Resources/Articles
Simplicity Of Christianity
When you compare the number of Christians to the number of people in the world, the saints are few. Maybe it is because the structure of Christianity is too complex for them. What about the requirements for admission into the church? Maybe they are too strict and demanding.
The reason the proportion of unbelievers outnumbers the believers pertains to simplicity. Paul had a “fear” that the Corinthian Christians’ “minds should be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity that is toward Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3). “Simplicity” means singlemindedness. It refers to one who is singular in devotion, not doubleminded, not divided in his loyalty, a consecration toward one endeavor.
Jesus spoke about the difficulty people will have in “trying to do two things at once”. “No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24). It is not hard to figure out why so many refuse simplicity. They do not want to be disciplined to one standard, one pattern, one design, one God, on Lord, one Spirit, one baptism, one faith, one body, and one hope (Ephesians 4:4-6).
People like to have options, alternatives, and choices. They like picking out their own salvation, faith, and God. Friend, these various options and alternatives are what corrupt our minds. You talk about confusion and stress. True stress is trying to fill your mind and life with everything the devil offers you, while trying to maintain some small sense of spirituality, and still coming up dissatisfied.
It seems almost hypocritical to complicate our lives with wanting anything and everything the world offers, but tell the lawyer to simplify things and “put it in laymen’s terms”. People tell the doctor, “Talk in terms I can understand”. The politician is encouraged by his constituents to “explain what that means to me”. Why do we want simple, understandable answers and explanations in other areas, but refuse the simple messages ofJesus Christ and His apostles? It could not be because it is difficult to understand. The Bible encourages people to understand (Ephesians 5:17).
Maybe our refusal of the simplicity in Christ is because we lack respect for authority, we are ignorant of truth, we fail to study, we love the world, we are lazy, or we don not want to be bothered. If this continues, there will always be trouble with immaturity in the church, division, unforgiving spirits, rebellion, lack of responsibility, and irreverence. Stick to the simple things. Focus on the truth. Set your affections above. Prioritize your life. Serve Christ as He served others. Give your attention to God...
