Nuns and Monks

[Eli1]

Good evening all.

So, what is the general consensus of monks or nuns in this forum?

I personally like the idea very much and when I was younger I wanted to become a monk but things didn’t work out because my mother needed me.
Now I’m married with 2 kids so I can’t just leave an go, but I like their dedication and I do keep in touch with many of them in mount Athos, Greece.

 

[Tall Timbers]

I personally like the idea very much and when I was younger I wanted to become a monk

Was there a specific group of Monks that you wanted to Join? I'm not sure but I think different groups have different missions.

I guess I don't feel one or the other, it's a choice they've made for their lives. I met a nun in the jungles of Colombia South America. She stayed with our community for a while. I think she called her order the order of the Holy Spirit. I do believe she was saved.

 

[Eli1]

Was there a specific group of Monks that you wanted to Join? I'm not sure but I think different groups have different missions.

I guess I don't feel one or the other, it's a choice they've made for their lives. I met a nun in the jungles of Colombia South America. She stayed with our community for a while. I think she called her order the order of the Holy Spirit. I do believe she was saved.

I wanted to join the mount Athos monks in Greece in the late 90s since one of them was my spiritual guide and he baptized me.
I liked their humble approach and spiritual life.
I still keep in touch with him today via Whatsup.

 

[Tall Timbers]

mount Athos monks in Greece

From the web, it appears there are around 2000 monks there in various Monastaries. One I read up on indicates the Monks at that specific Monastery spend their time in prayer, farming, and making hand made stuff to sell.

 

[Eli1]

From the web, it appears there are around 2000 monks there in various Monastaries. One I read up on indicates the Monks at that specific Monastery spend their time in prayer, farming, and making hand made stuff to sell.

Yes, that’s their lifestyle and daily schedule pretty much. There was a documentary made by ABC about them too but I know them because I was born in the Mediterranean region.

 

[Tall Timbers]

Yes, that’s their lifestyle and daily schedule pretty much. There was a documentary made by ABC about them too but I know them because I was born in the Mediterranean region.

I've spent several hundred days in Greece, 3 or 4 weeks at a time. We'd stay just a bit south of Athens. I got pretty good with public transportation and would take the bus into Athens and would high tail it to a little hole in the wall restaurant where I'd get 2 or 3 souvflaki sandwiches. While other people were visiting the ruins I'd either be eating, running or scuba diving in the Med. On one trip there I hired a boat to take a group of us out to a sunken ship I somehow new about. That was a fun day. I also did a lot of windsurfing while there. This was long before Greece entered the E.U. A lot changed for Greece after they entered the E.U.

 

[Eli1]

I've spent several hundred days in Greece, 3 or 4 weeks at a time. We'd stay just a bit south of Athens. I got pretty good with public transportation and would take the bus into Athens and would high tail it to a little hole in the wall restaurant where I'd get 2 or 3 souvflaki sandwiches. While other people were visiting the ruins I'd either be eating, running or scuba diving in the Med. On one trip there I hired a boat to take a group of us out to a sunken ship I somehow new about. That was a fun day. I also did a lot of windsurfing while there. This was long before Greece entered the E.U. A lot changed for Greece after they entered the E.U.

Very nice Tim and I could tell from your answers that you’re somewhat different. Glad to see that you experienced the Aegean Sea and all of the God’s wonders and blessings in this life and happy birthday to you as well today (saw the other thread). May you always be healthy, happy and in-peace with the Lord.

 

[JoyJoyJoy]

I have never met a nun or monk. I usually associate them with the Catholic church. I dont know enough about them to make an intelligent statement.

 

[Chris]

I have never met a nun or monk. I usually associate them with the Catholic church. I dont know enough about them to make an intelligent statement.

I think it has been said nuns came from or were derived from pagan temple prostitutes of the old times in the Harlot religion that is Rome.

The nuns and monks are caught up in the Catholic and Orthodox works based salvation plans.

See here: https://www.raptureforums.com/roman-catholicism/the-roman-catholic-salvation-plan/

 

[daygo]

Have seen nuns and monks but never spoken to them, they always seems to engrossed with their fellows to take to others.

 

[Ghoti Ichthus]

Agree that most monks and nuns are Catholic and Orthodox (including Coptic).

Martin Luther was a Friar at St. Augustine's Monastery (Catholic) in Erfurt, Germany. He left in 1524.

