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Post by Dr. Robert Gotcher on May 26, 2021 2:32:31 GMT
How do we know when someone practices bodily mortification falsely?
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jan
New Member
Posts: 9
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Post by jan on May 20, 2023 17:24:19 GMT
Chiefly by making a big deal of them. Telling others, etc. We see God's opposition to such in Matthew 6 where He tells us to "beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by them;" "And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by men", and "when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men" The proper end of personal acts of piety is to glorify God, not oneself. These things are meant to be seen by by "your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you."(RSVCE)
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Post by spaeth09 on May 30, 2023 0:47:13 GMT
I'm glad we avoided the discussion around what we gave up or did extra for Lent this year. I don't necessarily think its a bad thing to have others keeping you in check, but I feel that the temptation to brag about it is just so very real. I've avoided Exodus 90 for such reasons as well. I just don't need the temptation to honor because of the mortification that God calls me to. I remember the readings of Ash Wednesday very vividly because there was a time when I was very openly pining for honor through religious practice, and I don't want to go anywhere near that mindset again.
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