Should Christians embrace the simple life?

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Do you think we as Christians should live a simple life, more like that lived by Jesus and the early Christians?
  • is our disposable culture bad? Should we always yearn for the latest technology, should we throw out old shoes instead of repairing them?
  • What about pre processed food? Should we buy ready made frozen pizzas, or make our own from cheap ingredients? Should we dine at restaurants, or eat at home and feed the poor instead?
  • What about appearance and cosmetics? Should we buy expensive perfumes, flashy cars, branded clothing? Should our children have the latest video games?
I am beginning to think these things are ultimately harmful to our spirituality, and sense of priority. Is living simply a Christian duty?
 
Indifferently said:
Topic.

Do you think we as Christians should live a simple life, more like that lived by Jesus and the early Christians?
  • is our disposable culture bad? Should we always yearn for the latest technology, should we throw out old shoes instead of repairing them?
  • What about pre processed food? Should we buy ready made frozen pizzas, or make our own from cheap ingredients? Should we dine at restaurants, or eat at home and feed the poor instead?
  • What about appearance and cosmetics? Should we buy expensive perfumes, flashy cars, branded clothing? Should our children have the latest video games?
I am beginning to think these things are ultimately harmful to our spirituality, and sense of priority. Is living simply a Christian duty?
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My initial response would be: “May the God of peace sanctify you in all things, that your whole spirit and soul and body may be preserved blameless.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23
 
Indifferently said:
Topic.

Do you think we as Christians should live a simple life, more like that lived by Jesus and the early Christians?
  • is our disposable culture bad? Should we always yearn for the latest technology, should we throw out old shoes instead of repairing them?
  • What about pre processed food? Should we buy ready made frozen pizzas, or make our own from cheap ingredients? Should we dine at restaurants, or eat at home and feed the poor instead?
  • What about appearance and cosmetics? Should we buy expensive perfumes, flashy cars, branded clothing? Should our children have the latest video games?
I am beginning to think these things are ultimately harmful to our spirituality, and sense of priority. Is living simply a Christian duty?
Click to expand...
Theoretically, my answer is yes to all those questions. I cannot argue against all those. We are called to a life of simplicity, like the first Christians, like John the Baptist.

But then again we are living in the world though we are not of the world. In many ways the world philosophies and realities do affect us as Christians somehow. But more importantly, we should not lose our identity though we can borrow some from the world. So it is a delicate line to tread.

Ideally we should do the above (in your questions) but reality would dictate us to be shrewd and prudent while at the same time not to lose our identity and principle.

To live a life of simplicity is a contradiction to the world thus when we embark upon this, we certainly need the support of the Christian community at large. Catholics are privileged at this time to have the new Pope (Francis I) who perhaps leads the way if his choice of name is any indication, as based on St. Francis of Assisi.
 
Reuben_J said:
Theoretically, my answer is yes to all those questions. I cannot argue against all those. We are called to a life of simplicity, like the first Christians, like John the Baptist.

But then again we are living in the world though we are not of the world. In many ways the world philosophies and realities do affect us as Christians somehow. But more importantly, we should not lose our identity though we can borrow some from the world. So it is a delicate line to tread.

Ideally we should do the above (in your questions) but reality would dictate us to be shrewd and prudent while at the same time not to lose our identity and principle.

To live a life of simplicity is a contradiction to the world thus when we embark upon this, we certainly need the support of the Christian community at large. Catholics are privileged at this time to have the new Pope (Francis I) who perhaps leads the way if his choice of name is any indication, as based on St. Francis of Assisi.
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Pope Francis inspired this topic. I agree with you in essence - we are in the world. For example, it’s now so difficult for mothers to stay at home that properly preparing meals from simple ingredients becomes very difficult timewise. But I think there are lots of things we can do, which is easy, and at once can make a difference in our lives.

Little things like not buying fancy cars. Like shaving with olive oil and a safety razor. Like not wearing clothes with logos or slogans on. Like mending instead of throwing away. Like giving children simple toys and not spending huge sums of money on birthday presents. What about walking when we don’t need to drive? Jesus rode a donkey, not a great horse.

I’m thinking aloud somewhat. We must not let simplicity become its own idolatry, but at the same time I think we should turn ourselves to it.
 