There are Lutheran monks in Germany. Definitely not works-based Salvation, but Lutherans (other than Lutheran Brethren and closet Premillennialists in various Lutheran churches) are preterist/amillennial.
The Lutheran monks in Germany make monk beer
They also maintain some of the Reformation sites, museums, and a lot of the Reformation documents, art, and artifacts
And they run retreats, classes, and have ancient worship services, of which some are open to the public
Etc.
There are also Lutheran nuns in Norway and Sweden, and Lutheran monks in Sweden. IDK much about them.

Given European history and culture, and church history in general, not surprising there are still functioning Lutheran monasteries, convents, etc. in some parts of Europe, but have been wiped out by Nazis and Soviet persecution in other areas.

Episcopalians have monks and nuns and Anglicans have nuns. IDK much about them, either, nor if any of the other Protestant denominations have monks or nuns.

 

[lamonte]

There is only one person that's special to me and that is the Lord Jesus Christ, he's the one that I want to be like through the power of the Holy Spirit. While I was his enemy he gave his life for me and the world. Like Rom 2:4 says
the goodness of God lead me to repentance?

I am not a Baptist, I am not a Lutheran, I am not a Catholic, I am not a Presbyterian, I am not a Pentecostal, I am not a member of any religious earthly organization. I love fellowshipping with my brothers and sisters in Christ, but I don't belong to their club or earthly organization. I do gather with a local body of brothers and sisters but I’m not a member of their earthly organization. The fact that the Church is a “Body” made up of “living members” shows that it is not an “Organization,” but an “ORGANISM.

The Church is built upon the ROCK “Lord Jesus Christ Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

The word translated "church" in the English Bible is ekklesia. This word in the Greek means "the called out ones." True believers are all baptized into one body “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 1Co 12:13.

Some of the names this body the “ekklesia” is called are Disciples, Brother, Saint, Believer, Follower of the Way.

Apostle Paul said “1 Co 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. 12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; 15 Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. 16 And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. 17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.”

 

[Everlasting Life]

The Church is built upon the ROCK “Lord Jesus Christ Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Amen!

I love how the previous verses difine what "this rock" is:

Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed), the Son of the living God.” Then Jesus answered him, “Blessed [happy, spiritually secure, favored by God] are you, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood (mortal man) did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. Vs.16-17 AMP

Other scripture points to Jesus as the rock spoken of in the Matthew passage:

.....and all [of them] ate the same spiritual food; and all [of them] drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ.

1 Corinthians 10:3-4

For who is God, but the Lord?
Or who is a rock, except our God,

Psalm 18:21

And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by people, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 2:3-5

 

[Andy C]

I have never met a nun or monk. I usually associate them with the Catholic church. I dont know enough about them to make an intelligent statement.

Im in the same boat. Never met either, plan on keeping it that way for the time we have left.

 

[Ghoti Ichthus]

Im in the same boat. Never met either, plan on keeping it that way for the time we have left.

You may have met one and don't know it because some don't wear traditional attire away from the Monastery, Convent, etc.

 

[Andy C]

You may have met one and don't know it because some don't wear traditional attire away from the Monastery, Convent, etc.

End result is the same…

 

[daygo]

Have seen then but found them not very friendly.

 

[Andy C]

You may have met one and don't know it because some don't wear traditional attire away from the Monastery, Convent, etc.

I didnt even like the old sitcom “Monk”. However, as a young kid, I did have sort of a crush on Sally Field as “The flying Nun”.

 

[Wally]

I do wonder about many nuns and monks.
Many that I know of are of the Roman Catholic sort and appear to base their faith on works , especially those embracing the ascetic.

Certainly there are some who desire a cleansing from the world and want to focus on a total envelopment of prayer and study of His Word.
And there is a benefit to a sabbatical.

But it is very difficult to apply His Word when so much of it involves dealing with people.
We are to proclaim, to witness, to learn of burdens that we may lift them up in prayer.

God has legions of angels.

But precious few in the world seeking and doing His will: To Love one another.

If you are a nun or monk just trying to be pious, I fear you miss the mark.
But if sharing the message of Jesus, through word, prayer and action is your goal and outreach, then Praise the Lord!

 

[Tall Timbers]

Im in the same boat. Never met either, plan on keeping it that way for the time we have left.

Once in South America, a nun who saw that I was a little too thin bought me a whole rotisserie chicken. That was very nice of her. Unfortunately, it had been pulled off the rotisserie a little too soon and wasn't fully cooked.