My RESPONSE TO SORIANO and to INC defenders on Fasting and abstinence, and also on Celibacy.
INC, ADD and many cults accuses the Catholic Church that our practices are demonic. As faithful its OUR OBLIGATION as children of the Mother Church to defend any attack or accusation against her teachings.
They claim that fasting from meat and the practice of the discipline of celibacy is from demons. Are these accusations valid? Let’s find out!
Let me Qoute the VERSES they are referring to:
1 Timothy 4:1-5
1 – Now the Spirit manifestly saith, that in the last times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to spirits of error, and doctrines of devils,
My comments;
St. Paul KNOWS that there were ALREADY people who were already teaching these strange doctrines in his time. Although he said, ” in the last times/days”, he was ACTUALLY referring to his present TIME. In-fact, if we read Hebrews 1:1 the start of the ” LAST DAYS WAS when THE NEW TESTAMENT BEGAN.
Lets read:
Hebrews 1:1-2 KJV
[1] … God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, [2] Hath in these LAST DAYS spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; …
HENCE, we have now established WHEN? this ” last days”mean.
Now, we will have to deal with other questions; what, who, and why.
During the apostles’ time, there were PEOPLE who taught DOCTRINES of the DEVIL.
PROCEEDING VERSES will tell us more.
Lets continue reading.
2 – Speaking lies in hypocrisy, and having their conscience seared,
3 – Forbidding to marry, to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving by the faithful, and by them that have known the truth.
These FALSE TEACHERS were telling lies about food and marriage:
1. They forbid to marry.
2.Abstain from meats.( other translation says, ” abstain from certain foods).
These people basically teaching that certain food like meat is bad as it was created by Evil god. St. Paul in turn refuted their errors as food including meat are all gift from God. He also affirmed that conjugal act in marriage is not forbidden.
Who were these people St. Paul was referring to? Is it the Catholic Church who has disciplinary law of celibacy? NO! I will provide answer and IDENTIFY THEM later.
Lets deal first with” forbidding to marry”.
Do Catholic Church REALLY FORBIDS TO MARRY? No! Far from it. Catholics believes that Marriage is a SACRAMENT and a GIFT from GOD. The Church conducts marriage more than all churches combined!!!
Is the LAW OF CELIBACY a DOCTRINE OF THE DEVIL?
Certainly not!!! The Church however understands that God gives different gifts and thus we have differents roles for the building up of His body -the Church or the NEW KINGDOM OF GOD.
Christ said;
International Standard Version
Matthew 19:12
“because some men are celibate from birth, while some are celibate because they have been made that way by others. Still others are celibate because they have made themselves that way for the sake of the kingdom from heaven. Let anyone accept this who can.”
St. Paul also said;
“For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.
(verse 7)
But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.( verse 17)
(1 Cor 7:7,17)
32 – “But I would have you to be without solicitude. He that is without a wife, is solicitous for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please God.
33 – But he that is with a wife, is solicitous for the things of the world, how he may please his wife: and he is divided. (1Cor 7:32-33)
A seminarian enters KNOWING THAT they are required to take a solititude life for the KINGDOM of God. That they may become like St. Paul and like the rest of the Apostles( except St. Peter) were not married but followed the Example of the HIGHEST PRIEST- Jesus Christ.
Lets read further:
3 – Forbidding to marry, to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving by the faithful, and by them that have known the truth.
Now lets me deal with the second accusation;
” ABSTAIN FROM MEAT”
Non-catholics think that they have found the smoking gun and have the evidence. ” See, you catholics abstain from meat on Good Fridays!” They say.
To understand this,” abstain from meat” issue, we need to read the next two verses.
Lets read;
4 – For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be rejected that is received with thanksgiving:
5 – For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
Verse 4-5, TELLS US THAT ALL FOOD IS GOOD!!! and NOTHING TO BE REJECTED. He also ADDED, ” for it is SANCTIFIED by word of God and Prayer.”
Then, here WE CAN CLEARLY SEE that these people who were TEACHING DOCTRINES OF THE DEVIL were ACTUALLY REJECTING certain foods , AND NOT ONLY TEMPORARILY abstaining from them BUT permanently.
THEY taught that THESE CERTAIN FOOD ARE not FROM GOD but from an Evil god who created material things, hence NOT GOOD.
How about Catholics ” fasting and abstinence”? Is this teaching from the DEVIL? No! Far from it!
Lets find out, shall we?
In the Old Testament we can read;
Daniel 10:3 (NASB)
3[I ] did[ not eat any tasty food, nor did MEAT or wine enter my mouth, nor did I use any ointment at all until the entire three weeks were completed.]
Did Daniel a prophet of God ALSO FOLOWED THE TEACHING OF THE DEVIL?
Did the apostles practice it?
Acts 13:2-3 NASB
[2] While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” [3] Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
What did Jesus said about fasting?
Matthew 17:21 NASB
[21] [But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”]
How about Jesus himself?
Lets find out!
Matthew 4:2-3 KJV
[2] And when he had FASTED forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. [3] And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
CHRIST did fast, which means that HE WITHELD EATING FOR PERIOD of Time. ThESE INCLUDES ALL FOOD, and yes MEAT INCLUDED!!!
DID Jesus Christ followed the teaching of the Devil when HE DID NOT ATE ANYTHING( meat included)? Of COURSE NOT! He fasted to OFFER and to glorify The heavenly Father.
And we are just FOLLOWING THE EXAMPLE of Christ as We are THE TRUE CHRISTIANS!!!
After FASTING we can eat ALL FOODS WE like, bacause we KNOW and teach that food is GOOD, AND are GIFTS FROM GOD not to be REJECTED.
Now let us identify to who St. Paul was referring to who truly forbids eating meat and marriage.
They are the Gnostics!
How can we know that it’s the Gnostics? From the writings of St. Paul itself wherein St. Paul warned Timothy to guard himself from them.
Let us read:
1 Timothy 1:3 NASB
[3] As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men NOT to teach STRANGE doctrines,
What are these strange doctrines?
1 Timothy 4:3 NASB
[3] men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth.”
1 Timothy 6:20-21 NASB
[20] O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called “KNOWLEDGE”- [21] which some have professed and thus gone astray from n the faith. Grace be with you. …”
Gnostics were those people who claimed that they received higher or perfect KNOWLEDGE and believe that there are two GODS. The good God who created spirits and the bad God who created (matters/ flesh) physical things. Thus, when man and woman do the sexual act and a baby is conceived, a spirit who is in perfect happiness with God will be snatched and trapped into a flesh. They also forbids eating meat as it would further strengthen and nourish the “evil flesh”. This is the ” strange doctrines” that St. Paul was concerned about. He was not attacking celibacy for the kingdom of God, nor fasting and abstinence as the Jews, prophet Daniel and Jesus practiced.
GNOSTICS is from the word “GNOSIS”
Strong’s Number
G1108
Original Word
γνῶσις
Transliterated Word
gnōsis
Phonetic Spelling
gno’-sis
Parts of Speech
Noun Feminine
Definition
knowledge signifies in general intelligence, understanding
the general knowledge of Christian religion
the deeper more perfect and enlarged knowledge of this religion, such as belongs to the more advanced.
May God open the eyes of all sincere people who seeks God and his truth!