Kruse Kronicle

Living Simply in Abundance (6)

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by

mwkruse
in , , ,

We have seen in previous posts that communal abundance is a characteristic of the larger vision of shalom presented in the Bible. It is part of what a redeemed society looks like. We've also reviewed the extraordinary changes that have led to astronomical increases in economic abundance over the last three hundred years, presenting us for the first time with the possibility of material abundance shared on a worldwide basis. What does all this mean for our Christian discipleship? What response does this call forth from us? I suggest it calls forth the same response God has always called from us: Simplicity.

Unfortunately, simplicity has become synonymous with living a scaled-down material lifestyle. It is seen as a response to the idolatry of materialism, the effort to find meaning and happiness through our relationship with our possessions. But simplicity, as understood here, can become every bit as idolatrous. Inordinate focus (and often pride) is placed on ascetic living standards. Recently this idea of simplicity has become wedded to a populist worldview that foresees an imminent apocalypse from pollution and exhaustion of natural resources. Material restraint is an exercise of personal piety to save the world from the Beast of material abundance that is ushering in the apocalypse. Conspicuous consumption is traded for conspicuous non-consumption. Both are expressions of materialism.

Several years ago, Richard Foster wrote a book called Freedom of Simplicity. Contrary to the ascetic approach to simplicity, Foster shows that simplicity is best understood as singleness of focus. When our focus is singularly on God, other priorities fall into their proper order. Simplicity requires us to enter into the spiritual disciplines, liturgies, and daily practices that keep our singleness of focus on God as he deepens our relationship with him. Undue focus on either acquiring or denying material goods takes us away from God. This singularity of focus on God is at the gospel's core, not a "health and wealth" prosperity gospel or material minimalism.

What does the Bible, and in particular Jesus, have to say?

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Comments

5 responses to “Living Simply in Abundance (6)”

  1. Brad Cooper Avatar
    Brad Cooper

    Yes.
    Living a simple lifestyle can become a legalistic religion in itself. For many this is true.
    I can’t see that simplicity is ever commanded in Scripture. For some of us it is more of a necessity. For others it is an approach to accomplishing bigger goals for the kingdom. Certainly, simplicity is going to mean different things for different people and we should apply it as the Holy Spirit guides us–not according to legalistic rules or ideals.
    Also, I’ve been wondering lately, if the emphasis on ascetism during the early centuries of the Church did not hurt the economy as a whole (and therefore the poor)–particularly, since that ascetism often meant hermitage and/or focusing most of one’s time on spiritual contemplation. The result would seem to be that a large number of individuals did not contribute much to the economy. Hmmmm…Just a thought…what do you think?

    Reply
  2. Jonas Borntreger Avatar
    Jonas Borntreger

    Just wanting to say “Thank You” for the insights you are sharing in this series. JJB

    Reply
  3. Michael W. Kruse Avatar
    Michael W. Kruse

    Sorry Brad. I overlooked this comment from earlier today.
    I’m still reading and learning about monasticism. Fascinating stuff. There were lots of changes in the various orders but the Benedictine order is of particular interest. St. Benedict formed the order in the sixth century and manual labor was included within Rule of St. Benedict. The autonomous monastic communities tended to locate in remote areas in Europe on large tracts of land given by wealthy benefactors. Not long after their formation, a three crop rotation farming system was discovered that created a great leap in agricultural productivity. The combined work ethic with the new methods made the monks especially prosperous a people in surrounding areas began to visit the monasteries to trade goods for there excess production. This was the beginning of the great markets and eventually many came to settle around the monasteries and form permanent communities of trade. The monasteries became so wealthy that they were the primary lenders to monarchs for their various ventures for several centuries.
    The Benedictines began to lease out their land while they pursued more specialized endeavors, like making wine or producing bread. They perfected water wheel power and created rudimentary factory structures which the spread all over Europe as the founded new monasteries. They were spreading technical expertise everywhere they went. However, by the eleventh century the order had become quite wealthy and had largely abandoned its manual labor commitment for more “spiritual” studies and pursuits. That gave birth to the Order of Cistercians, a Benedictine offshoot that recaptured the commitment to manual labor. They became experts in mechanization and spread their expertise all over Europe until they were severally weakened with the loss of much of their land during the Protestant Reformation and later attacks by revolutionaries in France.
    Rodney Stark argues that these monasteries were actually the early proto-capitalists. Many of the values, practices, and technologies that would set the stage for capitalisms emergence in the 18th century had their roots in monasteries dating back at least as far as the 9th century.
    All that said, I do think there has been a long stream of ascetic anti-trade, anti-marketplace sentiment that has been prominent with in Western Christianity throughout most of its history and lives on in many quarters of the church today. Ironically, and foreshadowing some of John Wesley’s concerns, diligent labor with personal piety usually leads to economic abundance and that abundance can lead away from God. It happened with the monks. Wesley taught that we she work all we can, to make all we can, so that we may give all we can. This is one of the very real perils of abundance.

    Reply
  4. Michael W. Kruse Avatar
    Michael W. Kruse

    You are welcome, Jonas. Thanks for reading.

    Reply
  5. Brad Cooper Avatar
    Brad Cooper

    Hey Michael,
    I was actually thinking earlier than the Benedictines. It has been probably 15 years since I read about them, but I believe that it was in the third and fourth centuries that there was an emphasis on going out into the desert and being hermits. If I am not mistaken, these are called the desert fathers.
    It does seem that the monastic tradition generally has quite a healthy emphasis on work. And the thoughts that you bring out are very interesting indeed.
    Peace.

    Reply

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