Subject Index
Note: Entries in this index, carried over verbatim from the print edition of this title, are unlikely to correspond to the pagination of any given e-book reader. However, entries in this index, and other terms, may be easily located by using the search feature of your e-book reader.
Abraham, 17, 18; generosity of, 24; obedience of, 94; and tithing, 22–23
Accommodation without compromise, 113–15
Activities, recording and ranking of, 91–92
Affluence, 17–18. See also Wealth
Agatho, Abbot, 58
Africa, 170; slave trade in, 68–69
Alice in Wonderland, 173–74
Allen, Floyd, 175
American Indians, 67, 140
Amos, 148
Anthony, St., 56, 58
Anxiety, 12, 34
Asbury, Francis, 66–67
Augustine of Hippo, 52
Automobiles, 175
Barclay, Robert, 52
Barnabas, 44
Baxter, Richard, 52, 148, 149
Beatitudes of Luke, 38–39
Berkeley Christian Coalition, 69
Bernard of Clairvaux, 148
Blessings, and obedience, 20
Bonhoeffer, Dietrich, 10, 42
Booth, William 68
Brainerd, David, 67
Bread for the World, 172, 178
Budgets: of churches, 160; of families, 118–21
Byrd, Richard E., 123
Calvin, John, 63–64
Carey, William, 67, 168
Catholic Worker Movement, 69
Celibacy, 61, 136–37
Center of life, 78–80, 98, 184
Chesterton, G. K., 110
Children, 137, 141–42; financial education of, 144–45; parental economic dependence on, 172
Christian approach to world problems, 164–67
Christians, early: charity and sharing by, 53–55; fellowship of, 43–46; persecution of, 55
Chrysostom, John, 54
Church, early, 43, 44; care of Hellenistic widows by, 47; charity by, 54–55. See also Christians, early
Churches: architecture and construction of, 152–54; “care groups” of, 155; methods to promote economic equality, 159–60; programs to promote Christian fellowship, 161
Church of the Redeemer, 139–40
Church of the Saviour, 132
Church, the: literature on simplicity, 69–73; teaching ministry of, 147–50
Clothes, purchase of, 125–26
Commitment, and decision-making, 92–93
Communal living, 139–40
“Communion of saints,” 52, 73
Communion with God, 82–87
Compassion, 58; and justice, 27–28; in the Old Testament, 27–30
Compromise, l13–15
Constantine, Emperor, 56
Consultation on World Evangelization, 167
Consumerism, 114–15, 121–26
Contentment, 87–89
Corinthians, 47–48
Covetousness, 18, 41; vs. contentment, 87–88
Creation, 16–17, 18
Cross-cultural missions, 168–69
Culture: and global evangelism, 168–69; and norms of simplicity, 112–18, 114
Davis, James, 130
Decision-making, 81–82; based on communion with God, 82–83, 156–57; role of commitment in, 92–93
Demographic transition, and over-population, 171–72
Dependence on God, 16–17
Descartes, R., 71
Desert Fathers, 55–58
Detachment, 57
Developing countries, U. S. relations with, 172–73
Didache, the, 53
Diet, nutritious, 124
Dionysius of Corinth, 53
Disciples: economic background of, 42; fellowship formed by, 43–44
Discipline of simplicity, 4, 7–8
Disciplines of the Spirit, 57
Discontent, 88–90
Dominic, St., 60
Eckhart, Meister, 85, 95
Economy: for conservation, 178; in early Christian fellowship, 44–45; equality in, 158–60; expansion of, 174–75; planned obsolescence in, 175. See also Finances, personal
Education, 142
Elijah, 136
Eliot, T. S., 94
Ellul, Jacques, 140–41
Environmental Fund, 171
Evangelism, 66–67; cross-cultural, 168–69; financial support for, 150, 168; global, 167–69; need for, 127–28, 163, 167–68
Evil, 165, 166
Exercises, spiritual, 82–86
Exile, the, 27
Faith, and biblical principle of sola fide, 62
“Faith versus works,” 36–37
Fasting, modern applications of, 138–39
Feast days, modern, 162
Fellowship, Christian: in the early Church, 43–46; in “meetings for clearness,” 156–57; practical methods for development of, 161–62
Fénelon, François, 13, 93, 99, 100, 101; on stages to achieve simplicity, 96–98
Festivals, modern, 162
