To all my dear internet friends who have followed my often stormy path over the past few years, I once again begin a new blog~
You know what I'm like! I get fed up with my blogs after a while and delete them only to start again a week or so later. I sincerely apologise for my erratic behaviour! but what can I say? I blame it on my genes!
Why is my blog called A Modern Day Essene? well, read on and you will find out!
I am currently reading a book by Philip Yancey, "The Jesus I never Knew". In a chapter about the religious groups of the day he explains about the Essenes. Let me take the liberty of copying Philips own words;
"The Essenes were the most separate of all. Pacifistic, they did not actively resist Herod or the Romans, but rather withdrew into monkish communites in the caves of a barren desert. Convinced that the Roman invasion had come as a punishment for their failure to keep the law, they devoted themselves to purity. The Essenes took ritual baths every day, maintained a strict diet, did not defecate on the Sabbath, wore no jewelry, took no oaths, and held all material goods in common. They hoped their faithfulness would encourage the advent of the Messiah."
So, am I am modern day Essene? well, believe me when I tell you that for ten years I lived very much that way!! My monkish community was nothing more than my own home! but I can relate to the devotion to purity and strict diet. My form of purity took on different stands. I can remember being very strict with my personal dress and liked to call myself "modest". My diet? gosh, I live for healthy recipes and the like!!!!
Is being an Essene a bad thing? No, I don't think so but the trouble with the Essenes, in my humble opinion, was that they seperated themselves too much from the world. I believe that the Bible tells us to be like a light unto the darkness! How can we be a light when we live in a cave with other like minded people? And does keeping the law and living with purity and healthy diets bring someone closer to God? I believe it borders on "works" and the word of God is clear that our works can do nothing to bring us closer to him. Grace.........that is the only thing that draws us closer to God, his own Grace towards us!
Some scholars believe that John the Baptist and Jesus himself came from the group called The Essenes. I wonder if that explains why the people that Jesus grew up and around received him not? Would his lifestyle have been shunned by these cave dwelling purist?
Out of all the religious groups of the day I can relate most to the Essenes! I know a few zealots, quite a lot of pharisees and a few Sanhedrins's too.
As I read the chapter on these different groups it was funny to see me relating to one specific group. I was able to reflect on that and see the good and bad in it. One thing that I came out of the study with was my need to be a light in a dark world. To stop dwelling in my cave and to allow God to use my gifts and talents to bless others. To stop thinking that my works of grinding wheat, juicing carrots and other such lovelies was making me better than anyone else! Ulitimatly God is in control of my life and although doing all these things is enjoyable to me, I am not to think that "I" am the God of my own health! Yes, he gives us wisdom and if we acknowledge him in all our ways then he does direct our path..............but don't stop looking at God as the source!
The bible says that the Fear of the Lord is the begining of wisdom. That word "fear" means reverence, respect, trust............not fearful! That is why in all things we are to have a reverence for God and out of that I believe that he leads us in the paths of wisdom. For health, for peace, for intimacy with him.
So, there you go! That is why I called my blog "A Modern Day Essene". What do you think you are???
You know what I'm like! I get fed up with my blogs after a while and delete them only to start again a week or so later. I sincerely apologise for my erratic behaviour! but what can I say? I blame it on my genes!
Why is my blog called A Modern Day Essene? well, read on and you will find out!
I am currently reading a book by Philip Yancey, "The Jesus I never Knew". In a chapter about the religious groups of the day he explains about the Essenes. Let me take the liberty of copying Philips own words;
"The Essenes were the most separate of all. Pacifistic, they did not actively resist Herod or the Romans, but rather withdrew into monkish communites in the caves of a barren desert. Convinced that the Roman invasion had come as a punishment for their failure to keep the law, they devoted themselves to purity. The Essenes took ritual baths every day, maintained a strict diet, did not defecate on the Sabbath, wore no jewelry, took no oaths, and held all material goods in common. They hoped their faithfulness would encourage the advent of the Messiah."
So, am I am modern day Essene? well, believe me when I tell you that for ten years I lived very much that way!! My monkish community was nothing more than my own home! but I can relate to the devotion to purity and strict diet. My form of purity took on different stands. I can remember being very strict with my personal dress and liked to call myself "modest". My diet? gosh, I live for healthy recipes and the like!!!!
Is being an Essene a bad thing? No, I don't think so but the trouble with the Essenes, in my humble opinion, was that they seperated themselves too much from the world. I believe that the Bible tells us to be like a light unto the darkness! How can we be a light when we live in a cave with other like minded people? And does keeping the law and living with purity and healthy diets bring someone closer to God? I believe it borders on "works" and the word of God is clear that our works can do nothing to bring us closer to him. Grace.........that is the only thing that draws us closer to God, his own Grace towards us!
Some scholars believe that John the Baptist and Jesus himself came from the group called The Essenes. I wonder if that explains why the people that Jesus grew up and around received him not? Would his lifestyle have been shunned by these cave dwelling purist?
Out of all the religious groups of the day I can relate most to the Essenes! I know a few zealots, quite a lot of pharisees and a few Sanhedrins's too.
As I read the chapter on these different groups it was funny to see me relating to one specific group. I was able to reflect on that and see the good and bad in it. One thing that I came out of the study with was my need to be a light in a dark world. To stop dwelling in my cave and to allow God to use my gifts and talents to bless others. To stop thinking that my works of grinding wheat, juicing carrots and other such lovelies was making me better than anyone else! Ulitimatly God is in control of my life and although doing all these things is enjoyable to me, I am not to think that "I" am the God of my own health! Yes, he gives us wisdom and if we acknowledge him in all our ways then he does direct our path..............but don't stop looking at God as the source!
The bible says that the Fear of the Lord is the begining of wisdom. That word "fear" means reverence, respect, trust............not fearful! That is why in all things we are to have a reverence for God and out of that I believe that he leads us in the paths of wisdom. For health, for peace, for intimacy with him.
So, there you go! That is why I called my blog "A Modern Day Essene". What do you think you are???
