Posted on 01/27/2010 11:35:46 AM PST by JoeProBono
Pope John Paul II regularly whipped himself as an act of penance
Was he listening to DEVO while doing it?
Hope he had a few lashes for not defending children from his pederast employees. Maybe more than a few.
Self-flagellation is a sick and twisted practice - unbiblical.
Ths is the great disagrement I have with my Catholic friends. If Christ died for our sins and completely wiped them away, why does even the former Pope think he needed to whip himself in an act of penance?
Isaiah tells us that “all our righteous acts are like filthy rags”.
St Paul’s letter to the Ephesians tells us: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faithand this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Why the felt need for self-flagilation? Either the work of Christ was complete or we need Christ plus our good works. This suggests the work of Christ is incomplete and that we can, at least in part, earn salvation.
Am I wrong here?
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” - Romans 8:1
Something about this “practice” always seems like sexual deviance. Similar to S&M.
This practice has NOTHING to do with Christ,imo.
What is your evidence that by “exercise” he means self-flagellation?
"They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work." - Titus 1:16
That said, nowhere will you find a command from God to beat yourself with a belt like a S&M freak. That's just stupid superstition.
That’s ridiculous.
I don't think this is the right way to look at it. A child molester is not without sin. I would argue that no one is without sin.
Christ died for us and allows us to be saved by grace. As sinners, we do not deserve grace and we cannot earn salvation. But salvation may be given to us even though we do not deserve it.
Now, recognition of sin and repentence for sin is something that all Christians should make part of their relationship with God. I personally do not whip myself, but I think that this is what the Holy Father was intending.
Well he certainly was holy. He was such a nice man. He did so much for the cause of life. We Catholics loved him very much.
Oooooh--you said the "S" word.
no
1 Cor 9:27
I’ve never bought into the suffering=holiness equation.
I don’t want to see the gym abracapocus goes to...
“He’s not talking about aerobics, he’s talking about self-flaggelation. He’s saying it helps a bit. “
I don’t think bodily exercise = self flagellation. Weird interpretation of the text.
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