Fr. Ryan Murphy, EP
When Jesus told his apostles to take nothing for their journey, was he inviting them to embrace evangelical poverty? Or is that what we would call today minimalism? Are the two really the same?
Jesus’ Instructions to the Apostles
When Jesus sent the twelve on mission, he instructed them to take nothing for the journey. Neither walking stick nor sack, nor food, nor money, and let no one take a second tunic. To some, this directive can sound similar to minimalism, a trend that has grown in popularity over the last decade.
What Is Minimalism?
Minimalism is a lifestyle choice that involves intentionally removing excess possessions and choosing to live with just the essentials. One widely quoted definition describes minimalism as a tool to rid yourself of life’s excess, allowing you to focus on what is truly important in order to find happiness, fulfilment, and freedom.
The Rise of Consumer Culture and Minimalism
How Online Shopping Increased Material Desire
For years, mainstream media and popular culture have promoted the idea that the more we have, the happier we will be. With the rise of online shopping, this idea gained even more traction. Millions of products became available at our fingertips, delivered directly to our doors with satisfaction guaranteed.
Minimalism as a Response to Consumerism
Many people realised that no matter how much they bought or how many trends they followed, satisfaction remained elusive. Minimalism emerged as a counter movement against consumer culture, embracing the philosophy that less is more. What began as a fringe idea on blogs quickly spread through best-selling books, viral YouTube videos, and social media decluttering challenges.
The Surface Appeal of Minimalism
On the surface, minimalism seems positive. It echoes some values that Jesus wanted his disciples to practice, helping them remove distractions to focus on their mission. But when we look deeper, minimalism is incomplete.
The Core Difference: Personal Happiness vs. Divine Purpose
At its heart, minimalism focuses on personal happiness, fulfilment, and freedom. While these desires are not bad in themselves, they do not push individuals to transcend their own self-interest. Evangelical poverty, by contrast, calls us to detach from material goods in order to pursue God’s plan for our lives, rather than our own. Minimalism keeps the focus on achieving one’s personal version of happiness, which, like consumerism, is fleeting. Both are ultimately seeking worldly satisfaction, just in different forms.
Minimalism as a Distorted Spiritual Idea
An American bishop once observed, “When authentic religious values are repressed, they do not go away, but rather resurface elsewhere in a disguised or distorted form.” Minimalism is an example of this. It is not a revolutionary philosophy but a distorted version of the evangelical counsel of poverty, promoting self-love over divine love.
True Fulfilment Through Evangelical Poverty
If minimalists were to practice their lifestyle with the intention of detaching from material goods to serve the supreme good, their efforts would gain spiritual merit, and they would discover true, lasting happiness.
