8 thoughts on “Christian Simplicity”

1. It is clearly a reformation sentiment, quite different from the way Christians imagined until after the reformation the kind of building that is appropriate for the worship of God.

   Why would Christians choose a shack for the worship of God instead of a grand structure?

   It seems like today Christians prefer neither shack nor cathedral, but corporate office or theatre. Whom are we trying to please in worship?

   I would choose a mountain top with no structure but a grand view of the heavens and the earth.

2. I didn’t understand her talking about a building. Although I posted a picture of an old building I took because for some reason it came to mind in connection with Stephen’s quote. Absence of luxury, I guess. I think Caroline Stephen would agree with your sentiment about worshiping God on a mountain top.

3. Interesting, odd perhaps, that I saw a church in the photo, that is what happened.

   I thought of the Protestant difference in the idea of what a church building is or should be as I read her words.

   And in her words, like “In life, as in art, whatever does not help, hinders, ” I heard the very Protestant minimalist architectural creed of Mies Van Der Rohe, “less is more.”

   I do think that most churches are virtually empty shacks.

   I have found one magnificent minimalist church building. It is Rothko Chapel in Houston. It is profoundly spiritual. And on its grounds beside a small reflecting pool is Barnett Newman’s Broken Obelisk. Surely this is a place that God knows. Even in the simple architectural lines and materials of the building and the sculpture and in the basically monotone Rothko canvases on the inside walls is more complexity and mystery than the mind can ever exhaust.

4. (Warning: I know nothing of architecture. My opinion of good archtiecture is kind of like the court’s opinion of pornogrpahy: I know it when I see it.)

   I like that Ken made the connection with architecture because I think it is kind of interesting.

   I think worship space is what you make of it. I readily admit I haven’t always thought that. And there is something profound about worshiping outdoors to me. Biblically, you can’t make an argument for anything over another. God was worshipped in temples, boats, gardens, homes, prisons, mountain tops…

   If a cathedral or other traditional structure adds to your worship experience, by all means, worship in a cathedral. (My preference truth be known.) But it is outside the call of Christian charity (although fully in step with human nature) to look down on the person who prefers to worship in an auditorium as if they somehow don’t understand how to worship as well as you do.

5. For full disclosure, the picture is an old, abandoned building I saw on Dean St. as we watched the 4th of July parade. It has an Edward Hopper loneliness to it that struck me.

   Quakers no doubt value simplicity in church architecture because they value the interior life above all else. They are the minimalists of all Protestant minimalists. They have a wisdom I admire.

   I used to admire classic cathedral architecture more than I do now. I still do, but nature astonishes me far more now.

6. Yes, it is an Edward Hopper building, or church.

   I just came back from the top of a mountain where I went for the sunset. Many people go there to watch the sun go down. I don’t know their faith, but religious it is. Sunset and vespers, moonlight and compline.

7. You should go there on a Sun-day. Day of the sun.

   Did you know there are three basic nature metaphors for our approach to God?
   The desert (purgation)
   The mountain top (illumination)
   The cloud (union)

   Don’t remember where I learned these, though.

8. Today was a day of the sun here in southern California – hot.

   I had not heard of those nature metaphors. They are great. I hope we find the source of them eventually. Must be a monk.