This morning I read this challenging quote from Emmy Arnold of the Bruderhof Community. What are your thoughts and reflections on this quote and on the call of the church in a complex material world?
"Simplicity - poverty for the sake of Christ - was like an article of faith with us. How could we, who wanted to share the suffering of the masses, keep anything for ourselves? That is why we shared everything in common, giving away all we had to those who wanted to serve the same spirit of love with us."
Thursday, October 13, 2005
Simplicity in a Complex World
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2 comments:
This is not a criticism of the piece, but I first wonder if simplicity necessarily requires poverty. For certain, poverty imposes simplicity, so perhaps poverty is most healthy for the discipline.
Otherwise, the truth is lovely. Having lived on a relatively tight budget for the last four years (not for poverty but for debt retirement), we have had to reconsider many purchases we would have made without thinking before this process. As we approach the end of the debt, Lord willing, we have a new perspective on what is necessary versus what is luxury. Without a doubt, though, we still live very luxurious lives compared to the real poor of the world.
I'll say this, too. We are a much happier, much more peaceful, much more joyful and giving family when we can take walks with each other and keep the TV off.
I'm glad you're posting a little again. We missed you.
Maybe in a material and consummer saturated world, simplicity is in and of itself a "poverty", not poverty as we might understand it but but a poverty of our unsatiable selfish desire for ownership, power and possession. From that perspective, living simply could very well be construed as a type of self-induced poverty for the sake of others and for the sake of Christ. Maybe this gets at the heart of the Pauline Christological exhortation to the Corinthians in 2 Cor. 8:9: "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich." Christ made the self-denying choice to simplicity, to "poverty" as Paul terms it.
This not only challenges materialistic overconsumption, but also an unhealthy individualism, encouraging us to use our resources for the sake of others. Not to downplay those who are trapped in true ('traditional'?) poverty, but could this be a type of "poverty" in the midst of our contemporary world that would open us up to share in their experience and, possibily, be a means to help bring some relief and alleviation to their situation?
I am scatter brained today, lots on the mind, but hopefully this makes some sense.
Thanks for your thoughts, JRB. I am blessed to be in communion and fellowship with people who constantly challenge me to live a life of authentic faith in the midst of the real world.
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