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Question 10

Bercot says the orders of widows and virgins were eventually absorbed into monasticism, which produced much spiritual fruit but also major abuses (wealth, ungodly motives, forced vows, sexual scandals, merit-earning mentality), and he claims the Reformers “threw out the baby with the bathwater”; what would it look like to recover the New Testament and early Christian strengths (intercession, celibate service, serious commitments) without repeating the monastic pitfalls he described?

Another way to ask: Bercot says monasticism kept some good things but also led to serious abuse, and that later Christians overreacted by throwing it all out. What might it look like to bring back the early church strengths (strong prayer, celibate service, serious commitments) without repeating the same traps?

Direct Answer Based on Bercot’s points, recovery would mean restoring voluntary, church-rooted ministries of prayer and service (like the widows’ list and honored celibacy) with realistic flexibility, accountability, and humility—avoiding forced vows, wealth accumulation, and any idea that ascetic practices earn salvation.

Support from Transcript:

He says the biblical “order of widows” was “supported by the church” for “intercessory prayer” and works of mercy (sick, prison), and that this disappeared when absorbed into monasticism.
He describes monasticism’s differences: “complete seclusion from the world,” strong “asceticism,” and “spiritual disciplines,” rather than embedded congregational service.
He affirms real fruit: much enduring “spiritual literature” came from monastics; “nearly all of the evangelism was done by monks” in many regions.
He lists pitfalls: monastic orders became wealthy in land; people joined for “guaranteed food”; some lacked “gift for singleness” but “church wouldn’t release them,” leading to affairs and scandals.
Another pitfall was works-righteousness: thinking one could “earn…heaven…by becoming a monk or nun…instead of…an obedient love faith relationship with Jesus Christ.”
He says Reformers abolished orders, correcting abuses but “threw out the baby with the bathwater,” since Jesus and Paul commend celibacy for the kingdom.

Discussion Follow-ups What safeguards would keep a revived “order” from becoming a status class or a fundraising machine? How can churches encourage serious commitments while still allowing honest, godly exits when someone cannot persevere?

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