The Rise of Monasticism and the Crazy Hermits

Monasticism came and went, but some vestiges of them remain. The hermit with their “crazy” and non-socially accepted ways and the monasteries with their closed doors and walls both provide insight into what we humans do in the name of righteousness. As Jesus is recorded saying, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees—hypocrites! —because you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and of everything unclean! In the same way, on the outside you also appear righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” (Mt 23:27-28 LEB) While reading and studying monasticism, this quote from Jesus came to mind repeatedly. The hermits and monks both believed they could live without being in the world, yet we are instructed to live in the world and be not of it. They left a legacy of solitude and vice. For as a pendulum swings so it did here. They desired to flee temptation from evil and replaced it with vain chastity and solitude, replacing one extreme with another. Gone were the threats of death and persecution, now entered the realm of who can appear the most righteous.
Hermits used eisegesis to justify bizarre behavior (like living on a 30-foot-tall pillar). Did this help spread the Gospel, perhaps. We see stunts like this today and tend to call out those who do them as being not in their right mind.
Now, do not read what I am not writing. All was not in vain with the monks and hermits. The hermits' extremism leads to the monasteries. Without these cloisters, we would not have the treasure trove of scrolls, parchments, and manuscripts from antiquity. When they weren’t working to make food, clothing, and lodging for themselves, the monks read, studied, and copied these texts. Not just the Canon of Scripture, but classics from all of antiquity. They excelled at scholasticism, at the expense of evangelism. May we find the middle ground.

As stated before, no one and no thing exists in a vacuum. I’ve heard it said before: you can take them out of Egypt, but you can’t take Egypt out of them. Or in this case: Rome.

The Roman Empire was dying but refused to yield to its death. The pantheon of gods and idols remained. Even as Christianity was spreading, Rome clung on. The Germanic tribes conquered Rome but lost their religion. Instead, they adopted this monotheism and changed it as they came in. By this time, the teachings of Jesus were being divorced from who He is. Oh, how things haven’t changed. We argue over the same things as they did. Whether it is the divinity of Jesus or His humanity, who is a Christian and who is not (aka the pure church), separating the who Jesus is vs what He taught, or who/ how the church is governed (plurality of elders vs one at the top/ papacy), New Rome and Old Rome stem from the same fallen humanity.
Enter the Great Schism. Eastern vs Western. Which is right? Which is heresy? Who knows? Does Rome have the keys to the kingdom or do the church Bishops? Is the Bishop in Rome the first AMONG equals OR is he above all others? Let’s fight over it! Thus, the Great Schism. This conflict is still alive and well today.
Oh, how far we have come. We fight over what we do not understand while claiming to have all understanding. (myself included).

90 & Out is a video commentary on the Christian Bible with new episodes uploaded periodically.
90 & Out is written, directed, and presented by Timothy Holt.
Timothy Holt serves as youth pastor at Six Points Church in Parker, PA and is the former children's pastor at Westdale Church in Cedar Rapids, IA. Timothy Holt believes the Christian Bible can be read easily but may take some effort to understand. With so many variations out there, how does one start their search for the truth? Hopefully, this channel will help you read and understand the Christian Bible more fully, as well as being entertained.

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