Christian Vs. Secular Christian

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When an individual inquiries an answer on what it means to gain admission towards eternal happiness, many Christians could respond with various of answers. However, if one asked a Cenobite, a monk that lives a monastic life, their answer compared to a secular Christian would be the polar opposite. Nevertheless, a secular and monastic Christian can both obtain entrance into Heaven in various ways. I do not believe that one is easier to facilitate than the other. Neither a secular or monastic Christian life is simple; both take effort, dedication, and time. In John 3:26 it reads “for God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him should not be perish but have eternal life.” God left us no directions into gaining …show more content…

Benedict’s book, The Rule of Saint Benedict, St. Benedict defines monasticism as the quest for union with God through prayer, penance, and separation from the world by living in a communal life. By praying, the monks dedicate time to interact with God throughout the day.The monks voluntarily choose to live this monastic lifestyle, which takes up a year to gain full access to. St. Benedict’s book describes these monks living a perfect life without sinning. The monks that live in the community follow a strict lifestyle under a loving Father an Abbot. The Abbot, in The Rule of Saint Benedict, is described as holding the place of Christ in the community. He is responsible for the spiritual development within the community. Is it even possible to have someone who can be seen as Christ on Earth? Shouldn’t one live their life by learning from the outside world, not from an Abbot that enforces the laws of the Monastery, cares for the monks, and keeps order within the community? Jesus spent a tremendous amount of his life time traveling and preaching on Earth. The little time that Jesus walked the Earth he was able to assist others in by practicing the Christian faith, helping others, and helping one believe in the Holy Spirit. We know that Jesus did not live a Monastery; however, we know that he is in Heaven without following The Rule of Saint Benedict, because the book was not around when Jesus walked the …show more content…

A monk must do what the rule says to to do in order to fully live a monastic life. A monk’s daily life is extremely structured from praying multiple times a day, working in the fields, not being allowed to speak six days out of the week, rarely allowed to leave the Monastery, and maintaining harmony within the Monastery. While reading the various task I pondered if God really want a Christian to be living a life only following these rules. What is the purpose of becoming a monk? One can follow the rules without actually being in a Monastery. Would God really want one to be silent for six days out of the in fear of saying something that is sinful? The deeper I read and understand the rules that are written in The Rule of Saint Benedict, I felt that a monastic life leaves no room for sinning which I think could be one of the main takeaways from The Rule of Saint Benedict. According to the prologue in the The Rule of Saint Benedict, it talks about obedience which can be defined as under the submission to another's authority which one living in the community listens to the Abbot and by being obedient is the way one wishes to enter into

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