2 QUOTES FROM THE EARLY CHURCH on The Pilgrim Way

 2 QUOTES FROM THE EARLY CHURCH on

The Pilgrim Way

"I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.” 1 Peter 2:11 

"The one who knows God is like a person who has been sent on a distant pilgrimage. He uses inns and houses along the way, being careful in using the things of the world and the places where he stops. He leaves behind his own home and property without excessive emotion. He readily follows Him who leads him away from this life. He never turns back for any reason. Giving thanks for his journey, and blessing God for his departure, he embraces the mansion that is in heaven. For the soul who has chosen the best life—the life that is from God and righteousness—exchanges earth for heaven."  [Clement of Alexandria]

"He who chooses to live well for eternity, will live in discomfort for the present. He will be subjected to all types of troubles and burdens as long as he is on earth, so that in the end he will have divine and heavenly comfort. On the other hand, he who chooses to live well for the present will fare badly in eternity."  [Lactantius]

Quoted from: Bercot, David. "The Pilgrim Road" . Scroll Publishing Co..

These quotes were from theologians of the first 300 years. Monasticism and ascetism were NOT practiced then. Also, due to later Roman Catholic influence, the reasons for ascetism became vague and border on wrong theology.

However, the Greek and Irish "Desert Fathers" and monks were different. They correctly understood that they were saved by faith but they also correctly understood that holiness, "without which we cannot see God", means SEPARATION FROM THE WORLD [both Hebrew and Greek words for holiness literally means "set apart"]. The monks were a minority breed of people who knew that they were incapable of such "spiritual" separation unless they did it physically. Their motives were pure. These monks,, in fact, were famous for helping the poor and improving the communities they were in. They continued to be salt and light wherever they were.

Cyprian who became bishop of Carthage before he died 258 AD, was a rich Roman citizen. Realizing that it was "impossible for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God" and Jesus telling the rich young ruler to "sell all you have, give to the poor, and YOU WILL HAVE TREASURE IN HEAVEN, and come follow me", he sold his wealth, gave all the proceeds to the poor, and followed Christ.

What most Christians do not learn nor teach today is the doctrine of "Separation from the world" for the kingdom of light is ALWAYS at war with the kingdom of darkness (hence, the "armor of God" in Ephesians). "No man can serve two masters. We cannot serve God and what money can buy" per Christ.

"Christ came to separate us from the world. Our pilgrimage involves keeping the world separate from us". As believers, we have to do whatever it takes.

Retaining the culture of the kingdom of the world means we take the kingdom of God for granted. We cannot serve two masters. Not only will we love one and not the other, WE WILL ALSO LOSE ONE AND NOT THE OTHER.