Define Epithetical Books Freedom of Simplicity: Finding Harmony in a Complex World

Title:Freedom of Simplicity: Finding Harmony in a Complex World
Author:Richard J. Foster
Book Format:Paperback
Book Edition:First Edition
Pages:Pages: 272 pages
Published:August 30th 2005 by HarperOne (first published October 22nd 1981)
Categories:Christian. Nonfiction. Spirituality. Religion. Faith. Christian Living. Christianity
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Freedom of Simplicity: Finding Harmony in a Complex World Paperback | Pages: 272 pages
Rating: 4.18 | 2191 Users | 140 Reviews

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As far as spiritual disciplines books go, this is one of the better ones. Foster is (usually) wise enough to know that enforcing a lot of these disciplines and practices as a "law" is legalism. And he doesn't do that. His thesis is simple (no pun intended): simplicity allows us to live in freedom to God (Foster 3). Simplicity exposes our numerous "false selves."

How then should one live in simplicity? Here is where it gets tricky. Foster knows he cannot "make" any of his suggestions a law for the Christian life, otherwise he is going beyond the gospel. (Some of the earlier SoJo guys did just that, but to their credit they later retracted their Galatianism). But he does give practical suggestions and many of them are quite good.

Pros:
1. Great section on prayer and fasting.
2. Great section on the False Self (80-81).
3. He is aware that a lot of, say, Ron Sider's earlier proposals probably won't pan out and so he recommends a more balanced approach.c

Cons:
1. Like many connected with Sojourner's Magazine, he accidentally makes the mistake of using big
corporate government to fight big corporate government (181). He advocates multinational institutions to fight multinational institutions.

2. He praises the IMF as a possible rescue organization for the poor. This is ironic since many social justice people criticize the IMF's loan policy as crippling the developing world. So which is it?

3. There are problems with Adam Smith (174), but no one accused Marx and Engels of lifting 2 billion of the world's population out of poverty.

4. He makes the astute observation that spiritual principalities are behind many unjust social structures (164-165). Further, he is correct that these principalities can empower evil multinational corporations. The problem is he paints himself into a corner: he really has no way of fighting these multinational principality structures outside of appealing to something like the UN. This cure is worse than the disease. Further, he says exousiai in Romans 13 means spiritual principalities. That reading really strains the rest of the text, those his larger point holds.

Conclusion:

I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. He is much more balanced than Sider et al. He writes with the wisdom of experience.

Identify Books During Freedom of Simplicity: Finding Harmony in a Complex World

Original Title: Freedom of Simplicity: Finding Harmony in a Complex World
ISBN: 0060759712 (ISBN13: 9780060759711)
Edition Language: English
Literary Awards: ECPA Christian Book Award for Contemporary Issues (1982)


Rating Epithetical Books Freedom of Simplicity: Finding Harmony in a Complex World
Ratings: 4.18 From 2191 Users | 140 Reviews

Article Epithetical Books Freedom of Simplicity: Finding Harmony in a Complex World


Richard Foster's books are always refreshingly different due to the breadth of his knowledge of church history and his understanding of how biblical theology in all its forms dovetails with apologetics of engagement with the world around us. This book emphasises that true simplicity of heart and faith is not naive but effective in bringing about change at a personal, corporate and world level. It challenges head-on the attitude that you can revolutionise human behaviour by actions that are not

An amazingly insightful, challenging, and God centered approach to living in step with our Beloved Savior. The Freedom of Simplicity provides believers with a challenge back to the simplicity of the gospel by orienting our lives to seek the kingdom first in all aspects of our lives. I would recommend this book to anyone seeking to honor our Lord by truly living the Gospel message to make our Father our only focus. As a result, our lives in honoring Him will look radical yet truly simple. This

I enjoyed the comprehensive and practical parts of this book and feel challenged to take some of Foster's suggested steps toward simplicity. The final chapter on Corporate Simplicity lost me a bit but I thought this idea was really interesting to think about in light of the consumeristic world we live in: "Perhaps no work is more foundational to the individual embodying Christian simplicity in the world than our becoming more comfortable in our own skin. The less comfortable we are with

"A pivotal paradox for us to understand is that simplicity is both a grace and a discipline...There is no way that we can build up our willpower, put ourselves into this contortion or that, and attain it...It is a discipline because we are called to do something." "The connection between obedience and blessing is genuinely significant, and the significance is not primarily in the notion of being rewarded for doing what is right. That has its place, but it is a minor place, almost a childish

As far as spiritual disciplines books go, this is one of the better ones. Foster is (usually) wise enough to know that enforcing a lot of these disciplines and practices as a "law" is legalism. And he doesn't do that. His thesis is simple (no pun intended): simplicity allows us to live in freedom to God (Foster 3). Simplicity exposes our numerous "false selves."How then should one live in simplicity? Here is where it gets tricky. Foster knows he cannot "make" any of his suggestions a law for the

classic foster. celebration of discipline changed my life and I suspect I will look back and say the same of this one.