Asceticism originates from the Greek Words ἄσκησις or áskēsis which translates "exercise" and has meaning "training." Asceticism in the Church has been the pursuit of spiritual goals via self denial and abstinence of the worldly pleasures. Ascetics often go beyond denial of gluttony and sexually promiscuity to fasting extensively and castrating themselves. Asceticism becomes a form of religious extremism; a hardline interpretation of "Deny yourself and pick up your cross.." (Matthew 16:24).
The purpose of living a life of this level of "denying oneself" and "not loving the world," is to achieve greater inner peace, and a spiritual ecstasy or pleasure that can only be found in denying the pleasures of this world. The argument is compelling, until you reading Colossians 2, which says, "Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of good and drink, or with regard to a festival or new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous (senses) mind and not holding fast to the Head (Jesus).." (Colossians 2:16-19).
The Apostle Paul makes it clear that there is no reason to feel judged or be disqualified spiritually if you do not practice a festival, new moon, or even the Sabbath. He then address asceticism specifically, and shares attributes of ascetic life: which includes seeing angels, having visions, and using their sensuous mind while looking at icons or in the desert. Visions are not wrong, but Paul says, "this kind puffs up without reason."
Ascetics are the old Monastics or Monks. They believe salvation and spiritual revelation and maturity is found in abstinence of the flesh (bodily desires). But St. Paul says, "In Him also you were circumcised with circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, buy circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith n the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who dead in your flesh, God made alive together with him, canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross." (Colossians 2:11-14). This Scripture discounts our ability to purge sin with our own merits and self denial; for it says, "He set aside our debt and nailed it to the cross." As for having to deny the flesh, it says we were "Dead in the flesh, but God has made us alive together in Him," which means we no longer are slaves to our sinful flesh or bodily passions that seek to rule us. So Asceticism here is redundant. The Lord Jesus Christ has already paid the debt and slain the flesh and its desires with His death on the cross. There is no need for self denial, because we have been "buried" with Christ and "raised" with Jesus; our sinful (wicked, evil, bad) self was buried and now we are "New Creation" (2 Corinthians 5:17) and you are "Born Again" (1 Peter 1:23) through the baptism of Christ's blood and burial and have risen to life again with Him.
The Apostle Paul finally deals with asceticism when he says under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, "If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations--do not handle. Do not taste. Do not touch according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh." (Colossians 2:20-23, ESV). This is an incredible passage! Paul comes against the very fiber of asceticism, superstition, self-made or man-made religion and all the severities that ascetics teach and practice. Here the Apostle has exposed these as false, and not beneficial. He says, "they have no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh." In fact there is evidence that they actually increase the desire to sin and act contrary to the character of Christ.
Austerity and Asceticism is not the answer. Jesus Christ, Almighty God is. We are tempted to create "regulations" and "severities to the body." We want to prove ourselves to God and attain as Paul said, "The appearance of wisdom." (verse 23). But the only way to real wisdom and enlightenment is, "being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." (Colossians 2:2-3). What ascetics, monks, and even evangelicals with self denial want is to reach a higher level of understanding, wisdom, and knowing of God; but it can only be achieve through Christ Jesus. It is not through harsh regimes or fasts; mutilation of our bodies and self hatred that we draw closer to the "mystery" but rather through making time to have relationship with Jesus Christ. We are not sinners anymore, but "A New Creation," (), "Sons of God," "A Royal Priesthood and Holy Nation," (1 Peter 2:9) and "It is Christ who lives in us now." (Galatians 2:20).
