The Simple Pastor
Simplicity & Generosity
The early church: unbelievably generous: I’m reading Henry Chadwick’s history The Early Church and there are some ... http://bit.ly/a5CIUn 10 hrs ago
I’m continuing to ponder the Lausanne Evangelical Commitment to Simple Life-style and this opening section to part 5 caught my attention.
“Jesus our Lord summons us to holiness, humility, simplicity and contentment. He also promises us his rest.”
Jesus is summoning me to simplicity and contentment. Simplicity is not then a matter of choice but a matter of obedience. It goes on to say,
“We intend to re-examine our income and expenditure, in order to manage on less and give away more. We lay down no rules or regulations, for either ourselves or others. Yet we resolve to renounce waste and oppose extravagance in personal living, clothing and housing, travel and church buildings. We also accept the distinction between necessities and luxuries, creative hobbies and empty status symbols, modesty and vanity, occasional celebrations and normal routine, and between the service of God and slavery to fashion.”
I love the heart, ‘to give away more’ – if anything should mark Christians out it should be our generosity, shouldn’t it?
I believe Jesus when he said 'life does not consist in the abundance of our possessions'. I believe he offers something better. This blog is mostly about that search.
I'm also a church pastor, a bookshop owner, a husband, a father, a keen runner, reader, and motorcyclist. These and a few other things make guest appearances from time to time.