I’ve been thinking about the relationship between minimalism and faith this past week.
“There should be no comfortable Christians.”
This is the phrase that ignited this spiral of thoughts in my mind. I immediately believed this statement to be true, but it challenged me in ways I did not expect.
(Let me add that I am not directing this towards anyone or telling anyone how to live their lives, this is simply how my thought process has happened)
With all the hurt in the world, no Christian should be living comfortably. First, it should not sit right with us having all sorts of luxuries while others have nothing. Our hearts, minds, and souls should not feel comfortable in that sense. Then secondly, if the first is true, should we not then do something about it? We should not be staying in our comfy homes simply wishing circumstances would get better for those suffering.
Luke 14: 26-27 says:
“If you come to me but will not leave your family, you cannot be my follower. You must love me more than your father, mother, wife, children, brothers, and sisters—even more than your own life! Whoever will not carry the cross that is given to them when they follow me cannot be my follower.”
God asks us to give up everything to follow Him. Even leave our families! Personally, it scares me just to read that. Doesn’t it then seem apparent that we should probably give up all material items as well?
Matthew 19:21 says:
“Jesus answered, ‘If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
So the answer is yes, we are to give up our material possessions as well. This is what lead me to the question I am currently fighting with.
Is it a sin to have money, a nice home, an expensive car, a closet full of clothes?
Am I really following Jesus if I am living a comfortable life?
I feel like many Christians live like the rich man in Mark 12. The rich man gave a large amount of money to the church as an offering. Just as many well-off Christians today would donate money to a charity or to church in order to do their part. However, Jesus was unimpressed by the rich man. The poor woman who gave her only cent did the right thing in this story. She gave until she had nothing left. She gave up her comfort, and Jesus said that she was the honorable one.
So minimalism… giving up our luxuries, even the simple ones, and living off of only what we need… trusting in God to sustain us… Is that how, as Christians, God has called us to live?
The Branches 