Principles for the outward
expression of Simplicity
Principles for the Outward Expression of Simplicity

These ideas are based upon the work of Richard Foster and are intended as a way to express and celebrated our responsibilities as
Christians.

1.  Buy things for their usefulness not to increase your status.

2.  Utterly reject anything  that causes addiction in you.

3.  De-accumulate.  Habitually give things away. (“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth.”  Matthew 6:19)

4.  Refuse to be propagandized by anyone.  Refuse to let your sense of worth or self image be shaped by the media, consumerism, or the
purveyors gadgetry with planned obsolence.

5.  Enjoy things without owning them.

6.  Develop a deeper appreciation for creation.

7.  Be sharply skeptical of all “buy now, pay later” schemes including credit cards.  Debt breeds mental, emotional, and spiritual slavery.

8.  Follow Jesus’ teaching about plain, honest speech. “Let your yes by yes and your no be no.” Matthew 5:37

9.  Reject everything that breeds oppression of others.

10.  Shen anything that distracts you from seeking God.  “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and all these things shall follow after.”  


There is a huge number of Bible verses that teach these and other principles of simple, honest living.  In the book of Proverbs, for example,
almost every teaching is along these lines.