Finances personal, 110–11; attitudes toward, 143; budgeting and planning of, 118–21, 124–26; role in the ministry of money, 130–32, 155–56
Flattery, 108
Florand, Francis, 70
Fox, George, 64, 65, 70
Franciscans, 102, 159; women’s branch of, 59
Francis of Assisi, 52, 56–61; joy of, 61, 102; poverty of, 59, 60, 116; songs by, 59–60
Freedom: in balance between activity and rest, 91; from control by others, 57; and self-discovery, 98; to serve others, 62–63, 135
Freedom of a Christian (Martin Luther), 62
Fund-raising, 150–51
Future, 55
Gandhi, Mahatma, 127
Generosity, 18–24; of God, 18–20, 22, 46, 159; paradigm for, 24
Gish, Arthur, 70
Giving, 128–33
God, 7, 15; compassion and mercy of, 27, 28; constant communion with, 82–87; dependence on, 16–17; generosity of, 18–20, 22, 46, 54, 60, 159; and the grace of simplicity, 7; hearing the voice of, 86, 157; and life at the Center, 80, 82; presence of, 45, 83–84; singleness of purpose with, 36
Good of others, 46–49
Gospel, liberty of, 62
Grace: and principle of sola gratia, 62; of simplicity, 6–7, 13, 77, 117
Greed, 31, 33–34, 88, 106–7, 159
Group spiritual experiences, 156–57
Happiness, 123. See also Contentment; Joy
Harvesting, 28
Hengel, Martin, 42
Herntrich, Volkmar, 25
Hesed: and justice, 27–28; meaning of, 27
Holy obedience, 10, 94–109; defined, 94–95; development of, 104–9; and humility, 103; joy of, 101–2; and material blessings, l9–20; in the Old Testament, 17–18, 19; in present time, 106; by Quakers, 64–66; selflessness in, 95–96; simplicity based on, 17, 43, 184–85
Holy Spirit, power of, 45
Home entertainment, 143–44
Hospitality, 48, 144
Humility, 102–3
Hunger, world, 169–73
Identification with the poor, 37–40, 140–42
Idolatry, 17–18
Inflation, 113
International Congress on World Evangelism, 128
Isaiah, 148
James the Apostle, 39–40, 41; economic background of, 42; wealth and sharing viewed by, 48–49
James, William, 52
Jeremiah, 26–27, 31
Jesus Christ, 3, 5–6, 10, 13, 47–48, 137; attitude toward the tithe, 24, 50, 152; birth of, 38; centering one’s life on, 82; conquest of evil by, 166; death of, 47; on decision-making, 81; hearing and obeying the word of, 64–66, 157; on hunger, 173; resurrection of, 44; on self-denial, 95; singleness of purpose with God, 36; social interaction with the wealthy, 42–43; teachings on possessions, 33–37, 40–43, 128
John the Apostle, 40
John the Baptist, 15, 38, 136
John XXIII, Pope, 5
Jordan, Clarence, 69, 155–56
Journals, spiritual, 108–9
Joy, 43; of holy obedience, 101–2, 107; of simplicity, 58–61
Jubilee: in the Old Testament, 20–22; modern applications of, 160
Jubilee Fellowship, 69
Judson, Adoniram, 67
Julian of Norwich, 102
Julian the apostate, 53
Justice: Church instruction on, 148; and economic equality, 158–60; in the Old Testament, 24–27; promoted by modern Christians, 140–42; role of Christian political activism in, 63–64
Kagawa, Toyohiko, 116
Kelly, Thomas, 5, 86–87, 94; on humility, 103; A Testament of Devotion by, 78
Kierkegaard, Søren, 77, 184; Purity of Heart Is to Will One Thing by, 70, 71–72; on pursuit of the kingdom of God, 105; simplicity defined by, 142
Kingdom of God, 33, 34, 35, 41, 169; first pursuit of, 104–5; and liberation, 46; and marriage 136–38; and the Pentecost, 43
Koinonia Farm, 69, 155–56
Land: harvesting of, 28; ownership and use of, 21–22, 24; and the Sabbath rest principle, 29–80
Laubach, Frank, 90; and communion with God, 82–83, 85
Lawrence, Brother, 83, 98
Laws: of compassion, 28–29; of the first fruits, 22; of gleaning, 28, 118; on pledges and loans, 29
Law, William, 148
Legalism, 9, 111–13
Liberation, from the oppression of wealth, 42; by prayer, 58. See also Freedom
Life: at the Center, 78–82; passim, 86–87, 98, 184; cycle of, 90–91; quality of, 123
