Seeking Poverty?

Over the last few years I have felt the call to seek a simpler life, particularly in the area of material possessions (though admittedly I am moving very slowly). In a sense, I have felt called to a life of some sort of material poverty for the sake of the Gospel, my own well- being, and the well- being of my family. But this call on my life is so often misunderstood by those around me. That being said, I would like to take a personal moment (this is after all my own journal ) and clarify briefly what I think it means for someone like myself to be called to poverty for the sake of the Gospel of Christ.

Maybe I should start by noting what I DO NOT think it means to seek poverty for the sake of the Gospel.

First, I do not think that being poor materially means that one will be loved more by God. I don’t see anything in scripture to suggest that God loves anyone more than another, regardless of wealth, position in society, or otherwise. In my opinion, God loves all equally.

I also do not believe that giving up all possessions and seeking poverty is some sort of requirement for salvation. This sort of ascetic thinking leads, in my opinion, to a sort of works- righteousness and self- righteousness that is dangerous and difficult to avoid.

And finally, I do not believe that giving up all possessions and seeking poverty is the ‘next step’ for those who would want to be ‘super- Christians’ or ‘extra- Holy.’ Yes, for some this path to simplicity will lead to a deeper relationship with God and others, but I don’t think it is a sort of ‘step to Sainthood.’

So why seek poverty for the sake of the Gospel? How would a simple life relate to Jesus’ message and God’s life?

I think understanding this call depends greatly on recognizing first that scripture reveals to us a God that cares deeply and acts on behalf of the poor and oppressed. From the liberation of the Israelites in the Exodus, to the proclamations (and warnings) of the Prophets, to the sacrificial life and teachings of Jesus, scripture clearly points to this undeniable aspect of God’s nature. God cares for those who are hurting and on the margins of society, and acts on their behalf. If one misses this, then seeking poverty for the sake of the Gospel cannot make sense.

I also believe that to follow Christ and love God with all heart, soul, and mind, one must learn to care about what God cares about. The old prayer, “Dear God, make my heart break with the things that break your heart” is a good and sound request for one who seeks to follow. So if God cares and acts on behalf of the poor and oppressed, then I feel called to seek ways to do the same.

But it seems almost impossible to truly care for persons, and act on the behalf of persons, that I don’t know and understand. If I am to care for the poor, I need to connect with them… I need to know how they feel… what they are afraid of… what they worry about… I need to be as much ‘one’ with them as I can be, and I cannot do that if my life is separated from theirs. I can’t know what it means to be without things, if I have all I need and much more.

I think in a sense this is exactly what God was revealing to creation in the life of Jesus. God needed to show us what loves is… God needed to connect with us… become ‘one’ with us… in order to display the unfathomable love of God. God set the example in Jesus, and I think, in a very finite and inadequate sense, some are called to follow this way, in imitation of Christ. I think some are called to seek poverty, not for poverty’s sake, but rather to enter into solidarity with those who are hurting, and better come to know and understand them, and therefore become better able to care for and love them.

Paul wrote, “If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care- then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.

“Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death- and the worst kind of death at that- a crucifixion.” Philippians 2: 1-8

Most Gracious God, break my heart with the things that break your heart. Give me the strength and faith to seek poverty for the sake of the Gospel. Help me find ways to forget myself for those who are hurting. And help me to do this with humility and peace, avoiding the pitfalls of self- righteousness. In Christ Name… Amen