The Forgotten Christian Virtue of Simplicity
“Keep falsehood and deceitful words far from me. Give me neither poverty nor wealth; feed me with the food I need. Otherwise, I might have too much and deny you, saying, ‘Who is the LORD?’ or I might have nothing and steal, profaning the name of God.” -Proverbs 30:8-9 (CSB)
While I don’t decorate my apartment or go caroling throughout the month, I actually do enjoy the Christmas season. I’ll tune into the Christmas station while driving, only switching stations when “I saw Mommy kissing Santa” comes on. I’ll watch some classic movies with the family such as Home Alone (and Home Alone 2, God bless Tim Curry). And of course, I’ll treat myself to some cookies and cinnamon rolls.
When it comes to Christmas, I overall enjoy the festivities, but at a simple level. I don’t really buy the whole “bigger is better” mentality, and this is especially the case when it comes to fellowship and outreach opportunities for churches. Based on the push back some have given to high budget Christmas events put on by churches, it seems I’m not alone in feeling that way.
Holidays aside, simplicity is something I would say I want, but don’t always pursue. I think it can be easy to overlook it in all aspects of my life. But it wasn’t overlooked by the early Church. You’ll find in many readings of the Church Fathers a strong conviction for living a simplistic, if not, minimalist lifestyle, always giving to the poor and having just enough to sustain themselves.
For this blog, we’ll examine how simplicity was taught as a virtue in The Shepherd of Hermas, and what we can take away from it today.
The Seven Women of Virtue
Of the several divine encounters Hermas has with God’s messengers in the 2nd century writing The Shepherd of Hermas, one of the characters that sticks out from the beginning is a woman who represents the global Church. She takes on different appearances throughout the writing, and reveals to Hermas what God calls for His Church to repent from and pursue.
One of the lengthier visions Hermas receives is his Third Vision, where the Lady shows him a Tower. She explains to Hermas that this Tower also represents the Church, and towards the end of the passage we are introduced to Seven Women surrounding the Tower. The Lady explains to Hermas who these woman are:
“‘This tower is supported by them according to the precept of the Lord. Listen now to their functions. The first of them, who is clasping her hands, is called Faith. Through her the elect of God are saved.
Another, who has her garments tucked up and acts vigorously, is called Self-Control. She is the daughter of Faith. Whoever follows her will be happy in his life, because he will restrain himself from all evil works, believing that, if he restrains himself from all evil desire, he will inherit eternal life.’
‘But the others,’ I said, ‘Oh Lady, who are they?’
‘They are daughters of each other. One of them is called Simplicity, another Guilelessness, another Chastity, another Intelligence, another Love.
When then you do all the words of their mother, you will be able to live.’”
To me, the way the Seven Women are described as one coming from the result of another sound a little similar to Paul’s descriptions of how the Christian grows in their sanctification in Romans 5:3-5, or the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23. It is worth noting how the “mother” of these virtues is Faith. The Shepherd of Hermas has a strong emphasis on personal holiness, but here we see faith being what must come first and foremost before all other virtues.
Simplicity as a fruit of the Christian life
Despite the unfortunate popularity of the “Prosperity gospel”, a typical Christian (and many non-Christians) can see there is just something wrong with a pastor being a millionaire. A person owning a mansion, private jet, wearing the most expensive shoes, all while preaching to a packed stadium about the lowly carpenter from Nazareth who lived and died with the poor. Something just doesn’t seem right about that.
While it may be easy for me to critique or dismiss such people, I have a more difficult time examining myself and what I do with my finances. Am I rich? Not by America’s standards by any means. I make enough to get by and have some extra in the bank account, and I’m pretty happy with that.
But am I actually living a simplistic life? In some ways I think I am, but in many ways I’m not. To be honest, I spend way more than I should on food, because I like to eat. I buy theology books I don’t need but want. Sometimes I won’t give to a ministry or nonprofit because while I could, I deep down feel more comfortable having that extra bit of cash in my bank account.
To put it simply, I too often choose my desire for comfort over what the Holy Spirit wants me to do. I may work for my money, but at the end of the day, as a child of God, I’m not entitled to it. The Scriptures do not place the responsibility of sacrificial giving and self-control on spending exclusively on the super rich. It doesn’t just apply to a wealthy televangelist. If I have truly denied myself to follow Jesus, that includes my finances, and if God has graced me with such finances, I should be using them to benefit others in need.
Let’s go back to Hermas and his viewing of the Tower. He sees the Tower being built, and after describing the Seven Women of Virtue, the Lady tells Hermas to bring his attention to living out a Christian life of simplicity and giving:
“Now, therefore, listen to me and if you are at peace among yourselves and take care of one another and not only do you partake of the creatures of God from your abundance, but you also share with the needy.
For some are contracting illness in their flesh from too much food and are injuring their flesh, but others who do not have food, their flesh is being injured by not having sufficient food, and their flesh is wasting away.
Therefore this lack of sharing is harmful to you who have and do not share with those in need.
Consider the judgment which is coming. Therefore those who have an overabundance, let them seek out those who hunger while the tower is not yet completed, for with the completion of the tower, you will want to do good and you will not opportunity.”
Where our Treasure is, our Heart is
As I meditate on Jesus’ command in Matthew 6:19-21 to store treasures in heaven rather than earth, I’m beginning to think of it similarly to James 2 on faith and works. No, our works don’t save us, only Christ saves us. But faith without works is dead. (James 2:26)
Similarly, giving all our money away or committing to a life of poverty does not make us righteous or a “super Christian”. However, simply calling Jesus “Lord” does not mean He is Lord over my life if my investments (figuratively and financially speaking) don’t show it. (Matthew 7:21-23) If I continue to choose self-centered indulgence on a day-to-day basis, where is my heart truly?
Conclusion
Like any of the fruits or virtues that come from the Christian life, it is important that we remember they are a result of the Holy Spirit working in us, not a requirement to receive the Holy Spirit. It was after Jesus called Zacchaeus by name and communed with him that Zacchaeus was compelled to repent and give back the money he stole with interest. Likewise, in The Shepherd of Hermas, the Lady virtue of Simplicity was born out of the Lady virtue of Faith.
This is something I very much need to work on in my own life, so I hope this does not come off as me preaching. I do not wish to put heavy burdens on myself or other Christians, as many in the Church do sacrificially give to those in need. But may we remember that simplicity and giving are fruits of the Christian life, and not mere recommendations.
May God bless you this Christmas.
Bibliography
Schaff, P. (2016). The Complete Ante-Nicene, Nicene, and Post-Nicene Collection of Early Church Fathers. Toronto, Canada.
Brannan, R. (2017). The Apostolic Fathers: A New Translation. Bellingham, WA. Lexham Press.
Scripture quotations marked CSB have been taken from the Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible® and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.