The Old Testament Roots of Simplicity--Chapter 2

The second chapter of Foster's book sets the Old Testament foundation for simplicity. The foundational understanding of our status comes in the opening chapters of Genesis--we are part of the created order and thus totally dependant. Have you ever noticed that times of vulnerability tend to be the times our dependance comes into fuller focus? 9/11, health crisis, stock market crash, unemployment, natural disaster--these are the times that we come to the end of ourselves and realize that we can't necessarily provide for all of our needs. Those are the times we begin to become aware of the reality that often eludes us--"we have no independant existence, no self-sustaining ability." (pg. 19)

The Old Testament also points us to who we are dependant upon--the Creator...a generous God who freely gives to God's children. But Foster is convinced that the Old Testament witness is that God's good provision was for the community rather than merely the individual. He writes "the stress was upon the good of the nation, the tribe, the clan. The idea that one could cut off a piece of the consumer pie and go off and enjoy it in isolation was unthinkable." How would we look at God's provisions in our life, our world differently if we began to think in terms of the greater good, and not merely our own personal advancement? Is part of our path to "simplicity" a growing sense of our place in the scheme of the world--as both a creature and part of a community?

Diving into Chapter 1

"Contemporary culture is plagued by the passion to possess." So begins Richard Foster's "Freedom of Simplicity." We know both by theory and by practice that accumulation never satisfies--whenever we get more, we want to have more. Or as my mother used to say, "Put up new curtains, and you'll have to redecorate the whole house." There is a whole marketing industry set up to tell us we can never be satisfied. And on the whole, it has worked. We work harder to achieve more so we can accumulate more. We are fragmented, exhausted, and yet, still hoping to accumulate the next "must-have."

STOP THE MADNESS! This is not the kind of life that Jesus was talking about when he taught about the "abundant life."

What I love about Foster's first chapter is that he doesn't try to convince us to swing the pendulum all the way to the other side and to reject the material world altogether. He takes time to explain "simplicity" as not just a rejection of possessions, but as an ongoing paradox. "Complex simplicity," he calls it. "While simplicity provides an answer to the modern dilemma, it does not provide an easy answer...Simplistic answers, by their very nature, fail to perceive the rich, ordered complexity of life."

He then goes on to suggest several paradoxes surrounding "simplicity."

1. Simplicity is both a grace (given to us by God)and a discipline (a calling to choose a course of action)

2. Simplicity is both easy (an outflow of grace) and difficult (a struggle against the cultural norms)

3. Simplicity has both an inner dimension (communion with Christ) and an outward expression (lifestyle).

4. Simplicity struggles with both the goodness of material things (created goods God has given us to enjoy) and the limitation of material things (goods are not the only ingredient to a "good life")

Living these paradoxes, not trying to set up a legalistic system of simplifying, is the only real way to liberation from the stranglehold materialism has on our lives. How do these paradoxes speak to you as you think about a season of "simplifying" your life?

Doing Lent

I was asked last week if I "do Lent." Which, upon further probing, meant--do you give up stuff like all my co-workers who are telling me about their upcoming season without chocolate and dessert? To this friend, it merely sounded like his coworkers were going on a diet, not a spiritual quest. And he was confused about what Lent is really about.
Yes, I "do Lent." I seek to use these days leading up to Easter to more intentionally draw closer to Jesus. And for some, that may happen through denial of chocolate for 40 days. What I've noticed when I've attempted that kind of fasting is that it becomes more about avoiding chocolate than it does about Jesus. I speak only for myself...others might find this a tremendously powerful spiritual experience.
Meanwhile, I don't want to lose the elements of denying self/fasting/simplifying that allow room for more of Jesus' life to invade my life. That's why I've chosen "Freedom of Simplicity" for our conversation online this Lent. And that's why I've chosen to personally avail myself of Broken Halo's "Fast-Pray-Give" calendar. http://www.bustedhalo.com/features/fast-pray-give-2010/ Each day, they offer examples of how you can fast from something, how you can pray in a way you might not have thought to pray on your own, and a way to give. I think this will be a great option for me to practice some new spiritual disciplines without getting stuck in a rut. I think there are plenty of different ways to "do Lent" this season, and any of them that deepen your journey with God are valuable. As for me and my house, we will Fast, Pray Give for the remainder of these 40 Days.

A Word on this Blog Title

So why the title for this blog? Well, to be honest, some other titles came to mind, but those domains were all taken. Paradox Lost--which, by the way, I thought was a great play on words, but apparently so did the pornography industry. Living in Paradox--get it? (A play on Living in Paradise.) Someone else seems to be blogging there very infrequently. I tried a few others, but all of my titles encompassed the word "paradox."
Paradox holds a lot of intrigue for me, because I think the increasing polarization of our world--politically, economically, interpretation of Scripture, etc.--is not only dividing us into separate "camps," but also causing us to miss something important. Is it possible that both Democrats and Republicans have important ideas to bring to the table that, when they intersect, make a contribution to the greater common good? Is it possible that the haves and the have-nots both contribute to an understanding of the reality of economic systems that is impossible to fully understand without considering both perspectives? Is it possible that delving into the mysteries of God requires us to set aside our human categories, and find a deeper reality where two "truths" can co-exist simultaneously?
This blog is not about a mushy middle way. It is about thinking critically beyond our knee jerk perceptions or our preconceived positions, and digging deeper. A friend of mine in TX always used the phrase: "God gave us brains and expects us to use them." Come, and let us think, imagine, ponder, and listen together. And see if the truth we seek isn't best found not in either/or, but in both/and. Visions of Paradox.