We are not beggars at the doorstep of God or at the gate of heaven! We are "heirs, and Co-heirs with Christ." (Romans 8;17). We are princes, not paupers under the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We are "Children of the Most High," (Galatians 3:26-29) not criminals waiting to be punished. While yes we do endeavor to curb our flesh through Christ and cease wicked choices; we do not want to arrive at justifying our sins; but rather remaining repentant and more importantly thankful that Jesus has "paid our debt." As believers we do not have to do severe things to merit God's approval or to gain greater illumination. Christ already went through the most severe death one could suffer; crucifixion on a cross. It is arrogance and Satanic self hatred that motivates us to do more severe things to supposedly appease God and become closer to the Lord. We already are close to God, it says, "The living God dwells in you," (1 Corinthians 3:16) and "it is Christ that lives in you," and "You live In Him and He lives in You." (John 15:4-5). There is nothing we could do to achieve this union with God, so God did it for us on the cross and tomb. Christ's Death and Resurrection is all that was necessary to make full satisfaction for your sins. The Father in Heaven even looks down and sees not a sinner, but His Son reigning in you!
Its time to stop being ascetics and start accepting the "Free Gift of God, that is salvation through Jesus Christ." We are told the only requirement to be cleansed and be close to God and be One with Him is to "believe in Jesus Christ" in "your heart, and confess Him with your mouth," and "you shall be saved." (John 3:16, Romans 10:9). If you do not already believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, take this moment to confess Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Say this prayer,
"Lord Jesus, I confess that I have sinned, I am full of badness, please forgive my sins. I believe in you, that you died on the cross for all my sins and rose from the dead on the third day, and are now seated at Right hand of your Father. Jesus save me, I am yours, I confess it and believe in my heart you are God (John 1:18 and Colossians 2:9)."
If you prayed that prayer, God now lives in you! You are now part of the family of God! You are a "New Creation," "Born Again," and "a Royal Priesthood."
Before I share the next steps you should take, you need to know that life following Jesus Christ will not be easy. This world and the wicked one (Satan, the devil with his demons) will seek to destroy you and you will find "Tribulation in this life." (Jesus Christ). But take heart for Jesus has "overcome the World," (John 16:33) and "the devil and his demons." (John 16:11, James 4:7, Matthew 25:51, Romans 16; 20, Revelation 20:10). What matters is your relationship with Jesus Christ and that you "finish the race, and keep the faith." (2 Timothy 4:7). Jesus Christ is returning and coming back; the celestial joys of heaven and being with Christ outweigh the troubles of this world and persecution; so hold on to Christ.
Now, the next steps you can take is get a Bible (paperback, hardcover, or leather-bound) or download The Bible App (free) or Glo Bible on your tablet, phone, or computer. You can look up whole sections of the Bible on Bible Hub and other tools on the internet; but it helps to have your own copy to study. I recommend an ESV and NASB translation of the Bible; although the newer (2014-2015) edition of NIV is very accurate and readable. Starting reading the whole Gospel or Book of John in the New Testament; its after Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Then read the whole of 1 John the Letter near end of the Bible, then read Romans (reaffirms your faith), Colossians (takes away guilt about Sabbaths and practices of religion that are unnecessary), Galatians (you don't need Judaism, you need Jesus), Hebrews (to know more about Jesus), and finally read Matthew 24 and 25 (do not read these until you've read the others, because you need to know your place in Christ before knowing about false christs and deceptions).
While you are studying the Bible, ask for the Baptism or Full Manifestation of the Holy Spirit. You already have the Holy Spirit, because Jesus Christ is One with the Father and Holy Spirit; a Trinity that is One God (hard to understand, but if you focus on Jesus, you will focus on the Father and move in Holy Spirit, so don't worry, read my posts on the Trinity if you want some clarification: not full understanding, remember there is still the mystery of God and how he operates will never be fully understandable).
As for going to Church. Find one that is a balance of Scripture and Holy Spirit. Avoid emotional churches who move in Spirit and emotion and forget to test things with Scripture and avoid churches that are only Scripture or Tradition (liturgy, rite, mass, and etc) that never allow God's Spirit or presence to come into the place.
Above all hold fast and hold on to Jesus Christ your savior, redeemer, and the one who has made you clean and innocence of sin through his blood and death on the cross.
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