Take for example a commonly expressed center. When people talk about being Christ-centered, one has to ask what that center looks like if taken to its natural conclusion in an imperfect world. If history has shown us anything, it’s that the answer can only be monasticism.

Few people more devotedly pursued the Christ-centered life than the monastic mystics. Theirs was the sold-out expression of Christ-centeredness, verging on a mysticism few of us understand today and rarely see in America 2009.

But such a center, as practiced by these people utterly devoted to making Christ the center of everything in their existence, didn’t leave much room for loving one’s neighbor. Because, honestly, it’s hard to be that specifically devoted without losing something in practice. Especially when you’ve locked yourself away in a monastery so no one will bother your centering.

You express sentiments that are very common among evangelicals regard the monastic life. I would ask you to consider visiting a monastery, or even better, schedule a silent retreat for a weekend, and then see if your perspective changes. I have found the Trappist monks at the Abby of Gethsemani in Kentucky to be very servant minded. In fact, they host hundreds, if not thousands, of retreatants every year who come to stay for a few days, and only ask that for whatever gift you can afford and desire to freely give.

The call to the monastic life involves total commitment, giving up of all your personal rights, and the only reward is the inner peace experienced by knowing you are being obedient to the Father. The challenge of living in community with other imperfect men, and following the same schedule six days a week, with only a few hours of “personal time each Sunday afternoon can only be met as one relies upon the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. I believe we, as evangelicals, are in for a big surprise when we look back from eternity upon the life of the church in this world and realize the things accomplished by the prayers of the faithful monastics.

Most of these men are also very well read and probably spend more time reading and meditating upon scripture than your average devoted and faithful pastor. Sure, the fact that most monasteries are Roman Catholic present an obstacle for many evangelicals, but I believe if we agree on the essentials of the faith handed down from the apostles, we bear the weight of the scriptural commands to serve and live together in unity. I, for one, am very thankful for the men who are serving the Kingdom by being completely sold out to the King.