Embracing Christian minimalism
‘It’s going to be an emotional journey,’ says guest on the ‘New Way’ podcast
In the latest episode of the “New Way” podcast, host the Rev. Sara Hayden explores the topic of Christian minimalism with Lutheran minister and spiritual director the Rev. Dr. Becca Ehrlich. Hayden explains how “taking stock of what is truly important and eliminating that which is not important” is a great place to start when exploring practices that ground people as human beings.
Grounding spiritual practices like sabbath, contemplation and pilgrimage have been the focus of Hayden’s conversations with this season’s guests, and future conversations center on practices of intentional, beloved communities. In her conversation with Ehrlich, who wrote the book “Christian Minimalism: Simple Steps for Abundant Living,” Hayden delves deeper into how the action of subtracting uncovers the fear of emptiness, revealing a spaciousness in which spiritual lives may flourish.
Ehrlich, who lives with chronic illness, started her minimalism journey in 2017 after watching the Netflix documentary “Minimalism” and felt God calling her to a minimalist lifestyle. When her husband, Will, watched it later that evening, he also felt the call. She began blogging about it when she didn’t find deep theological reflection or support for Christian minimalist lifestyles online.
According to Ehrlich, minimalism is “a focus on the aspects of life that matter most and intentionally removing everything else.” In six months, Becca and Will cut down their material possessions by 60%. Ehrlich is clear that decluttering is only a part of minimalism. She also pared down her online habits, curbed a shopping habit, unsubscribed from email lists and social media groups and simplified her schedule. Ehrlich describes how she and her husband simplified their possessions and lifestyles in phases so that the process of letting go of stuff didn’t overwhelm them. She also tells Hayden about the emotional parts, including letting go of baby items bought for a child that they lost at birth. Ehrlich leaned on her Christian faith when managing the difficult emotions that came with letting go of the things she had collected in her life and understanding the motivations behind where she gave her time and attention.
“It's going to be an emotional journey,” said Ehrlich, who advised being gentle with oneself when a surprising emotion rises up. “Feeling those emotions and working through those emotions is really important as opposed to doing what consumer culture wants us to do, which is stuff it down and go buy more,” she said.
Ehrlich teaches about Christian minimalism in churches and for seminaries and works with individuals through spiritual direction in shifting their worldview away from the consumerist culture that surrounds and distracts people. She says the greatest benefit to embracing minimalism is the spaciousness she and others have received to live more presently and intentionally, making space for God and for the people they love.
“I don't think we fully think through what the upkeep part is of things that we bring into our lives,” said Ehrlich, who pointed out how this applies to stuff but also to time commitments. [Listen to an audio clip.]
She also debunked some myths about minimalism. It can be cozy, comforting and colorful. She owns blankets, wall art and red shoes!
"It’s not a failure on our part. It’s more that we’ve internalized all these consumerism messages over the years,” said Ehrlich, who described how minimalism as a practice leaves space for more meaning in people’s lives. Christianity already articulates the meaning waiting for people as they clear away their reliance on possessions and productivity to define them and allow themselves to be embraced by the beloved image in which the Creator made them. Before starting her minimalist journey, Ehrlich admitted to having an online shopping habit, having thoughts like, “Oh, I need this thing to be more accepted by people or to belong or feel loved or feel beautiful.”
“When in reality, we're human beings,” said Ehrlich, “and we can have all those things without all the trappings.”
Listen to the 45-minute conversation between the Rev. Sara Hayden and the Rev. Dr. Becca Ehrlich here.
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