Question:
What is your opinion about a person (a woman) who has taken part in the ways of the world, committing the worst of sins and now she wants to retract from the world and live in a monastery as a nun. Is this the solution to her problems? What are the risks? Will she be tempted to strongly to turn back to her sins?
There exists freedom from the power of sin and this freedom does not come from retracting from the world in a monastery. She can move to a monastery and still be a slave to her sins. Temptation does not just come upon you from the world around you, it also comes from within you because of our sin nature (human nature), or “flesh” as the Bible calls it. It is true that this sin nature is stirred up by the worldly stimulation that constantly bombards us both audio and visual. It is also true that our sin nature can be tempted by past memories and experiences. The solitary lifestyle of a monastery may help in relieving temptation from outward worldly stimuli but it may also be the doorway to interior temptation based on past memories and experiences. It may turn into an obsession. Remember, in the eyes of God, mental sin (thinking about the act) is the same as actually doing it (committing the act in your mind). Jesus taught us:
But I say to you that whoever looks on a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (Matthew 5:28)
The solution for overcoming sin is not isolation from the world. Instead, t is being born again, transformed by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. This happens when a person enters the New Covenant through Jesus Christ. I would advise you to begin studying the Bible systematically and hurry to enter the New Covenant. You need to repent of your sins which means that you turn away from them indefinitely. Make a firm decision to become a true follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, choosing to obey Him and His teachings on a daily basis. You also need to find a local church where the Bible is taught and applied. With the power of the Holy Spirit that will indwell you once you repent and are born again you will be able to be victorious in your battle over sin and temptation.
But the fruit of the Spirit is: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control; against such things there is no law. But those belonging to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts. (Galatians 5:22-24)
Hurry and be reconciled with God via Jesus Christ in the New Covenant. That is the only way that you will be able to overcome/defeat your sinful human nature with all of its lusts and temptations.
Translation by: Erik Brewer