Lifestyle: changed to include service to others, 133–35; cultural influence on, 113–14; recording activities in, 91–92; simplification of, 45–46, 128, 131, 168
Literature on simplicity, 69–73
Livingstone, David, 33, 68–69
Loans, 29, 113
Love, 42
Luke, Gospel of: beatitudes in, 38–39; concern for the poor in, 37–39
Luther, Martin, 61–63, 64, 147
Macarius, 57
Marie of the Incarnation, 80
Marriage, 92; children in, 137; role in the service of God, 136–38; salaries of spouses in, 131
Material things: advertising of, 115, 121; Christian attitudes toward, 9–10, 15, 49; Christ’s teachings on, 33–37, 40–43; common ownership of, 143; and contentment, 87–88; covetousness of, 18, 33–34; and obedience to God, 18–20; prayer for, 122; renunciation of, 57; sharing of, 44–45; and voluntary poverty, 116–18; and the ministry of money, 128–33 passim. See also Finances, personal; Wealth
Media: commercials in, 114–15, l2l; control of, 139
“Meetings for clearness,” 156
Merton, Thomas, 56, 138
Methodism, 66–67
Ministry: of eldering, 154–57; of money, 128–33; of sacrifice, 135–40; of service, 132–35; of teaching, 147–50
Miracles, 45
Mishpat, and justice, 24–25, 27–28
Missionaries: Church teaching about, 148–49; economic support of, 131, 168; modern, 67–69. See also Evangelism
Missions, frontier, 168
Models of Christian simplicity, 52–69
Money: attitudes toward, 143; investment of, 131–32; managed by children, 144–45; ministry of, 128–33. See also Finances, personal; Wealth
Mooneyham, Stanley, 133
Moses, 46, 64, 140
Mother Teresa of India, 105, 116
Müller, George, 68
Nature, enjoyment of, 143
New Testament, 33–51; Christ’s teachings on possessions in, 33–37, 40–43; concern for poverty in, 37–40; dangers of wealth discussed in, 40–43; early Christian fellowship in, 43–46; the tithe in, 24, 49–50
Niebuhr, Reinhold, 132
Numidia, 54
Oates, Wayne, 90
O’Connor, Elizabeth, 132–33, 143n
Old Testament, 15–32; call for compassion in, 27–30; call for justice in, 24–27; dependence in, 16–17; generosity of God in, 18–20, 22, 23; lessons from the manna story in, 159; obedience in, 17–20; restraints on social injustice discussed in, 21–22, 28–29, 113; visitors of wholeness and peace in, 30–32
Ozanam, Antoine Frédéric, 67–68
Paradoxes of simplicity, 5–6, 8, 9–10; in self-denial and self-fulfillment, 95–96
Pascal, Blaise, 52; on joy, 102; on silence, 89–90
Pastors: salaries of, 160, 161–62, 168; teaching ministry of, 147
Paul the Apostle, 9, 12, 33, 39, 115, 154; attitude toward tithing, 24; on contentment, 87; dangers of wealth described by, 41; on economic equality, 158–59; ethical teachings of, 47–48, 88, 146; on evil principalities, 165; freedom of, 99; on the kingdom of God, 169; and life in Christ, 82; on marriage, 136, 137; money and material benefits viewed by, 43; on prayer, 84
Peace, Hebrew concept of, 30–31
Penn, William, 3, 65, 70, 184; on frugality, 145
Pentecost, 43
People’s Christian Coalition, 69
Perlmutter, Howard, 180
Peter, 91; and cultural norms of simplicity, 112–13; and holy obedience, 94–95
Political activism, Christian, 63–64, 165–66
Poor, identification with, 37–40, 140–42
Possessions, 40. See also Material things
Poverty, 4, 21, 114; God’s attitude toward, 33–34; in the Old Testament, 21–22, 28–29; Quaker attitudes toward, 65; voluntary, 116–18. See also Hunger, world; Social injustice
Power: of God, 166, 169; in the ministry of money, 129
Practice of the Presence of God (Brother Lawrence), 83
Prayer, 11–12, 101–2; for material needs, 122; for other people, 84–85, 86; to practice the presence of God, 83–85; in solving world problems, 166–167; value of, 58
Principalities and powers, 164–167
Prophetic simplicity, 135–36
Prophets, 148; in modern society, 92
Protestant Reformation, 61–64
Puritans, 149
Quakers, 64–66, 130, 140
Raikes, Robert, 68
Reba Place Fellowship, 139
