Should Christians embrace the simple life?

[englishredrose]

What do you mean by a simple life?

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

Topic.

Do you think we as Christians should live a simple life, more like that lived by Jesus and the early Christians?

You mean live with shorter lifespans and lack of hygiene?

• is our disposable culture bad? Should we always yearn for the latest technology, should we throw out old shoes instead of repairing them?

You don’t need a Masters degree to see there is always something to improve in technology. It’s all a question of what is more cost-efficient. Sometimes it’s better to fix something. Other times it’s better to just get something new. Long-term costs. Short-term costs. This is a far more complex question than you seem to realize.

• 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?

You can’t feed the poor if you’re dead from your own starvation.

• What about appearance and cosmetics? Should we buy expensive perfumes, flashy cars, branded clothing? Should our children have the latest video games?

Lesee…

Jesus was presented such luxuries when he was born.
A woman poured expensive perfume on him one time.
He also liked to party a lot.

Sounds like the Man knows what He wants. What 'bout you?

I am beginning to think these things are ultimately harmful to our spirituality, and sense of priority. Is living simply a Christian duty?

The definition of ‘simplicity’ is not meant to be the same for every Christian.

Look at Vatican and tell me why we haven’t torn down everything the Renaissance Popes ‘lavishly’ spent on.

 

[JustaServant]

Interesting related read:

Technology is the Opiate of the Masses

Everywhere I look outside my home I see people busy on their high tech devices, while driving, while walking, while shopping, while in groups of friends, while in restaurants, while waiting in doctor offices and hospitals, while sitting in toilets – everywhere. While connected electronically, they are inattentive to and disconnected in physical reality.

People have been steadily manipulated to become technology addicted. Technology is the opiate of the masses.

This results in technology servitude. I am referring to a loss of personal freedom and independence because of uncontrolled consumption of many kinds of devices that eat up time and money. Most people do not use independent, critical thinking to question whether their quality of life is actually improved by the incessant use of technology products that are marketed more aggressively than just about anything else.

Rest of the article:
informationclearinghouse.info/article33535.htm

 

[adf417]

You mean live with shorter lifespans and lack of hygiene?

Sorry Lost, but I think you lost what the OP was simply getting at.

You don’t need a Masters degree to see there is always something to improve in technology. It’s all a question of what is more cost-efficient. Sometimes it’s better to fix something. Other times it’s better to just get something new. Long-term costs. Short-term costs. This is a far more complex question than you seem to realize.

The OP did not suggest we should not improve on technology but rather limit how we justify technonlgy is needed or wanted.

You can’t feed the poor if you’re dead from your own starvation.

Again, I think you miss what the OP is proposing on the simple life.

Lesee…

Jesus was presented such luxuries when he was born.
A woman poured expensive perfume on him one time.
He also liked to party a lot.

Sounds like the Man knows what He wants. What 'bout you?

Wow! you equal the latest video games to Jesus’ onionting oils???

The definition of ‘simplicity’ is not meant to be the same for every Christian

Amen brother! Thank God for that.

The OP has a very good point on simplicity. I do hope we all can see it for what he/her meant and not the way you seem to have missunderstood it.

Peace!!!

 

[ajecphotos]

To live a simple life would be great! I would love to do that but in reality it is hard in this day and age. I am not extravagant etc. I need a car for work, my wife and my daughter. I need to shop in a supermarket as I couldn’t grow all my own etc.

I don’t wear designer clothes. My only tech gadget is my iPad / laptop. Oh, and my camera!

If Our Dear Lord decided to live with us physically in this day and age would he embrace today’s technology and modernism?

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

Sorry Lost, but I think you lost what the OP was simply getting at.

I’ve seen that type of thinking go the wrong way more than right. Sue me for making sure this person doesn’t end up that way.

See when the worst happens, it becomes the kind of thinking that gives people like me FEWER job options.

The OP did not suggest we should not improve on technology but rather limit how we justify technonlgy is needed or wanted.

We can’t ‘limit’ it any more than we can limit tectonic plates from moving and causing earthquakes.

I never denied that there are folks out there who end up like like the fat lazy lumps on Wall-E. It’s simply the fact that that the need to improve on or create new technology is far more complicated than the caricature materialist monster of commercialism that religious people think it is.

Again, I think you miss what the OP is proposing on the simple life.

You’re the one who has lost the point of my reply.

Wow! you equal the latest video games to Jesus’ onionting oils???

Yes, can you use something else other than irrational, religious shock to actually prove me wrong?

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

If Our Dear Lord decided to live with us physically in this day and age would he embrace today’s technology and modernism?

I don’t know about modernism but the fact that He rode on a functioning fishing boat and read from scrolls should tell you how Christ was just as adapted to the technology of His time just as we are to ours.

 

[ajecphotos]

This is why I think he would embrace today’s technology

 

[GaryTaylor]

Separation of wants vs needs imho.

 

[adf417]

We can’t ‘limit’ it any more than we can limit tectonic plates from moving and causing earthquakes.

I disagree Lost, I limit, or even completely cancel out, my justifications every day. If you mean “we cant limit the actual development of techonology” or “other’s needs for technology” then I would agree with you.

Peace brother!!!

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

I disagree Lost, I limit, or even completely cancel out, my justifications every day. If you mean “we cant limit the actual development of techonology” or “other’s needs for technology” then I would agree with you.

Peace brother!!!

Why are you on the internet then? Why are you not canceling out those justifications? What about your fridge? The roof over your head? There are justifications for that as well.

Like it or not, the way technology itself develops WILL have a foothold on even the simplest Franciscan.

 

[adf417]

Why are you on the internet then? Why are you not canceling out those justifications? What about your fridge? The roof over your head? There are justifications for that as well.

Like it or not, the way technology itself develops WILL have a foothold on even the simplest Franciscan.

As has been said a couple times in this thread…the difference between needs and wants…I need the internet to work - I want a faster computer to do so. If I needed a faster computer to stay competitive I would revisit this decision.

Speaking of fridges - I do need another BC my old one is making a noise that is so irritating it prevents my wife from sleeping. She chooses to keep the old one and deal with the noise.

Peace brother!!!

 

[Reuben_J]

As has been said a couple times in this thread…the difference between needs and wants…I need the internet to work - I want a faster computer to do so. If I needed a faster computer to stay competitive I would revisit this decision.

Speaking of fridges - I do need another BC my old one is making a noise that is so irritating it prevents my wife from sleeping. She chooses to keep the old one and deal with the noise.

Peace brother!!!

I understand. However there is a very thin line separating ‘need’ and ‘want’. The person concerned is the best judge of his life. Perhaps a simple guidance is that something may not be according to plan if we start making justification.

I am really surprised that Pope Francis stayed in an apartment and cooked his own food in Argentina despite being an ArchBishop. Did he had the time to do all that or would he rather used that time for something even more important considering that he was the head of the archdiocese.

Not that we or he rather, needed to (cook for himself), but still it is his choice to do so.