ThunderFox. I will just focus in on the fasting aspect of your question as the marriage portion has been answered by others (the Catholic Church does NOT forbid marriage).
Men becoming Priests in the Latin Rite have agreed to forgo marriage “for the sake of the kingdom” (there are a few exceptions which I won’t get into here).
Virgins incidentally are extolled in Heaven in Revelation 14:4 for “follow(ing) the Lamb” in the context of choosing Virginity just as Jesus.
ThunderFox. You asked (quoted below with some minor syntax changes)
I guess I can say I am on a journey to reverting back to Catholic. . . .1 timothy 4:1-3 . . . states:
Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will renounce the faith by paying attention to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared with a hot iron. They forbid marriage and demand abstinence from foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
(Wouldn’t this classification as “doctrines of demons") apply to the catholic church . . . (concerning) abstaining on meats on fridays?
The answer is “no”.
There is a big difference in demanding abstaining from certain foods altogether as “immoral” and abstaining from these certain moral and good foods for brief time.
The Apostles also had a changeable discipline of abstaining from meat that was from strangled animals and blood so as not to scandalize the Jews who were becoming fulfilled Jews (Christians).
This seemed good to the Apostles AND to the Holy Spirit (at the Council of Jerusalem).
ACTS 15:19, 20 a,c, 28-29a 19 Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, 20 but should write to them to
abstain . . . from what is
strangled and from blood. . . . . 28 For it has seemed
good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: 29
that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols
and from blood and from what is strangled . . .
And recall St. Paul was at the Council of Jerusalem (see Acts 15). He could have spoken up and said: “Hey guys! Cut this abstaining stuff out! This is doctrines of demons!”
But St. Paul would never have said that. Why? Because this doesn’t qualify as “doctrines of demons” that’s why.
Fasting (under good spiritual direction) can be a very good thing too.
Notice Jesus DOESN’T say in Matthew 6 . . . . “Well you guys shouldn’t fast because it would be a doctrine of demons.”
No. Jesus doesn’t teach that. Jesus teaches: “WHEN you fast . . . .” Notice Jesus assumes His disciples will fast. Are we disciples of Jesus? I hope so. Are we on occasion fasting?
MATTHEW 6:16 16 “And
when you fast, do not look dismal like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward.
Likewise in Matthew 9. Notice Jesus DOESN’T say:
"When the bridegroom is taken away from them, I still don’t want my disciples to fast because after all, that would be a doctrine of demons.”
No. Jesus DOES say:
. . . “when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they (Jesus’ disciples) will fast.”
MATTHEW 9:14-15 14 Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” 15 And Jesus said to them, "Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come, when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then
they will fast.
And look how the Apostles did and did NOT discern who to ordain.
NOT ACTS 13:2-3 (Phantom Verse) 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "
Cut that fasting stuff out! Don’t you guys know this is doctrines of demons?” 3 Then after
not fasting because it was a doctrine of demons, but only praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
Here is what really happened:
ACTS 13:2-3 2 While they were worshiping 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 after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
There are legitimate uses of dietary practices and illegitimate uses.
The second-century Gnostic heretics had a “dualistic” type of outlook.
They viewed everything material as bad, and only spiritual things as good. They professed certain dietary laws due to “unclean foods” as “sinful” and forbid marriage.
1st TIMOTHY 4:1-3 1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in the later times some will depart from the faith by giving heed to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons 2 through the pretensions of liars whose consciences are seared, 3 who forbid marriage and enjoin abstinence from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
I once had an acquaintance who tried to tell me eating meat was “immoral” (that didn’t go anywhere).
A periodic abstinence from meat is not the same as teaching that eating meat is “immoral”.
Just because dietary abuses exist, it wouldn’t do away with legitimate uses of dietary practices such as fasting or occasional brief periods of abstaining from meat temporarily or even longer periods of abstaining from certain foods like the Old Covenant Israelites had.
I hope this helps you on your journey back home ThunderFox.
God bless.
Cathoholic
