WHILE SITTING AMONGST A GROUP OF 425 PASTORS, discussing the proposed revision of the Statement of Faith for the Evangelical Free Church of America (and by default our Statement of Faith as well) I was struck by the desire to live a much more simple life. Allow me to explain.
First, I know the having a right orthodoxy (belief) is a critical thing. Too many have fallen away from Christ and His design by not having a correct understanding of His Word. Thus, knowing what and why we believe is of vital importance. The problem arises when we must continually add more and more to what these vital beliefs are. My desire for the simple life creates in me a longing to return to a much more simpler and actually Biblical statement of faith, such as, “if you confess with your mouth ’Jesus is Lord’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
Second, there is a need to return to right praxis (action). That is we do what Jesus, in His Word tells us to do. Not an easy thing to be sure, but in some regards rather simple. Right orthodoxy and right praxis leads, I believe, to right living, which leads to a the “simple life.”
Lastly, this past week our church family lost another saint, Dorothy Mack. I believe Dorothy, in many ways, lived the simple life. She knew what the Bible said, she believed it, and she put that belief into action, pure and simple. I don’t think I ever heard her complain, she wasn’t the up-front personality, she was just simply one who loved the Lord and desired to share that love with as many people as possible, both inside and outside the walls of the church.
To this end I want to say, “Thank you, Dorothy for living the simple life of the Gospel. I hope to follow your lead.”