My response to your question?

Yes. I am already being convicted. Have to get a garage sale going. Consider the bus.
 
I was professed into the Secular Franciscan Order on June 4, 1994. A part of that profession was a promise to live simply, following the model of St. Francis. Possessions and the desire for possessions can be a major impediment to our relationship with Christ.

So yes, I would agree that living simply is a great help in fostering our interior life. Remember, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also”. That is pretty much the basis for a simple life.
 
Those are good questions to ask.

I don’t know if it is possible or desireable for every single Christian to completely “unplug” from our society’s technological advances. For one, it would leave the voice of Christianity absent from such mediums. Secondly, it would mean that technology would be advancing without the involvement of Christians – which can’t be good for seeing to it that such advances take place in responsible ways.

That said, I think many of us would be better off with less distractions in our day-to-day life.
 
I am already living a fairly simple life. However allow me to make one point concerning the consumption of processed foods. Most poorer people cannot afford organic, fresh foods, Frozen, processed foods comprise a majority of their diets not because they are materialistic but because it is the cheapest food to buy!
 
latingirl said:
I am already living a fairly simple life. However allow me to make one point concerning the consumption of processed foods. Most poorer people cannot afford organic, fresh foods, Frozen, processed foods comprise a majority of their diets not because they are materialistic but because it is the cheapest food to buy!
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This really doesn’t have anything to do with processed or unprocessed foods. To live simply is a spiritual exercise. It is not money that is the root of all evil, but rather the love of money. This can be extended to all areas of our lives. Are we obsessed with the things of creation or are we obsessed with the Creator? That is the question we must constantly ask ourselves.
 
SteveVH said:
This really doesn’t have anything to do with processed or unprocessed foods. To live simply is a spiritual exercise. It is not money that is the root of all evil, but rather the love of money. This can be extended to all areas of our lives. Are we obsessed with the things of creation or are we obsessed with the Creator? That is the question we must constantly ask ourselves.
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I agree with you. The OP mentioned processed foods that’s all.
 
latingirl said:
I am already living a fairly simple life. However allow me to make one point concerning the consumption of processed foods. Most poorer people cannot afford organic, fresh foods, Frozen, processed foods comprise a majority of their diets not because they are materialistic but because it is the cheapest food to buy!
Click to expand...
I think that, more and more, folks are learning to budget so that they can get the fresher foods. Frozen foods are okay as long as there are no preservatives, but all the processing is scary to read about and lord knows what we’re consuming.

Michelle Obama’s commitment to overweight children is long overdue, so often I’ve given the kids a soft drink or juice when water would have been perfectly acceptable, education doesn’t stop in college! And when she mentioned water, a simple thing I should have thought up on my own, I was like OH YEAH!!
 
latingirl said:
I agree with you. The OP mentioned processed foods that’s all.
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Your* point was quite valid though, first of all, canned vegetables keep, fresh vegetables have to be prepared or consumed quickly and time is very limited for the working class, also fresh is always more expensive.
 
What I was trying to point out was that there was a certain Christian virtue in home cooking. Shoving frozen chips into the oven rather than cutting up and frying potatoes in a frying pan is surely not preferable. It’s the sort of activity that can be both productive for the person doing it, and instructive, particularly for children watching.
 
Indifferently said:
Topic.

Do you think we as Christians should live a simple life, more like that lived by Jesus and the early Christians?
  • is our disposable culture bad? Should we always yearn for the latest technology, should we throw out old shoes instead of repairing them?
  • What about pre processed food? Should we buy ready made frozen pizzas, or make our own from cheap ingredients? Should we dine at restaurants, or eat at home and feed the poor instead?
  • What about appearance and cosmetics? Should we buy expensive perfumes, flashy cars, branded clothing? Should our children have the latest video games?
I am beginning to think these things are ultimately harmful to our spirituality, and sense of priority. Is living simply a Christian duty?
Click to expand...
I think moderation is the key. I don’t think we should go so far that we deny ourselves every kind of pleasure or indulgence. Nor should we just buy and buy and buy. We walk the middle road, we budget, we give to charities, volunteer at charities, we squeak every last bit of use out of our material goods. But we go out and celebrate with good meals, a few gifts for birthdays and Christmas, etc. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing, but I do think our society in general needs to put much more thought into their lifestyles and purchases.
 
