Does the Christian life require monasticism or becoming a cleric?
No. Monasticism and clerical office are not requirements for believers. The Christian life is the greatest life of freedom, a life of joy and responsibility, not self-torment. Scripture does not ask believers to torture themselves to be spiritual; instead they keep old Adam under subjection.
Les explains that Paul's letters constantly admonish believers not to yield their members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin or old Adam, but to keep old Adam under subjection. Paul himself kept his body under control. Les emphasizes this does not mean a believer must become a cleric, a monk in a monastery, or anything like that. He maintains the Christian life is the greatest life of freedom the world has ever known. He contrasts it with dark ages priests who wore hair garments next to their skin to torment themselves, supposedly to please God and show humility. Les says that is not what Scripture asks; believers do not have to torture themselves to be spiritual. The Christian life is joy, responsibility, and full enjoyment.