The Necessity of Monastic Asceticism: A Case for Retrieval in Contemporary Evangelicalism.

This article examines the marginalization of asceticism within contemporary evangelical Christianity and argues for its reintegration based on the monastic tradition centered on the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience. It explores historical evangelical roots in ascetic practices, such as those of the Anabaptists and Puritans, and identifies theological and cultural reasons for asceticism's decline, including the Reformation's rejection of medieval monasticism, a diminished focus on embodied sin, and evangelical soteriological emphases on assurance of salvation and grace. The article contends that asceticism is integral to the fullness of the Gospel and that monastic asceticism offers a robust, biblical model for spiritual formation applicable to all Christians, not solely traditional monastics. It concludes that reclaiming ascetic practices is necessary for evangelical faith and holiness, restoring a life oriented toward union with God and spiritual perfection.