Minimalism

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

CherieR

Senior Member
May 6, 2017
2,265
1,419
113
#1
What do you think of Minimalism? Have you ever considered becoming a minimalist in the possessions you own? What steps do you take in getting rid of stuff taking up space in the wardrobe or other places?
 

Didymous

Senior Member
Feb 22, 2018
5,047
2,099
113
#2
I give away my extra clothes all the time, and people keep giving me new ones. I don't have much else that's extra.
 

Pemican

Senior Member
Sep 27, 2014
954
234
43
#3
I guess it depends on what you mean by being a minimalist. I suspect that people who chose to live in tiny houses secretly dream of having more space. There is a book, which I have read a little of, called "The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing" by Marie Kondo. It advocates getting rid of a lot of stuff that is just cluttering up your life. The world offer lots of garbage to fill your life with that is a total waste of time and a distraction from focusing on the Word of God and on living the spiritual life.
 

Pemican

Senior Member
Sep 27, 2014
954
234
43
#4
I think it comes down to evaluating everything you own as to its value and usefulness. What are your priorities? What are your necessities? I wouldn't become a minimalist just to be a minimalist. It has to make sense for you.
 

Pemican

Senior Member
Sep 27, 2014
954
234
43
#5
I have know people who kept everything! I saw it as a weakness, not as a good idea. They did it because they saw value and usefulness in everything, but they were also very insecure and thought they would live long enough to need it all. They failed to accept the brevity of this life and gave no thought to eternity. I see life as preparation for eternity.
 

seoulsearch

OutWrite Trouble
May 23, 2009
14,940
4,581
113
#6
Hi Cherie!

I'm really enjoying your threads about organizing and minimalism. :)

I've been interested in the subject of minimalism for a few years now, and I know something that's been helpful for me is to look up information about it via YouTube and various blogs. For instance, one minimalist I follow on YouTube became so as a backlash to growing up in a household with a hoarding parent, so I've found her views to be quite interesting.

And, like anything else these days, many have made minimalism a religion, eagerly pouncing on anyone who isn't following the lifestyle as rigidly as they are (composting toilet, anyone? Uh, no thanks.)

The videos I've found most helpful were the ones that have talked about both the pros AND the cons... For instance, a woman who went all out and bought a tiny house, only to find that hosting people for dinner--something she loved--became an issue, along with the simplest of decisions, were now a challenge. She loved to travel with her tiny home, but there are weight restrictions when traveling, so now, even something like purchasing cast-iron cookware (because of the weight) was something off-limits.

Personally, I think you have to find what works for you, because that will be different for everyone. For example, I've tried cutting back/donating lots of things all at once, only to find that I had to go back and re-purchase some of those items because it just wasn't working for me. A few examples...

* Trying to learn how to cook... with only two pans... and finding out what a pain the patooey it was when I was trying to make a recipe that called for multiple preps at once.

* Having only enough work clothes to make it through one week (I now have enough for two weeks), because even though it was a nice "minimalist" principle, I found it to be a total waste when I went to do laundry every week and only had enough for a partial load.

I've also found that some hobbies are just not designed for minimalism. For instance, I occasionally try to sew, and one of the things I've found are essential to me are real sewing books, and not a Kindle, because if I'm trying to pin fabric together and look up one technique on page 23 and another on page 217, flipping back and forth between pages is a lot more helpful in the moment (and for my sanity) than trying to scroll through a screen. Needless to say, my bookshelf would give a "true" minimalist nightmares.

So I'm pretty sure that most minimalists would look at me and scoff, but I have to find what works for my own life and God-given callings and interests.

One thing I do appreciate about the minimalist movement is that it HAS made me aware of how much I consume or accumulate, which has in turn made me a lot more conservative in my choices, and in donating things I truly don't need.
 
M

Miri

Guest
#7
I’m a minimalist in waiting.
I have loads of clothes 2 sizes smaller than I am now. I kept them hoping I will be
“Minimal” again soon!
 

mar09

Senior Member
Sep 17, 2014
4,927
1,259
113
#8
Kind of. When a larger mirror was broken weeks (mos.?) ago, we havent gotten a new one yet. I think no one is thinking that is very impt. Sure there are some items that need moving in the haus, but most move out fast.
 
Feb 24, 2019
256
167
43
#10
I think minimalism as a focus is nonsense.
I think Jesus as a focus will naturally yield minimalism.
 

CherieR

Senior Member
May 6, 2017
2,265
1,419
113
#11
I think minimalism as a focus is nonsense.
I think Jesus as a focus will naturally yield minimalism.
I think you may be right there. The bible does tell us to fix our eyes on Jesus after all. ☺