As I currently journey through different cultures in various Africa countries, it makes me fully aware of how much we over-think things in our western world.
It is always good to be reminded that the Gospel, and its spread to others, must be just as clear and relevant to an illiterate, rural village person as it is to an educated urbanite. Therefore, its power is not solely accessible to those who are able to study and come up with complicated theological theses. Rather it’s power is accessible, in its utter simplicity, to the least educated as well as the most.
I remember, years ago, someone saying to me that the most powerful theological statement ever is just the song: “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”
Indeed, the Gospel can be primarily summed up with Jesus’ commandments and commission:
- Love God with heart, soul, and mind—as He has loved us
- Love others—as we love ourselves
- Go and invite others into a personal, discipleship/followership relationship with Jesus
It is interesting to note that simple is reproducible. Simple, is able to be passed along. Simple can become viral. Keeping things simple can reduce the temptation toward creating religious structures and church institutions by encouraging a simple, basic listening/surrendering relationship to Jesus whom we love and follow.
Richard Feynman, Nobel Prize winner for his work on quantum electrodynamics, said, “you can recognize truth by its beauty and simplicity.”
I would add to this… that God’s truth is recognizable by beauty, simplicity, as well as power—the kind of power that transforms people’s lives from the inside out.
Perhaps, today, we can re-root our lives in the simplicity of God’s love and in His leading to share His simple, magnificent beauty to the world around us. Perhaps, our own culture is looking for some simple, powerful answers to the confusion that is so prevalent. Perhaps life with God is simpler and more powerfully amazing then we have made it to be.
Comments
8 responses to “Keeping It Simple, Beautiful, Reproducible”
I so agree with these sentiments. I have lived and worked in developing nations (majority countries) for half of my life now. I am currently 68. Yes I have often deliberated over this very matter. We make God/church/theology so complicated. Jesus came to make it simple and clear – even for children. Thanks for reminding us that simple church is best.
Roger, I just woke up from a dream I had exactly along those lines. In the dream, I found out that many “simple” people had been impacted for God deeply by some short but inspired words that I had recorded years before and they had been passing around, but I had forgotten about them. Thanks for sharing your heart and your valuable and simple clarity from your experiences.
Feynman, as with other gifted teachers, had a way of making complicated subjects available and understandable to others. Godincidentally, in quantum physics (very abstract and complicated) scientists are “seeing” truths about the Creator and Lover of our souls. Yet, Feynman, Einstein, Polk, Planck and others, including Dr. Kyle Watters, knew/know and teach a remarkably simple truth that rests in their field of “cosmology”.
May the Force (Divine LOVE) be with you. };-) ❤️
Well said! Thanks for the comment.
Hmmm… recorded words. Anything to do with writing? Seems like you do that well. (Have I said that before?)
Godincidentally — I think I will have to use that one if I can spell it correctly! Thanks, Patrick.
Thank you for sharing this with us. So true. I remember when I was told about Jesus as a small child raised in church. My childlike faith made me believe that Jesus would rescue me from a very challenging childhood. I guess because it didn’t happen on my schedule, and I became a orphan when it did occur I became angry at God. I long to return to my one true love. God never left me I am the one who ran away in fear. Thankfully we serve a God of grace and mercy.
Blessings,
Mary
Just back from S. Acrica. Everyone seems to believe in God and more than open to talk about Him. What appears missing is realizations of how much love and value He has for each of us as individuals, and how intimate He longs to be in our minute by minute living.