practice of devotion with God. The ascetic has put his hope in a lifestyle that would make him more holy, whereas the self-denying-disciple knows his holiness comes from a death not his own. Self-denial malfunctions when it isn’t tethered to the finished work of Christ on the cross. Like all the spiritual disciplines the Bible calls us to pursue, if they aren’t done by faith in the future reward, as an act of worship, with a humble heart that knows he already has everything he needs for life and godliness, it will malfunction. We must avoid the ditch of asceticism, but we must also avoid the ditch of laziness and self-indulgence. Thinking rightly on this subject is central to a robust life of discipleship where progress and joy flow. Do you have it settled in your heart?