Comments on: Why Don’t More Faith Communities Emphasize Simple Living?

By: RazorFamilyFarms.com

RazorFamilyFarms.com — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 14:40:14 +0000

I love this post! A friend of ours told us about a church in Alabama that invited the Crowne Financial to give a workshop at their church. That was the coolest thing I’d heard of in a long time. Perhaps the closest thing to Simple Living being taught in church in many a year.

Anyway, I love what you wrote. We’re hoping to infiltrate our new church with our simple living discoveries and even offer a few classes there (for free) on making soap, keeping chickens, turning off the cable, and focusing on the family.

Excellent post! I am new to your site.

Blessings!
Lacy

By: Riley

Riley — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 00:00:48 +0000

1) Finance has nothing to do with God. (which #2 somewhat negates but religion doesn’t really make sense either) 2) Jesus said it’s impossible for a rich man to enter heaven

By: Gail

Gail — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 19:55:48 +0000

Very interesting article. I think you are correct that many pasters/leaders can’t preach or teach messages on simple living as they don’t know how themselves. Simple liveing is a Biblical concept especially within the new church where everyone freely gave of what they had so that all would have enough.

I think many Christians and those who follow other religions would be so much better off if that practiced frugality and simple living and dependence on God for their needs. The Bible advocates that people work for a living and depend on God.

I think it is a shame when bankruptcies are published in the paper to see church goers I know listed there. It tells me that somehow they have gotten their priorities in life messed up.

I’m so happy to see you have written an article like this. I hope people sit up and take notice.

By: sam

sam — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 03:35:50 +0000

Cindy, tithing is important as it not only helps to support your place of spiritual nourishment, but churches also help those in need. A

By: Mark

Mark — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 22:35:19 +0000

Some churches do talk about this. My church will be talking about materialism all month long!

By: Cindy M

Cindy M — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 18:28:28 +0000

Whoops, that was II Timothy 2:15, NOT what I put above. Guess I really do need to do more studying, ha-ha. Anyway, everyone please check the above web sites and read our statement of faith.

By: Cindy M

Cindy M — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 18:07:27 +0000

Shannon, excellent article. You ask why your denomination does not stress simple living. Do you know that probably 99% of “Christianity” believes they are either living in the “kingdom” or working to get there, does OT/Israel tithing (which would correctly be 30%, by the way, not 10%, and not for us today because WE ARE NOT ISRAEL), baptism and church membership. My bible study group emphasizes what Paul taught in his epistles and we follow his pattern – we don’t “tithe,” no membership roll, no baptizing, no sending missionaries to foreign countries, no choir, no frills, NO DEBT, amen. Dave Ramsey and others teaching the tithe are full of beans. We rent a union hall and will always stay small because we don’t follow the crowd and “celebrate” xmass or other pagan-sourced ideas. We meet several times a week to do II Timothy 3:16, “study to show thyself approved…” and to uplift each other for the week ahead. Please do check out discerningthetimespublishing.com and midactsdispensationalism.com. And no, we are not a cult and we do study the whole bible. I’d never go back to the old denominational baloney.

By: Sylvia

Sylvia — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:09:08 +0000

I am a pastor’s wife and have never even heard of a church approaching such a topic in it’s prayers and doctrinal statement. I am so impressed just to hear that! We lived within our income and were criticized to the point of being asked to put our van behind the garage, instead of in the driveway. I guess someone thought it wasn’t “nice enough”, since it was an older one. And there was absolutely nothing wrong with it.
Our denomination pays little as a habit, yet members criticized that we weren’t living a better (fancier) life. It was considered an embarrassment to them. As a pastoral family, you can’t win for losing.

By: RMac

RMac — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 12:00:14 +0000

Financial Peace University is a DVD based curriculum that is fun, entertaining and educational and not available in libraries. Along with that the small group accountability aspect is huge in encouraging each other. Plus you get access to other resources. It truly is inspiring. Well worth the $93.

By: Hilary

Hilary — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 04:27:57 +0000

Money is a “material” too, in the sense that hoarding money is just as materialistic as buying the newest gadget. I think living simply and being frugal align with church teachings, but being cheap and not donating to charities does not. Say what you will about churches being greedy, but those tithes and donations pay every worker’s salary. With some notable exceptions, I’d wager that most ministers are not in it for the money (if nothing else, there are far better ways to get rich).