Is Minimalism Christian?
It is cool (hip, in, not sure the correct term) to be a minimalist. Please do not expect me to do a review of the various reality shows. I don’t have time to watch them. I did watch a little bit of Marie Kondo once and she has helped me to appreciate how my wife rearranged my sock drawer. My garage is in need of a spark, but not the “joy” kind.
It is fairly easy to be a minimalist at certain times in life. I was minimalist when I was in college. Some people are now managing to live that way throughout their twenties. It is hard for me to imagine continuing as a minimalist once children come along. It is almost impossible in today’s culture to have a baby without also having a truck and trailer to carry all the diapers, strollers, car seats, and other sometimes legally necessary possessions.
Shunning material possessions seems on the surface to be a Christian way to live. After all, Jesus was a minimalist. He did not have a pillow on which to lay His head. He even seems to teach such a philosophy of living when He tells us to not worry about clothing (Matthew 6:28-29).
They are seeking happiness.
Many in our culture now have all the “stuff” they could ever really want, and it is not bringing happiness. In fact, our stuff can become a burden. I remember peering into a garage while making a home visit to see it stuffed with a boat, motorcycles, and mechanized toys of all kinds. All that I could think about was what an incredible chore it would be to keep all that stuff running and the frustration I would feel in having it all and never having time to use it. Wealth and all of its accoutrements can be more of a burden than a blessing.
So many are seeking happiness in owning less. I am sure it provides for a much simpler uncluttered life and for many a greater level of peace, but it is still an illusion. Its popularity will fade. Try googling “minimalism is dead” and you will see.
There is a Christian perspective.
Happiness is found in Christ, not stuff.
Happiness is not found in possessing more or less, but in Christ and Christ alone. There is nothing wrong with choosing to own less or even very little, but it will never be the source of true happiness.
When we seek our joy in Christ, our lifestyle choices become simpler. We are no longer our own and everything we do possess belongs to another. Our lives are no longer about the pursuit of happiness, but rather a stewardship before Him.
So take a walk around your home. All of your financial resources are the gift of God. Have you invested well? Does all the stuff you own enhance your ability to effectively serve Him? Or is it a dead weight that enslaves you?
Now, wait a minute. Before you pitch it all and go a-wandering with only a knapsack on your back consider another important Christian principle. Minimalism is a lifestyle choice that is often equated with freedom and a sort of wanderlust, but as a Christian, I am not free. I am a servant of Christ. My life’s ambition is to do what He wants me to do, live where He wants me to live, possess what He wants me to possess, and use everything for His glory. I certainly can live on less, but I do so because it is His will not my whim.
The soldier analogy works well and it’s biblical. No good soldier entangles himself with the affairs of this life (2 Timothy 2:4). It does not work well for a soldier to load his pack with the spoils of war, or to have a business on the side. His only desire should be to please his commanding officer.
I am not free to wander.
God clearly intends for New Testament believers to be rooted and connected in a New Testament Church. 2 Timothy 2:6 compares ministry work to farming. There is no occupation that ties a person down like farming. The animals have to be tended every day. A farmer has to own land, animals, crops, and countless tools to enable him to do his job. It is plain hard work, but he will be rewarded by His master for his faithfulness.
The New Testament church is the “farm” in which God has called all believers to labor. He has gifted every believer to serve there. It’s a body that requires all the parts to function well, and all the parts need the body to survive and thrive. So the freedom—the wandering lifestyle—that is so appealing in minimalism is in conflict with New Testament Church body life.
So, the answer is no. The minimalism as we see it in our culture as a philosophy of life and happiness is not Christian.
Exactly!
I don’t consider myself a minimalist (yet), but I do love to declutter as a hobby! :) Please check out Joshua Becker https://www.becomingminimalist.com/ and Dawn from “The Minimal Mom”, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeLICYOqHfIrfSAQq1TT7PA . Both Joshua and Dawn are Christians and both have normal households and lives with children and church activities. They just want less stuff to manage to enjoy their life more. I don’t see that desire as “not Christian”. The vast majority of minimalists don’t travel more than anyone else. Minimalism is not one-size-fits-all. Yes, there are some outliers trying to live with 50-100 possessions, but those are a teeny slice of a huge spectrum of those that call themselves minimalists. Some minimalists want a ten-item wardrobe, some want 33 items, some want only what will fit into a normal closet. None of these choices are wrong.
Another thing I’ve learned is you can give two people the exact same amount of stuff, and one can manage it and the other one can’t manage it. Usually those that can’t manage a lot of possessions well (like myself) are the ones that want less – not to substitute for Christ, not to enable wanderlust – but just to not be embarrassed when neighbors drop in and to be able to find things when you need them! A great podcast for learning about your “clutter threshold” is “A Slob Comes Clean” by Dana K. White – also a Christian and she is very funny. She also teaches “the container concept” which I think is better than minimalism!
Every single hobby and activity we do as Christians can be an idol if we get carried away with it. Every single thing we spend time on can be a substitute for Christ. Why pick on minimalism? Why not hoarding? Why not crafts, sports?
Rene,
I know you. I hope you know I am not talking about you. Choosing to have less is fine. It’s not the choice that is the problem, it is the reason. Seeking your happiness in minimalism as a lifestyle will be fruitless–the same applies to hoarding, sports, and a myriad of other things. I am just dealing with minimalism here because some today are equating it with righteousness and that is a false idea.
Here is another article with the same perspective. https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/reviews/minimalism-is-not-the-gospel/
KS
Hi Pastor Schaal – First, to clarify, this is Renee (Rachel would never write anything so long and detailed. LOL). I had no thoughts whatsoever that you were talking about me because I figure you had no idea I follow minimalists on YouTube! I agree with you that minimalism doesn’t bring happiness. I just took issue with your concluding statement that it isn’t Christian – I think the decision to own less is neutral and, like you inferred, it is the heart reasons that make it good or bad.
Another angle I have on this topic is that most Americans are over-buyers, not under-buyers, most are in debt trying to own MORE. Materialism is really a bigger problem in the USA than minimalism among Christians (my opinion), but I suppose articles are needed on small problems too. I agree completely with the link you sent – I followed Josh Millburn for a short time and realized he was a whack job – minimalism was more a “conversion experience” for him. This makes me think about the man Jim Berg talked about that tried everything for happiness – extreme sports, bungie (spelling?) jumping etc, nothing satisfied, so he decided it must be because he is really a woman. Then after his sex-change operation realized that didn’t bring happiness either and eventually committed suicide. One day, Josh Millburn will realize he still isn’t happy. Yes, only Christ can satisfy.
I loved your farm analogy as that is our situation – with 2 sheep, 4 ducks, 5 chickens, and a livestock guardian dog – we don’t go anywhere. LOL. Also, this homestead lifestyle requires a lot of “stuff” so we can never be minimalists the way most people think of it.
I think we are on the same page. I just wanted to soften your closing statement with proof that there are Christian people out there that call themselves minimalists (such as Joshua Becker and Dawn from The Minimal Mom) that are just trying not to be overburdened and stressed out with all their stuff. Also, one main goal of most minimalists is to get out of debt, which I find commendable – they are usually Dave Ramsey fans!
Rene,
“Hi Pastor Schaal – First, to clarify, this is Renee (Rachel would never write anything so long and detailed. LOL).”
Now that is embarrassing! Corrected.
KS