Celebration of Discipline:
The Discipline of Simplicity
(Downloadable Word document)

What is it?

•To be simple is to fix one's eye solely on the simple truth of God at a time when all concepts are being confused, distorted, and turned upside down." - Dietrich Bonhoeffer
•The practical living out of Exodus 20:3 - "You shall have no other gods before Me" and Matthew 6:33 - "Seek First the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness"
- The opposite of idolatry in all manifestations
•The Christian Discipline of Simplicity is an inward reality that results in an outward lifestyle." - Richard Foster

What are the Biblical foundations of Simplicity?

" •Old Testament Roots - Two Inseparable Ideas: God's revealing who He is and how people are to live
- Radical Dependence: Creation
"All we are and all we possess is derived"
Our sense of dignity comes from being created in God's image, not in our possessions or accomplishments
The Fall illustrates man's attempt to provide for himself outside the providence of God
- Radical Obedience
Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his most important treasure, Isaac
This type of obedience is only possible when God has our supreme allegiance
The Ten Commandments begin with three staccato warnings against idolatry."
A Sabbath rest is incompatible with getting ahead, and coveting reveals an inner lust to have (an idolatrous worship of things)
- Commanded Generosity - because God gave, we are enabled to give
Year of Jubilee (Leviticus 25)
Law of First Fruits and Tithe
Gleaning laws and other provisions for the needy
- Calls for Justice and Compassion (Isaiah 58:5-7; Zechariah 7:9-10; Hosea 12:6; Micah 6:8)
•New Testament teachings on Simplicity: Jesus spoke about economics more than any other social issue of His time
- Matthew 6:19 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth…" Why not?
Matthew 6:19-20 - The earth is an uncertain place; treasures here are susceptible to corrosion and theft
Matthew 6:21, 24 - Your heart is with your treasure; you cannot serve two masters. Whatever we fix as our treasure will obsess our whole life.
Matthew 6:25-32 - Provision is made by God

- Love of God and Neighbor are intertwined. Compassion on and Identification with the poor is emphasized throughout the Gospels and epistles.
Luke 1:52-53; 3:11-14; 4:18-19; 14:12-14; 16:19-31; 19:8-9
Ephesians 4:28; I Timothy 5:9; Galatians 2:10; James 1:27; 2:2-9, 15; I John 3:17
- Dangers of Wealth - Luke 6:29, 30, 35; 12:15-21, 33-34; 14:33; 16:13; 18:22
"Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses." (Luke 12:15)
- "Jesus Christ is the Lord of all our goods, not just ten percent." - R. Foster
This fact should spur us into a carefree unconcern for provisions
Our giving should have a sense of "reckless abandon" (cf. Mark 12:44)

Inward Attitude of Simplicity

An Amazing Paradox: true self-fulfillment comes only through self-denial (Matthew 10:39)

Three Core Attitudes of Simplicity
•Possessions are a gift from God (dependency)
•Possessions are to be cared for by God (trust)
•Possessions are to be available to others (selflessness)

"Simplicity frees us from the tyranny of the self, the tyranny of things, and the tyranny of people" - R. Foster
The self clamors for attention, self-recognition, applause"
"Out of fear…, we create an artificial world of ostentatious display, extravagant ornamentation, and pretentious style"
"What horrendous gymnastics we will put ourselves through just to insure that others will have a good opinion of us."

Simplicity is an approach to material possessions certainly, but only as the manifestation of inner attitudes developed and tied to the other disciplines. A few examples of the connections …
To Prayer
- Philippians 4:6-7 "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
To Solitude
- Freedom from the opinions of others and the desire for popular approval
To Fasting
- If fasting "reveals what controls us," it is a doorway to simplicity, where we seek to be controlled only by God.

Some "first steps" in developing this inner attitude - not laws but suggestions
We should not try to be less egocentric. It is not solved by a frontal attack, and the matter will be cared for in due time.
Focus our field of vision: "Seek first the Kingdom of God". "We must never allow anything, whether deed or desire, to have that place of central importance."
Begin now to obey God in every way you can
Get up quickly and keep going if you stumble and fall
Quiet all vain talk about ourselves and others - not gossip, but straightforward speech without embellishment or overstatement

Some Suggestions toward the Outward Practice of Simplicity

Buy things for their usefulness rather than their status
Reject anything that is producing an addiction in you
Develop a habit of giving things away
Refuse to be propagandized by the custodians of modern gadgetry; learn to scorn advertising
Learn to enjoy things without owning them
Develop a deeper appreciation for the creation
Look with a healthy skepticism at all "buy now, pay later" schemes
Obey Jesus' instructions about plain, honest speech
Reject anything that breeds the oppression of others
Shun anything that distracts you from seeking first the kingdom of God
Stress quality of life rather than quantity of life
Seek to make recreation gadget free; avoid "spectator-itus"
Don't isolate yourself in ghettoes of wealth; interact with the less fortunate

Although you may not feel the same convictions toward simplicity in your own life, affirm others' call toward specific lifestyles of simplicity (i.e., communal living arrangements, vegetarianism, singleness, childlessness, etc.)

Discussion Questions

In one paragraph, attempt to set forth the Biblical teaching on possessions.
Of the three inwards attitudes of simplicity, which do you find the most difficult for you personally?
Which of the ten controlling principles for outward simplicity is the most helpful to you? Are there any you feel are unrealistic?
What are some of the implications of the ninth principle "Reject anything that will breed the oppression of others?"

Personal Question

What is producing an addiction in you? List one thing that you could do this next week to simplify your life. Do it.