The Scourge of Minimalism

Minimalist Art - Artist Unknown

Today's post is from an article I have written for our Local weekly paper, The Fort Saskatchewan Record, for their regular column, “Pastor’s Pen” which is shared by the clergy of the city and region. The article will appear in print on February 6th.

You've likely experienced minimalism, since it’s all around us. 

 Minimalism is when someone (including collections of "someones" like corporations or even nations) does the very least that they possibly can get away with.It's one of the things at the heart of our "do the least to get the most" society.

 It’s what we experience when a salesperson is helpful, but just barely, without a smile or any eye contact, making it plain that he or she really isn’t interested in helping out. 

 It’s what we have when a politician tells us the truth, but again, just barely, neglecting the fullness of the truth that doesn’t fit in with his or her goals. 

 Minimalism in public education is what has happened when students graduate from secondary school who can’t add up a column of numbers without a calculator, who can’t spell properly without a spell-checker, and who can’t express themselves well because they’ve never been taught to communicate without text-messaging.

 And minimalism is what we practise when we give minimal directions to someone who is lost instead of saying,“Come on. I’ll take you there.”

 Minimalism is all around us, and sadly it has even become present, perhaps even dominant, in the forms of Christianity practised in North America. 

 Minimalism in Christianity is what we get when people teach that all that’s needed to get into God’s heaven is to say a short prayer and be a good person. That’s not Christianity, at least not as taught by the Apostles, all but one of whom died for the truth of Christianity.

 Minimalism in Christianity is what we get when worship styles are determined not by Scripture or enduring Christian Tradition, but by secular pollsters telling us what kind of music and preaching people really like to hear, and when the liturgical worship witnessed to in the Bible as a reflection of the reality of heaven [Isaiah 6.1; Daniel 7.9-14; Revelation, Chapters 4 and 5; and Hebrews 8.1-6] is tossed out because it’s difficult, and demanding, and because “people just aren’t into that, you know.”

Minimalism in Christianity is what has happened when the narrow way of struggle taught by Christ and His Apostles seems more like a paved highway to heaven, Phase Three at West Edmonton Mall or the Grand Promenade on a luxury liner.

 And minimalism in following Christ is what has happened when a growing number of people outside the Faith observe those within (if they even trouble themselves to look) and say “Why bother?”

 Our Lord and God did not model such minimalism when He Who is the Creator of all that is took upon Himself the flesh of His creation, or when He agonized in the Garden of Gethsemane before His arrest. Nor was such minimalism modeled for us on the Cross, or in the deaths of millions of Christian believers since then. The Bible does not recognize minimalism except when it refers to those who worship God with their lips while their hearts are far from Him. [Isaiah 29.13; Matthew 15.8], or to the Pharisees, whose teachings are not evidenced in the way they live. [Matthew 23.3]

 Minimalism is a scourge (What’s a scourge? Think about the Black Plague which decimated Europe in the Middle Ages) … Minimalism is a scourge that is decimating our society and our Christian assemblies. It dulls the witness of the Christian Faith and robs Christians of the fullness of the saints.

 I pray that we who are called by the Name of Jesus Christ – we who call ourselves “Christians” – will demand a robust and strong Christian Faith from our pastors, and not shy away when we get it. To God be glory for ever and ever!

You will have noticed that I haven’t mentioned any particular “brand” of Christianity by name, nor have I referred to the Holy Orthodox Church. This is because of the nature of writing in a secular community newspaper. I also do not imply that the Orthodox Church is exempt from this scourge – we, too, are infected. As our Master said: Let those who have ears to hear, hear!”