Well, for example:

Often, I will see someone buying a new phone. And ask, ‘Why are you buying that?’ ‘Because my phone’s old.’ Nothing in particular appeals to the person about the new phone - it’s just ‘new’ and therefore they must have it, and dispense with the ‘old’ one. People buy a ‘new’ mp3 player because it’s ‘got more space’ than the old one - despite never having filled up the space the old one had at the time anyway. This happens, too, with cars. People will get big mortgages for huge homes, much of the space in which they don’t use, and cost so much that Mum cannot stay at home and raise the children, but must go out to work and pay for the house.

Moderation is certainly important. But I’m not sure ‘moderation’ actually applies in some cases. Self-denial is a huge Christian theme, and some things I think we are just commanded to deny ourselves.
 
Indifferently said:
Well, for example:

Often, I will see someone buying a new phone. And ask, ‘Why are you buying that?’ ‘Because my phone’s old.’ Nothing in particular appeals to the person about the new phone - it’s just ‘new’ and therefore they must have it, and dispense with the ‘old’ one. People buy a ‘new’ mp3 player because it’s ‘got more space’ than the old one - despite never having filled up the space the old one had at the time anyway. This happens, too, with cars. People will get big mortgages for huge homes, much of the space in which they don’t use, and cost so much that Mum cannot stay at home and raise the children, but must go out to work and pay for the house.

Moderation is certainly important. But I’m not sure ‘moderation’ actually applies in some cases. Self-denial is a huge Christian theme, and some things I think we are just commanded to deny ourselves.
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I think you and I agree more than you realize.
 
Indifferently said:
Well, for example:

Often, I will see someone buying a new phone. And ask, ‘Why are you buying that?’ ‘Because my phone’s old.’ Nothing in particular appeals to the person about the new phone - it’s just ‘new’ and therefore they must have it, and dispense with the ‘old’ one. People buy a ‘new’ mp3 player because it’s ‘got more space’ than the old one - despite never having filled up the space the old one had at the time anyway. This happens, too, with cars. People will get big mortgages for huge homes, much of the space in which they don’t use, and cost so much that Mum cannot stay at home and raise the children, but must go out to work and pay for the house.

Moderation is certainly important. But I’m not sure ‘moderation’ actually applies in some cases. Self-denial is a huge Christian theme, and some things I think we are just commanded to deny ourselves.
Click to expand...
Well, these electronic devices are designed with built-in obsolescence and really don’t last well. Maybe the owner is not telling you that they are buying a new one because the connection is bad and getting worse, or that it’s messing up when playing, or he can no longer download things onto it because of changes in software… and when one uses the MP3 player to listen to Catholic material which teaches about the Faith while going back and forth to work, it could actually be a very good thing to buy!

Overall, I think that cooking up processed foods while talking with one’s children after a hard day’s work is better than stressfully telling them to leave because you are frying or trying to concentrate on cooking and then staying up late to wash all the stuff one had to use. See what I mean? I think the issues are more about priorities, attitudes, and resources than they are about what one’s life looks like from the outside.

A poor person who yearns for the latest stuff just because it’s cool or who spends money on credit to get it is possibly living a less spiritual life than someone who has several computers because they homeschool their children.
 
My husband and I are aspiring minimalists.
We live in a small two bedroom apartment with only one main room.
We have one used, fully-paid car no dishwasher, I use my clothes-line all summer and cloth-diaper our little one, we have no cable or satellite.
Whenever something new comes in, the old goes out.
Up until last september, we shared one pay-as-you-go cheepy cell-phone from Futureshop. This thing could text and be a phone, that was it.
When hubby went back to school we made the decision to get two smart-phones (no data usage or sd cards) so at least we could text back and forth.

Hubby has a desktop we bought in 2008, and I have an acer netbook I got in 2009. Both are still going strong.

With the constant stream of new (and tempting technology) not to mention how incredibly easy it is to get into debt, I find that those things distract and pull me away from what is really important.
It’s so easy to waste hours on the internet, or need to get the bigger, faster, better whatever!

We had to make a conscious decision to change the way we live and not let our possessions or desires leading to discontentment, lead our lives.

Peace,
PetiteFoi
 
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