Recreation, 123
Reflection, cultivation of, 92
Renunciation, power of, 55–58
Rieman, T. Wayne, 182n
Rifkin, Jeremy, 177
Rights, surrender of, 46–49
Rockefeller, John D., 87
Roman Catholic Church, merit system in, 62
Rothman, Harry, 176
Sabatier, Paul, 59
Sabbath, rest principle of, 29–30
Sacrifice, gift of, 135–40
Saints, 52–73, 83; joy of holy obedience experienced by, 102
Sales, Francis de, 73, 148
Salvation Army, 68
Sapphira, 45
Savonarola, Girolamo, 52, 70–71
Schweitzer, Albert, 68, 125, 141
Scripture, authority of, 61–62
Scroggie, Graham, 94–95
Self-denial, and self-fulfillment, 95–96
Selves, conglomerate of, 80–82
Service to others, 46–49, 133–35
Shakers, 6–7
Shalom, meaning of, 30–31
Sharing, 43–46, 53–55, 139
Sider, Ronald, 70
Silence, 57–58; inward simplicity nurtured by, 89–90
Simon, Arthur, 172
Simplicity, 183–85; complexity of, 3–14; connection between inner and outer aspects of, 147–48; corporate, 146–82; and surrendering one’s rights, 46–49; and unity of purpose, 36
Simplicity, inward, 8–9, 19, 77–109; and the divine Center, 77–93; methods for development of, 89–93, 104–9; spiritual exercises for, 82–86; stages of, 96–98. See also Holy obedience
Simplicity, outward, 8–9, 110–45; identification with the poor, 140–42; ministry of money in, 128–33, 155–56; practical approaches to, 142–45; role of service in, 133–35; sacrifice in, 135–40
Sin, 97, 149
Sundar Singh, Sadhu, 67
“Single eye,” 63; of the Desert
Fathers, 56; of holy obedience, 94; meaning of, 36
Slavery, 68–69, 73
Smith, Adam, 174
Social injustice, 65; methods to reduce suggested in the Old Testament, 21–27, 113; reduced by modern Christians, 68–69, 140–42; and tithing, 23–24, 131, 132; viewed by John Calvin, 63; and world hunger, 169–73. See also Justice
Sola scriptura, 61–62
Solitude, 12–13, 56, 91, 123, 138
Sojourners, 23, 24, 25, 28
Speech: renunciation of, 57; simplicity of, 142, 151–52
Spiritual experiments, 82–86, 122; guidance, 129–80; 156–57; journals, 108–9; preparation, 45; principalities and powers, 164–67
Starvation, 4. See also Hunger, world
Studd, C. T., 67
Taylor, John, 81
Taylor, J. Hudson, 67
Teaching ministry of the Church, 147–50
Ten Commandments, 17–18
Tertullian, 53–54
Theology, 100; foundation of simplicity, 61–64; of wealth, 149–50
Thomas à Kempis, 14, 86
Tithe, the, 110; and the New Testament, 24, 49–50; modern applications of, 131, 132; in the Old Testament, 22–23
Titles of distinction, 152
Tolkien, J. R. R., 77
Travel, 125
Treasures, 35–36; given to others, 118; viewed by Francis of Assisi, 60
Twain, Mark, 126
United Nations, 173, 179, 181
United States, 154; role in reducing world hunger, 172–73
Universities, Christian, 130
Voice of Calvary, 69
Voice of God, 86
Voluntary poverty, 116–18, 139
Waste disposal, 176
Wealth: attitudes of the apostles toward, 48; and contentment, 87–88; danger of, 40–43, 128–29; and economic equality, 158–60; failure to obtain, 33; giving of 128–33, 155–56; theology of, 149–50; of the West, 127; and world poverty, 168–64. See also Finances, personal; Greed; Money
Wealthy, the: God’s attitude toward, 39; and Jesus Christ, 42–43
Wesley, John, 52, 125; class meetings started by, 155; finances of, 66, 131
Whitehead, Alfred North, 3
Widows, 23, 24, 25, 28, 29, 39; in the early Church, 47; voluntary offerings by, 50–51
Willard, Dallas, 42
Williams George, 68
Wilkie, Wendell, 179
Winter, Ralph, 168
Woolman, John, 72–73, 133, 135, 145, 146
Work, 149; based on faith and trust in God, 36–37
World, 163–85; consumption of resources, 127, 164, 177–78; corporations, 179–82; evangelization, 167–69; hunger, 169–73; pollution, 176–77; population, 164, 171–72; spiritual reality behind problems in, 164–67
World of God community, 139
World Vision, 133, 172
“Worm theology,” 100
Yahweh, 17, 25, 118